Overview

• CCTV footage shows two tourists posing with Nicola Bolla’s Swarovski crystal–covered chair before a man sits on it and shatters its seat and two front legs.
• The couple fled the gallery without informing staff and remain unidentified despite Palazzo Maffei filing a complaint with local police.
• Director Vanessa Carlon condemned the act as irresponsible and stressed that clear warnings and a pedestal marked the chair as untouchable.
• Specialist restorers overcame initial doubts about repairability and have fully restored the fragile artwork to its pedestal.
• Palazzo Maffei shared the video in June to launch an awareness campaign on respecting delicate cultural heritage and reinforce visitor guidelines.