Italian museum’s plea after couple break crystal-covered chair

An Italian museum called on customers to “respect art” after a couple was filmed by breaking a chair covered with hundreds of sparkling crystals.

Images published by the Palazzo Maffei, in Verona, show a man and a woman taking photos of each other while pretending to sit on the so-called “Van Gogh” chair.

The man then seems to slide and fall on the chair, crushing him under him.

The officials say that the couple fled the museum before the staff noticed what had happened.

They have since informed the police of the pair, which has not been identified.

“Sometimes we lose our brain to take a photo, and we do not think of the consequences,” explains Vanessa Carlon, director of the museum.

“Of course, it was an accident, but these two people left without talking to us-it’s not an accident,” she adds. “It’s a nightmare for any museum”.

The BBC understands that this incident occurred in April. Palazzo Maffei released the images on June 12.

The chair was built by the Italian artist Nicola Bolla and is drifting with Swarovski crystals made from polished machine glass. He bears the name of Vincent Van Gogh in tribute to the Dutch artist Painting of a simple chair.

Bolla’s play is somewhat invaluable, since the museum has refused to provide an estimate of its value when requested by the BBC.

Carlotta Menegazzo, an art historian based in the Palazzo Maffei, says that – although she looks robust – her setting is mainly hollow and maintained with aluminum foil.

“On the chair was an informed note people not to touch, and of course, it is placed on a pedestal, so it is quite clear that it is not a real chair,” explains Ms. Menegazzo.

Two legs and the main seat have been broken, but Ms. Menegazzo says that “an excellent job” has been done to restore the room and that it is now back in place.

The Palazzo Maffei opened its doors in 2020 and at 650 pieces on display, including paintings from Picasso and ancient Egyptian art.

Ms. Carlon says that the majority of visitors are considerate, and she hopes that this release of video surveillance sequences will not become a “negative episode”.

Instead, she wants to emphasize that “anyone should enter into places of art, or museums or churches, wherever art is displayed, in a more respectful way”.

“Art must be respected and loved because it is very fragile,” she adds.