Source: APNews
In 2019, a group of thieves stole a fully functional 18-karat gold toilet titled “America” by Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan from Blenheim Palace, Winston Churchill’s birthplace. The satirical artwork, valued at over $6 million, was ripped from its plumbing in a smash-and-grab heist that took under six minutes and caused serious damage to the historic site. The toilet was never recovered and is believed to have been chopped up and sold. Two of the burglars, James Sheen, a roofer with a long criminal record, and Michael Jones, his employee, were sentenced in June 2025 to four years and two years and three months in prison, respectively.
Jones had scoped out the palace in advance, even using the toilet during a private visit. Surveillance footage and forensic evidence linked them to the crime, including Sheen’s DNA on a sledgehammer and gold fragments found at his home. Though another man, Frederick Doe, avoided prison for his lesser role, authorities believe more individuals were involved, and the investigation remains open. The golden toilet, once offered to President Trump as a cheeky alternative to a Van Gogh loan, remains missing, its fate as absurd and ironic as the artwork’s original message.
Reference: June 13, 2025
https://apnews.com/article/golden-toilet-churchill-blenheim-sheen-jones-3fb1a083c410189a40cd8853b4e44844
