Man Sits on Van Gogh Chair and Breaks It
VAN GOGH CHAIR – A man accidentally damaged a special artwork at the Palazzo Maffei Museum in Verona, Italy, before fleeing the scene with a woman. The piece, called the “Van Gogh” chair, was created by Italian artist Nicola Bolla and decorated with hundreds of delicate Swarovski crystals. It was inspired by the simple wooden chair painted by Dutch artist Vincent van Gogh in 1888.
The accident happened in April 2025 but only became public when the museum released CCTV footage on June 12, 2025. In the video, the man is seen sitting on the chair while the woman takes his photo. Suddenly, the chair collapses, almost causing him to fall. The couple quickly fled the scene.
The museum described the act as an irresponsible gesture when they shared the footage on Facebook. They explained that it was not a prank but a real incident that brought to life their worst fear as a museum. They stressed the importance of respecting art and said they were sharing the footage to remind the public of the value and care that artworks deserve.
According to Palazzo Maffei art historian Carlotta Menegazzo, the chair had a clear “Do Not Touch” sign and was placed on a pedestal, making it obvious that it was not meant for sitting. She stated that the chair suffered serious damage, with two legs and the seat broken. While the museum did not reveal the exact value of the piece, they said it was somewhat priceless because of its artistic significance.
Fortunately, expert restorers managed to repair the damaged chair. However, the man and woman responsible for the damage have not yet been identified. The museum continues to remind visitors to respect and handle artworks with care, especially fragile and valuable ones.