A unique segment of the Eiffel Tower's staircase, consisting of 24 rust-coloured steps, was auctioned for €450,160 by the Artcurial auction house on May 21, 2023. This section, measuring 2.75 meters high, was part of the original staircase that connected the second and third floors of the iconic structure since its inauguration in 1889. The staircase was dismantled during renovations in 1983, when lifts were added to the monument, and has since been cut into 24 sections. Few of these sections remain in France, making this auction particularly significant. The final sale price surpassed initial estimates, which ranged from €120,000 to €150,000. However, it still falls short of the record set in 2016, when a similar piece sold for €523,800 at a Sotheby's auction. Ownership of this staircase segment not only symbolizes a piece of Parisian history but also places the buyer among a select group of collectors who own parts of the Eiffel Tower's structure.