14.06.2025 13:40
A chair named 'Van Gogh', adorned with crystals, broke at an art gallery in Italy where a tourist was sitting. Designed by Italian artist Nicola Bolla and covered with hundreds of Swarovski crystals, the chair was seriously damaged. Following the incident, the museum announced the event on its social media accounts, aiming to raise awareness about respect for artworks.
A shameful incident occurred in an art gallery in Italy. A tourist sat on a chair named 'Van Gogh', decorated with crystals, to take a photo, and the chair collapsed under him.
The chair, designed by Italian artist Nicola Bolla, was covered with hundreds of Swarovski crystals and had a very delicate structure. The artwork, displayed at the Maffei Palace in Verona, was seriously damaged during the incident.
Security camera footage shows a man and a woman entering the room as soon as the staff member leaves, posing for photos. The woman poses carefully without fully sitting on the chair, while the man chooses to sit directly. However, at that moment, the chair breaks, and the man tries to hold onto the walls to avoid falling backward. After the incident, the duo quickly leaves the room.
The museum announced the incident on its social media accounts with the following statement:
"The nightmare of every museum has come true. An irresponsible act, taking advantage of the surveillance, caused significant damage to Nicola Bolla's extremely delicate 'Van Gogh' chair, adorned with hundreds of Swarovski crystals."
Fortunately, the artwork was restored and returned to its former appearance with the cooperation of the restoration team and the police.
Museum officials stated in their announcements that they wanted to raise awareness not only about the incident but also about respect for artworks:
"Art is not only for looking at but also a value that needs to be preserved and loved. We expect our visitors to approach each piece with care and attention."
This incident also reminded people of a similar case that recently made headlines when a tourist broke statues belonging to the Terracotta Army in China.