A historic segment of the Eiffel Tower’s original spiral staircase from 1889 was sold at an auction in Paris this week [1], [2], [4].

The sale represents a rare opportunity for collectors to own a physical piece of one of the world's most visited landmarks. The tower attracts approximately seven million visitors annually [4].

Artcurial auction house managed the sale of the piece on May 21, 2026 [4], [2]. The segment was originally removed from the tower during a renovation in 1983 [2]. During that process, the staircase was split into 24 separate pieces [2].

Reports on the exact dimensions of the artifact vary. Some sources describe the segment as 8.5 feet [2] or nine feet [3] long, while others state it measures three metres [1].

The seller of the historic ironwork remained anonymous during the proceedings. The piece is being marketed as a significant historic artifact from the tower's early construction period [1], [2].

“A historic segment of the Eiffel Tower’s original spiral staircase from 1889 was sold”

The sale of architectural fragments from the Eiffel Tower highlights the high market value of industrial heritage. Because the tower is a protected monument, original components only enter the private market when they are removed during official renovations, making these pieces rare commodities for high-end collectors.