Eiffel Tower staircase section to be auctioned in Paris

PARIS — A section of the original spiral staircase from the Eiffel Tower will be auctioned in Paris on May 21, according to Le Parisien.The piece, consisting of 14 riveted steel steps dating back to the tower’s construction in 1889, will be sold by Artcurial.It is expected to fetch between €120,000 ($140,000) and €150,000 ($175,000), and has been held by a private collector for more than 40 years.Designed under engineer Gustave Eiffel, the staircase originally connected the second and third levels of the iconic monument.It was dismantled in 1983 during modernization work, when 20 sections were auctioned and later dispersed around the world.Previous sales have drawn strong interest, with similar sections selling for more than €200,000 in recent years, according to Artcurial.The auction house said early interest in the upcoming sale has come from international collectors.