An 18-karat gold toilet –titled “America”– created by satirical artist Maurizio Cattelan fetched $12.1 million (including fees) at an auction Tuesday night (November 18) in New York.
Sotheby’s said the toilet had been sold to “a famous American brand.”
It is among the first marquee sales at Sotheby’s new home in the landmark Breuer building on Madison Avenue.
“America” gained notoriety as a fully functional artwork and satire on wealth and value. It was exhibited at the Guggenheim Museum in New York City in 2016-2017 and made headlines again when it was stolen from the UK’s Blenheim Palace in 2019 and never recovered. This sale at Sotheby’s in New York features the only surviving version.
Cattelan is known for provocative gestures that test what counts as art and how it is priced. His duct‑taped banana, “Comedian,” sold for roughly $6.2 million at Sotheby’s in 2024. This time, “America” flipped the equation, pairing a high‑concept idea with significant intrinsic value.
During the public viewing at Sotheby’s, visitors were allowed to look at it, but not to use it — and flushing was strictly prohibited.
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