By Flynn Demapendan-Espana
The United Kingdom can finally be at peace.
The sacred throne was the vision of Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan’s, titled America, which was created in 2016. This sacred artifact was covered in 18-karat gold. When it was displayed, visitors were encouraged to fully interact with it.
While being displayed, the golden throne was commonly compared to French artist Marcel Duchamp’s porcelain urinal called Fountain, which was a defining piece of the 20th century.
The art piece was displayed at the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York City, and later relocated to Blenheim Palace in the United Kingdom. However, when it was moved to the United Kingdom in 2019, it was stolen.
The heist originally took place on September 14, 2019, when thieves decided to steal this wonderful piece of art. It was reported that the group used sledgehammers and crowbars to remove the art from the floor and it took them under five minutes to escape.
Thankfully, on March 20, the two thieves were convicted in UK court. On the court date, Michael Jones was found guilty of burglary, and Fred Doe was found guilty of conspiracy to transfer criminal property. The two joined James Sheen, who was credited with coordinating the plan and already pleaded guilty.
The toilet itself has yet to be recovered. With a value of $6 million, prosecutors presume that it was sold into parts. It is yet to be determined if the authorities will be on the lookout for the missing pieces or if Cattelan will make another piece.
Reports from Agence France-Presse (AFP), say that Doe will be sentenced in May, while Jones and Sheen are still waiting for their sentencing dates.
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