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The Real Van Gogh chair

How Much Was That Swarovski Van Gogh Chair a Tourist Broke Worth?

The incident took place at the Palazzo Maffei Museum in Verona, Italy

In today’s digital world—where everything ends up on social media and people take photos just about anywhere, or else “it didn’t happen”—some pictures can end up being extremely costly. In the worst cases, tragically, some people have even lost their lives trying to capture risky selfies. It may not cost a life, but some photos can still carry a heavy price tag — say, like a Van Gogh.

That’s exactly what happened to a tourist visiting the Palazzo Maffei Museum in Verona, Italy. During his visit, he decided to sit on a chair to pose for a photo—however, it wasn’t just a regular chair. It was a work of art made entirely of Swarovski crystals, inspired by Van Gogh’s iconic chair. And yes—he broke it. The moment quickly went viral.

Although the incident happened days earlier, the museum only recently released the footage. In the video, the tourist poses as his companion takes the picture, and within seconds, the chair shatters to pieces. What happened next felt like a movie scene: instead of reporting the accident, the couple left the museum without saying a word.

The museum described the incident as “a cultural institution’s worst nightmare” and has filed a formal complaint. While the tourist’s identity hasn’t been revealed, the museum’s director, Vanessa Carlon, emphasized that what upset them most wasn’t the accident—it was the way the couple left: “If something happens, you talk about it. You don’t just walk away.”

The Chair and Its Value: Priceless Beyond Money

The chair, a creation by artist Nicola Bolla, was acquired in 2022 and inspired by the iconic chair painted by Vincent van Gogh in 1888, now housed in London’s National Gallery. Bolla’s version—covered in Swarovski crystals—is a modern gem that blends luxury with art history. The artist himself said that, while the incident was foolish, he sees a certain artistic meaning in watching the piece fall apart.

The museum, however, doesn’t quite agree. Although they’ve repaired the artwork and returned it to display, they also launched a campaign reminding visitors that art should be respected, even when it’s within arm’s reach.

It’s still unclear whether the couple will be identified or what the final cost might be—but with the artwork valued at around €43,000 (approximately $46,000 to $47,000 USD), sitting on that chair was definitely not a wise move.