A dramatic scene occurred at a European museum when a guest sat on a designer chair studded with Swarovski and it broke apart and sustained irreparable damage. The sparkly piece was one of the valued pieces in the gallery’s collection of contemporary designs and was not intended to be touched by the general public — clearly indicated by markings on display notices.
The mystery visitor disregarded warning signs and obstacles, taking pictures first before carelessly settling onto the fragile work of art. Security cameras caught the very moment the object collapsed. Worse still for museum administrators: the person escaped the scene before security could catch up to them.
Museum authorities articulated their outrage in a public statement, which described it as “every museum’s nightmare come true.” The ruined chair, covered in hundreds of real Swarovski crystals, was artistically and financially precious, its value estimated in the tens of thousands of euros by experts.
Authorities are examining the surveillance footage to identify and locate the suspect, while the museum has mounted additional security and asked visitors for responsible conduct. The incident relives the debate on museum etiquette, interactive exhibits, and the requirement of better access control in public art spaces.
