ECJ EUROPEAN Cleaning Journal

New York's Guggenheim art museum has unveiled a fully functioning, 18-carat gold toilet, titled 'America', in one of its unisex washrooms.

Museum patrons are invited to use the golden throne, which is the creation of Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan, who reportedly stated the art is about economic inequality.

The museum said the toilet is a "a bold, irreverent work ... ultimately reminding us of the inescapable physical realities of our shared humanity", adding that the point of the exhibit is "making available to the public an extravagant luxury product seemingly intended for the one per cent".

A New York Times reporter was able to use the golden throne ahead of its Friday opening to the public, saying it "looks best when in use, sparkling so much it's almost too bright to look at, especially during the flush, which may be a new postmodern sublime".