Tourist Sits on ‘Priceless’ Van Gogh Chair – and Smashes it in Front of Everyone

It started with a selfie and ended with a crunch. What seemed like an innocent pause in an Italian art exhibition turned into an international art nightmare when two tourists in Verona took too much of a liking to a glittering chair – and forgot that art isn’t necessarily meant to be sat upon.

A Chair with Stardust and Swarovski

The so-called “Van Gogh” chair, created by Italian artist Nicola Bolla, is far from an ordinary piece of furniture. Covered from top to bottom in hundreds of Swarovski crystals, it is a fragile and dazzling homage to Vincent van Gogh’s famous painting of his own chair – and absolutely not intended for any seat of any kind.

But two tourists didn’t understand this when they thought it was a perfect opportunity for a quick photo-op. While the woman seemingly got away with a well-balanced snapshot, her male companion lost his balance and shattered the entire artwork in the attempt.

“A Museum’s Nightmare Come True”

The reaction from the Palazzo Maffei Museum was unmistakable. On their social media, they described the incident as “every museum’s nightmare” and condemned the irresponsible behavior that led to the destruction. The chair’s delicate crystal structure made the damage both severe and valuable.

According to the museum, it all happened while guests were waiting for a security guard to arrive – and they used the short window for what must have seemed like a fun idea at the moment. Instead, it turned into a quick escape from the gallery and a bitter reminder that not everything with a seat and backrest is an invitation to rest one’s legs.

A Happy (Temporary) Comeback

There is, however, a bit of consolation to the story: thanks to the quick help from the police, the museum’s security staff, and some very skilled conservators, the Van Gogh chair is now “shining again,” as the museum put it. An impressive comeback, considering how many crystals were suddenly scattered on the floor.

The museum is using the episode as an opportunity to launch a campaign for art awareness and respect. As they themselves say: “Art is not just to look at. It is to love. It is to protect.”

You can watch the video right here.

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