Italian art museum calls out visitors who sat on crystal chair and broke it
A museum in Italy is calling on visitors to respect its art installations after a pair of tourists sat on a crystal-encrusted exhibit, broke it, then fled.
The piece, known as Nicola Bolla's 'Van Gogh' chair, was on display at the Palazzo Maffei in Verona, Italy, when it collapsed under the weight of a tourist who was gently perched on the sculpture while posing for photographs.
The incident was caught on security cameras and shows two visitors, one male, one female, each pretending to take a seat on the artwork, when the male museum-goer appears to slip and the piece crumples beneath him.
The majority of the damage was to the chair's legs.
Italian authorities said the pair left the museum before staff noticed the damage.
Story continues below advertisement
Police are aware of the incident, but have yet to identify the suspects.
The museum has since called on visitors to respect the items on display.
'Sometimes we lose our brains to take a picture, and we don't think about the consequences,' museum director Vanessa Carlon said in a video message.
'Of course it was an accident, but these two people left without speaking to us – that isn't an accident,' she said, adding, 'This is a nightmare for any museum,' she continued.
Get breaking National news
For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up
By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy
According to the BBC, the incident happened in April. However, the museum only released the footage on June 12 on Facebook, writing in a statement that it was unsure for days if it would be able to repair the chair, but that it was ultimately able to do so.
'We are sharing this episode not only for the sake of reporting, but to start a real awareness campaign on the value of art and the respect it deserves,' it says.
In the accompanying video, Carlon thanks the museum's restoration staff, who she says 'did an outstanding job' of mending the fragile chair, which is not designed to bear weight.
'Fortunately, the chair is shining once again,' she added.
Story continues below advertisement
The chair was created by Italian artist Nicola Bolla and is delicately woven together using Swarovski crystals and foil. It is named after Vincent van Gogh as a tribute to his painting of a simple chair.
Story continues below advertisement
When asked by the BBC about its price, the museum would not provide an estimated value.
A historian based at the museum, Carlotta Menegazzo, told the BBC that the display includes a note telling people not to touch the chair.
Meanwhile, Carlon says most visitors are well-behaved and considerate, and that she hopes the release of the footage won't become a 'negative episode.'
'Anyone should enter art places, or museums, or churches, wherever art is displayed, in a more respectful way,' she continued. 'Art must be respected and loved because it is very fragile,' she concluded.
The museum is relatively new, having opened in 2020, and houses 650 pieces, including works by Picasso and ancient Egyptian artifacts.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Toronto Star
20 hours ago
- Toronto Star
Many Americans are witnessing immigration arrests for the first time and reacting
SAN DIEGO (AP) — Adam Greenfield was home nursing a cold when his girlfriend raced in to tell him Immigration and Customs Enforcement vehicles were pulling up in their trendy San Diego neighborhood. The poet and podcast producer grabbed his iPhone and bolted out the door barefoot, joining a handful of neighbors recording masked agents raiding a popular Italian restaurant nearby, as they yelled at the officers to leave. An hour later, the crowd had grown to nearly 75 people, with many in front of the agents' vehicles.
CTV News
a day ago
- CTV News
Burton Cummings, Tom Cochrane concert in Edmonton postponed
Burton Cummings is not coming to Edmonton this weekend. Cummings was scheduled to perform with Tom Cochrane in Ice District Fan Park on Saturday, but the performance was rescheduled for Sept. 1. The cancellation was posted on Cummings' Facebook page on Thursday. No details have been given on why the concert was rescheduled. On Ice District's website, it says previously purchased tickets can be used for the new date. If ticket holders aren't able to go, refunds will be available where the tickets were bought.
Global News
a day ago
- Global News
Rapper Fat Joe accused of sex with minors in $20M lawsuit by ex-employee
NOTE: The following article contains disturbing details. Please read at your own discretion. Rapper Fat Joe's former hypeman, Terrance 'T.A.' Dixon, has filed a lawsuit against him in federal court, alleging that his former boss engaged in sex acts with minors in a $20-million lawsuit. Dixon also alleges his former boss, whose real name is Joseph Antonio Cartagena, engaged in 'coercive labor exploitation, financial fraud, sexual manipulation, violent intimidation and psychological coercion.' The 157-page complaint, filed in the U.S. District Court Southern District of New York, details claims about Cartagena's alleged sexual relations, including with minors. Dixon states that Cartagena allegedly forced him 'into humiliating situations, including sex acts performed under duress and surveillance, accompanied by threats of abandonment in foreign countries if [he] refused compliance,' according to the documents, obtained by Variety Story continues below advertisement Dixon alleges that 'he was coerced into more than 4,000 sexual acts to maintain his standing within the Enterprise.' The suit also claims that Dixon 'personally witnessed [Fat Joe] engaged in sexual relations with children who were fifteen and sixteen years old,' listing three as Jane Does, including a 16-year-old Dominican girl in New York who, 'in exchange for cash, clothing, and payment of her cell phone bill … would [perform] oral sex and other sexual acts' on Cartagena. Another Doe, referred to as 'Minor Doe 2,' is a white female and not a U.S. citizen, according to the documents. '[Fat Joe] began having sexual relations with Minor Doe 2 when she was 15 years old after a concert overseas. Defendant flew Minor Doe 2 to New York City and Miami, Florida, on multiple occasions. Due to Minor Doe 2's body being adolescent and not fully formed, Defendant paid for her to get a Brazilian Butt Lift. Minor Doe 2 eventually left Defendant and is now married to a professional athlete,' the complaint reads. Story continues below advertisement Minor Doe 3 is a Latina female who 'met the defendant when she was 15 years old, turning 16.' Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy According to Dixon, 'Defendant was in love with Minor Doe 3. He even contemplated leaving his wife. The Defendant paid all Minor Doe 3's bills and even took her overseas to his tour stops. He brought her to Florida and would put her up in a condo he rented a few blocks from his house with his wife.' 'In a recorded conversation, Minor Doe 3 and her 15-year-old cousin describe in detail to Plaintiff how 'inappropriate' it was for Defendant, who was in his late 30s at the time, to be fawning over children,' according to the lawsuit. 'Fat Joe is Sean Combs minus the Tusi,' Tyrone Blackburn, Dixon's lawyer, wrote in a statement to USA Today, referencing the ongoing criminal trial for Sean 'Diddy' Combs and the alleged drugs the music mogul is accused of using. 'We have additional pages of predicated acts which we are itching to disclose if the defendants call our bluff.' Cartagena's lawyer, Joe Tacopina, responded to the lawsuit, saying, 'The lawsuit filed by Tyrone Blackburn and Terrance Dixon is a blatant act of retaliation — a desperate attempt to deflect attention from the civil suit we filed first, which exposed their coordinated scheme to extort Mr. Cartagena through lies, threats, and manufactured allegations.' Story continues below advertisement 'Law enforcement is aware of the extortionate demand at the heart of this scheme. The allegations against Mr. Cartagena are complete fabrications — lies intended to damage his reputation and force a settlement through public pressure. Mr. Cartagena will not be intimidated. We have taken legal action to expose this fraudulent campaign and hold everyone involved accountable,' the statement added. The suit also names some of Cartagena's 'key associates' in his alleged 'criminal enterprise,' including Pete 'Pistol Pete' Torres and Richard 'Rich Player' Jospitre. It additionally names Jay-Z's Roc Nation, which represents Cartagena, and claims the company knowingly participated in 'concealing, transferring, and manipulating' Dixon's authorship rights and royalty interests and sought to intimidate, harass and obstruct Dixon's claims against Cartagena, Torres and Jospitre. Dixon also accuses Cartagena, Torres and Jospitre of engaging 'in deliberate tax fraud schemes' to allegedly conceal wage theft. He also claims he was 'consistently underpaid, denied songwriting credits, and deliberately concealed from royalties and backend compensation.' The lawsuit comes after Cartagena sued Dixon in April for slander on social media by accusing him of being a pedophile online. Cartagena claimed Dixon's allegations were a 'money grab,' and noted that he generously paid Dixon, who he says 'enjoyed the perquisites of touring, luxurious travel, and other fringe benefits of a world-renowned musician's team.' Story continues below advertisement 'This is the right way to fight, Joe — through the system. You can't fight him no other way,' Dixon told Variety. 'Joe think he's a god. Joe thinks he's untouchable.'
