21 November 2023
By Juyeon Lee
The disappearance of a 7.7 billion golden toilet Four people were taken into custody in September 2019 after stealing a golden toilet that was on exhibit at Blenheim Palace in Woodstock, Oxfordshire, England.
The stolen artwork by Italian conceptual artist Maurizio Cattelan was on display at the Castle, which is also the birthplace of former UK Prime Minister Winston Churchill. The 103-kg golden toilet, crafted from 18-carat gold, is estimated to be worth 7.7 billion Korean won.
Before the exhibition opened to the public, the thieves—named James Shinn (39), Michael Jones (38), Fred Doe (35), and Bora Gucok (39)—took over the restroom early in the morning. Plumbing was connected to the artwork so that visitors could use a functional restroom in a separate, enclosed space. The location of the pilfered restroom is still unclear, and the local law enforcement agency has expressed doubt over its present state, speculating that it may have already been sold.
The heist seriously damaged the UNESCO World Heritage Site by flooding the interior of the palace with water from the plumbing system, seriously damaging the historic building and its contents. The authorities realized how difficult it would be to quickly retrieve the pilfered artwork.
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