Crystal-Encrusted Chair Damaged by Tourists in Italian Museum: A Curator's Worst Fear

Palazzo Maffei in Verona, Italy, issued a plea for visitors to treat artwork with care after an incident where a tourist duo damaged an art piece and then absconded.

This week, the museum shared footage capturing a man and a woman snapping photographs while simulating sitting on the 'Van Gogh' chair by Nicola Bolla. This chair, adorned with numerous Swarovski crystals, was unfortunately fractured during the encounter.

The footage reveals the man inadvertently stumbling and collapsing onto the chair, leading to its damage. The pair left the scene promptly, leaving museum staff unaware of the incident until later.

"This scenario is a nightmare for any museum," the venue reflected in a social media message that accompanied the footage.

Museum authorities have reached out to local law enforcement regarding the unidentified tourists, according to CBS News. They emphasized the importance of considering the impact of actions while taking pictures, quoting museum director Vanessa Carlon: "Though it seems unintentional, their abrupt departure suggests otherwise."

Despite the damage, the museum has successfully fixed the two broken legs of the chair and has reinstalled it for public viewing.

Carlotta Menegazzo, an art historian at Palazzo Maffei, pointed out that despite its robust appearance, the chair's structure is largely hollow.

She noted, "There was a warning sign instructing not to touch, and it is clearly raised on a pedestal for display purposes, indicating it isn’t meant for sitting."

The museum released the security video to underscore the importance of respecting art, with the intention of promoting an awareness campaign about appreciating and safeguarding art.

Opening its doors in 2020, Palazzo Maffei features a diverse collection with 650 artworks available for the public to explore.