Gold commode at auction, what is the starting price?

The world's most valuable toilet made of gold is up for auction. British multinational company Sotheby's announced on Friday (November 3) that it will auction the sculpture titled 'America' by Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan.

The company said that it is a fully functional toilet. It became known worldwide after it was stolen from Blenheim Palace in England in 2019. The toilet is made of 101.2 kg of gold.

The auction of this gold artwork 'America' will begin on November 18 in New York. Its starting price is estimated at $10 million.

David Galperin, head of the contemporary art department of New York-based company Sotheby's, said that Maurizio Cattelan is a complete provocateur of the art world. He is also one of the most successful artists. His artwork 'Comedian' (a banana taped to the wall) sold for $6.2 million at auction last year. Another of his works, "Him" (a sculpture of Adolf Hitler kneeling) sold for $17.2 million at auction in 2016.

Artist Maurizio Cattelan says he created "America," or the gold toilet, as a satire on excess wealth. He once said, "No matter what you eat, a $200 lunch or a $2 hot dog, the result is the same in terms of the toilet."