The Maurizio Cattelan gold toilet auction brings millions of dollars and a functional piece of gaudy plumbing that only a few would ever consider.
Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan, who made headlines when his banana duct-taped to a wall sold for $6.2 million last year, is back with another provocative piece. This time, it’s a fully functional toilet made from 223 pounds of solid 18-karat gold. Sotheby’s will auction off “America” on November 18 in New York, with bidding starting at around $10 million, based on the current price of gold.
America, the solid gold toilet sold by Sotheby’s headlines the Cattelan provocative art sale
The exact opening bid will fluctuate with the gold market right up until the sale starts. Cattelan created “America” in 2016 as social commentary on wealth, privilege, and the absurdity of value in modern art. He wanted to place something expensive and shiny in the most overlooked, necessary spot. “Whatever you eat, a $200 lunch or a $2 hot dog, the results are the same, toilet-wise,” the artist once said.
Two versions of the toilet exist. The first debuted at New York’s Guggenheim Museum in 2016, where over 100,000 visitors lined up to actually use it under staff supervision. That same version was famously offered to President Trump when he requested to borrow a Van Gogh painting from the museum.
The second toilet was installed at England’s Blenheim Palace in 2019, where it was stolen in a heist and never recovered. Investigators believe it was melted down for the gold.
The remaining 18-karat gold functional toilet
The toilet being auctioned is the one owned by a private collector since 2017. It will be on display at Sotheby’s new Breuer Building headquarters from November 8 through the auction, installed in an actual bathroom, though visitors can only look, not use it this time. Unlike the Guggenheim Museum art installation, the Maurizio Cattelan gold toilet auction will remain clean and pristine.
Sotheby’s sees “America” as the perfect opposite of the duct-taped banana created by the same artist, and it should bring about $10 million at auction. While “Comedian” raised questions about assigning value to something with no inherent worth beyond its concept, “America” has massive intrinsic value from the gold itself, separate from its artistic meaning. This differentiates it from the satirical art, wealth, and commentary of a banana duct-taped to the wall. This contemporary art auction, held in November 2025, will have real and tangible value. The auction house will accept cryptocurrency as payment.
When will the Maurizio Cattelan gold toilet auction be held?
The gold toilet will be installed on November 8, and the auction will be held on the 18th. This gives bidders a few days to see the toilet and decide whether or not they want to bid on such an item. Donald Trump is famous for his love of everything gold, which means it wouldn’t be a shock for him to be part of the bidding for the singular item. The opening bid will be the price of gold on the day of the sale, which means it could start at $9.72 million or higher, since gold is on the rise right now.
What is the price of gold right now?
Gold, like any other precious metal, changes prices much like the stock market, but not quite with the same volatility. Gold is up in price by about 48 percent compared to the same time a year ago, surpassing $4,000 per ounce last month. When the gold toilet that is going to auction was purchased by its current owner, the average price of gold was $1,257 per ounce. That means the owner stands to gain at least three times the original price of gold for this sold toilet. Of course, the Maurizio Cattelan gold toilet auction comes with the name cache of the artist, which can help increase the price well beyond the actual cost of the materials.
Steven Cohen is the current owner
Cohen, who famously owns the New York Mets, is set to make a killing on America when it’s sold at auction. He has been a big part of Cattelan’s exhibits in the past, funding a sprawling 2011 exhibition at the Guggenheim Museum in New York. Cohen has partnered with Cattelan on other art pieces because he likes things that make him laugh, and Cattelan is a satirical artist.
How much will the Maurizio Cattelan gold toilet auction bring in profits? Who will be the winning bidder? Will the winning bidder install the toilet for use or keep it as a display piece?
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