A rare historical fragment from the Eiffel Tower has been sold at auction for more than €450,000, underscoring continued global demand for iconic architectural memorabilia.
The piece, a 14-step section of the tower’s original spiral staircase, was auctioned on Thursday by the French auction house Artcurial. The final price reached €450,160, significantly exceeding initial estimates of €120,000 to €150,000.
The staircase segment measures approximately 2.75 meters in height and dates back to 1889, when it originally connected the second and third levels of the landmark constructed for the Paris World’s Fair.
According to auction details, the artifact had been in the possession of a private collector for around 40 years before being offered for sale. It was ultimately purchased by a French collector following competitive bidding.
This is not the first time a section of the Eiffel Tower staircase has drawn major interest from collectors. In 2016, another fragment sold for €523,800 at the same auction house, while the record for such items dates back to 2008, when a piece sold at Sotheby’s for €552,750.
Following the installation of an elevator system, the original spiral staircase linking the upper levels of the tower was dismantled in 1983 and divided into 24 sections. Since then, these rare components have gradually entered private collections and museums around the world.
Some of the segments are now displayed in notable international locations, including Japan and the United States, reflecting the global cultural significance of the structure.
The Eiffel Tower, completed by engineer Gustave Eiffel for the 1889 Exposition Universelle, remains one of the most recognizable architectural symbols in the world, standing 324 meters tall and continuing to attract millions of visitors annually.
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