He lost his other ear: Tourist breaks Van Gogh's chair after sitting for a photo

Awkward museum.- A tourist tried to sit on a chair made by Swarovski in homage to Vincent Van Gogh… and ended up breaking it.

The chair, which was located in Verona's Palazzo Maffei, was created by Italian artist Nicola Bolla and covered with thousands of Swarovski crystals. It will now have to be dismantled and sold in parts... or turned into rings, depending on the damage.

The object was an exact replica of the chair shown in the post-impressionist painter's 1889 work The Bedroom , hence the famous jewelry brand decided to make it as a brilliant (literally) tribute.

In the video captured by the museum's security camera, a couple of tourists are seen taking photos in the gallery. At one point, the subject sits down in the chair, believing he'd get a "vintage" photo (the kind boomers never print and only send via WhatsApp to a family group where no one ever responds).

The very clumsy one sat on a diamond chair

The venue's director, Vanessa Carlon, called the incident "the worst nightmare for any cultural institution," and expressed her outrage toward the boomer generation—perhaps, toward the act of "deep recklessness."

🔥🚨BREAKING This 'Idiot' tourist sits on and shatters 'Van Gogh' chair made with thousands of Swarovski crystals. pic.twitter.com/nm2WxeKtlL

— Dom Lucre | Breaker of Narratives (@dom_lucre) June 13, 2025

It's worth mentioning that, thanks to the swift intervention of the security team and the meticulous work of restorers and curators, the chair can be rebuilt in just a few days. However, it was not clear whether the "travel-hungry" tourist had to pay for the repair or if they could continue visiting places with impunity as if nothing had happened.

Following the incident, the museum issued a statement reading, “Interacting with art demands respect, sensitivity, and responsibility. Much more than a good social media photo,” hoping that visitors will stop making these kinds of blunders, which have earned them a “don’t do this at home” message.

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