A significant 8.5-foot segment of the Eiffel Tower's original 19th-century spiral staircase will be auctioned by Artcurial on May 21. This piece, removed during a 1983 renovation and one of only 24 sections created, has remained in private French hands since its initial sale that same year and is expected to fetch between €40,000 and €50,000.
The auction highlights the enduring market for architectural relics and fragments of cultural history. The dispersal of these staircase sections—with pieces now in museums, institutions like Disneyland, and private collections worldwide—demonstrates how iconic monument parts become coveted collectibles. The sale also provides a barometer for this niche market, as this will be the fifth such segment Artcurial has sold since 2013, with prices historically ranging dramatically based on size and demand.