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A piece of history went on the bidding block, and the buyer paid big.
The Eiffel Tower, located in Paris, France, was built between 1887-1889 to use as the entrance for the 1889 World's Fair. Now the Eiffel Tower is one of the most recognizable landmarks in all the world.So it was no surprise people were excited when the original staircase connecting the second and third levels went up for auction.
We just didn't realize how excited they would be. $192,107.00 worth of excitement to be exact.
That is what one Middle Eastern bidder paid to call a piece of history their own. The French auction house Artcurial originally estimated the stairs would fetch around $40,000-$60,000.
Image the surprise when that number tripled.
Viva La France!
A Piece of the Eiffel Tower's Original Staircase Is Going Up for Auction — https://t.co/KRHEpAhtyi https://t.co/Y9GFDWefMA— Mental Floss (@Mental Floss)1543350182.0
Eiffel Tower stairs sell for €170,000 at auction https://t.co/eAIIimO0z7 https://t.co/sdqH1O6Zaz— The Local France (@The Local France)1543390985.0
Anonymous collector buys a section of original Eiffel Tower staircase for over $190,000 https://t.co/P5dp5BHOsl— TRT World Now (@TRT World Now)1543435825.0
@TRTWorldNow Honestly I’m surprised it didn’t go for more than that... as well as surprised that selling staircases is even a thing.— Mr. Fabulous (@Mr. Fabulous)1543459996.0
@TRTWorldNow This is remarkable after the fact but at the time, who would’ve imagined to think to save a staircase so it can one day be sold— AChap (@AChap)1543466533.0
@mental_floss seems low, tbh— Mr Cara Patricia🍾🤦🏻♀️ (@Mr Cara Patricia🍾🤦🏻♀️)1543446908.0
@CaraPatricia @mental_floss That's what I thought. Hell, Imma buy me some fancy, historic, French stairs! https://t.co/o2jmHY3de4— MyCrappyTV (@MyCrappyTV)1543458490.0
Not everyone was so impressed.
@mental_floss Some have more money than sense— TheRealPaterson (@TheRealPaterson)1543469051.0
@TheLocalFrance Where’s the rest of the staircase though 🤔— ceraunophile (@ceraunophile)1543452453.0
@TheLocalFrance Good price for a staircase that doesn't even do its job; did Mr Eiffel have to jump the last part?— Esther Pope (@Esther Pope)1543451805.0
No, your eyes are not deceiving you.
@mental_floss Has anyone else noticed that in the older photo, the stairs are going clockwise, and the newer photo… https://t.co/r93fDMBKAD— Gary Martin (@Gary Martin)1543468170.0
@murphygtm @mental_floss Hmm, I think older photos are often mirrored images, no?— Yannie *:･ﾟ✧ (@Yannie *:･ﾟ✧)1543469894.0
A great piece of history perhaps, but $192,107.00 great?
H/T: CNN, Twitter Moments