Overview

• CCTV footage showed a man sitting on Nicola Bolla’s delicate ‘Van Gogh’ chair at Palazzo Maffei, causing it to buckle under the weight and break as he and a companion fled.
• The exhibit piece, covered in hundreds of Swarovski crystals and built on a fragile inner structure, was initially feared irreparable by museum staff.
• Palazzo Maffei condemned the incident as an “irresponsible gesture,” released surveillance video and launched a campaign to promote respect for art and cultural heritage.
• With assistance from Italian law enforcement and specialist restorers, the museum confirmed this week that the chair has been fully restored to its original condition.
• Online outrage has intensified calls for the couple to be identified and held financially or legally responsible for the damage.