A nine‑foot fragment of the Eiffel Tower’s original spiral staircase will be offered at auction next month, marking the first of the 1983‑era pieces to reappear on the market. The 14‑step section, owned by an unnamed French businessman, has been restored by the tower’s own maintenance artisans. Artcurial is handling the sale, positioning the relic as a tangible link to Gustave Eiffel’s 1889 marvel.

The lot carries an estimate of €120,000‑€150,000 (about $146,000‑$176,000), a figure Artcurial hopes to exceed given the rarity of such components. In 2016, a comparable segment fetched €523,800, setting a benchmark the house aims to surpass. The auction could attract private collectors, cultural institutions, and corporations eager to display a piece of engineering history.

With roughly seven million visitors ascending the tower each year, this sale underscores the enduring commercial appeal of iconic heritage assets. Buyers will join a small cadre that already houses staircase fragments in museums such as the Musée d’Orsay and abroad in New York and Japan. The transaction will likely reinforce the market for high‑profile historical artifacts.