Overview

• In April at Verona’s Palazzo Maffei, a tourist sat on Nicola Bolla’s Swarovski crystal-covered ‘Van Gogh’ chair to pose for photos, causing it to collapse and prompting the pair to flee without informing staff.
• The museum released security footage in mid-June to reveal how the tourists ignored clear no-touch warnings before leaving the gallery.
• Restoration experts repaired the broken legs and returned the chair to display after initial doubts about its repairability.
• Director Vanessa Carlon condemned the tourists’ decision to flee as unacceptable and said it remains unclear whether they will face legal or financial consequences.
• Palazzo Maffei has launched an awareness campaign urging visitors to respect fragile installations and follow museum guidelines.