Shocking moment tourist shatters ‘priceless’ crystal ‘Van Gogh’ chair by sitting on it

How does that Don McLean song go again? I think it's something like 'scary, scary sight. Don't plant your bottom here today. Run away before you have to pay.'

Well, that's pretty much what happened in a Verona art gallery recently as some starry-eyed tourists took a liking to an artwork known as 'Van Gogh's chair', before managing to break the crystallised piece after taking a seat.

Poor Van Gogh has taken something of a beating recently, given Just Stop Oil protestors also decided to throw a can of soup over his famous sunflower painting. Surely that would have been a better fit for Andy Warhol?

While that was undoubtedly a deliberate act, it's most people's worst nightmare to accidentally destroy some beautiful artwork, as a US woman once managed with a £35,000 balloon dog sculpture.

Sometimes accidents can be very expensive ones and unfortunately for the Maffei Palace in Italy, there was nobody to stop two tourists who recently took it upon themselves to try out what is probably one of the world's most expensive chairs.

The 'Van Gogh' chair is an artwork by Italian artist Nicola Bolla that is adorned with hundreds of Swarovski crystals, which makes it 'extremely fragile and delicate'. It is, of course, dedicated to the legendary Dutch painter whose chair painting is one of his most widely recognised.

The painting which the artwork is based on (VCG Wilson/Corbis via Getty Images)

While the female tourist was able to take a photo in which she appeared to be perching on the chair, her male companion had a lot less success, as he seemingly lost his balance and shattered the chair after falling back on it. Unsurprisingly, they made a pretty quick exit after that.

Following the incident, the museum's social media accounts released a statement describing the 'nightmare' situation.

They said: "Every museum's nightmare has become reality, even in Palazzo Maffei.

"Waiting for the surveillance officers to come out, some visitors took an "in effect" photo.

"The result? An irresponsible gesture caused serious damage to Nicola Bolla's "Van Gogh" chair, a very delicate work, covered entirely with hundreds of Swarovski crystals."

Fortunately, thanks to 'restorers who did a fantastic job' and assistance from Italian law officers, the museum has said 'the piece is shining once again'.

The tourists made a swift exit (Facebook/Palazzo Maffei Verona)

They added: "We are sharing this episode not only for the sake of reporting but to start a real campaign to raise awareness about the value of art and the respect it deserves.

"A heartfelt thank you goes to the police, our security department and the restaurateurs, whose valuable work allowed the recovery of the work.

"And a special thank you to all of you who walk through the museum halls every day with care, attention and wonder.

"Because art is not just for seeing. It is to be loved. It is to be protected."

So, next time you feel like taking a rest in a gallery, maybe aim for the wooden benches rather than the chair covered in crystals.