•Lot 104
Eiffel Tower Staircase Section
A standing section of the original staircase from the Eiffel Tower, circa 1889. Made of puddled iron, and designed by French engineer Gustave Eiffel for the Exposition Universelle of 1889 in Paris. All parts of the staircase are original, with only the most essential repairs unobtrusively performed. Rust-proof paint has been added in the original color, which was found under many older layers. There are 18 steps on the section of staircase. It is 10 feet 9 inches to the top step, and 14 feet 8 inches to the top rail, with 596 rivets holding the section together.
Acquisition and Restoration
The consignor purchased a section of the Eiffel Tower staircase in August 2008 in Florida. The former owner of the staircase had essentially abandoned it over 20 years earlier. The consignor’s company was performing work for the first owner’s company, and that’s how he came to be aware of the staircase. The consignor decided it would be best to place the staircase in a warehouse where it could be protected from the elements while it was examined and evaluated for care.
An extensive conservation intervention program was conducted, with the utmost sensitivity directed towards preserving the original condition of the staircase and its structural integrity. A team of professional restorers was consulted as to what was needed. The staircase was first gently sandblasted to remove any rust particles, clean out metal debris and old sediment between the stair-step and handrail elements, and to remove the many additional layers of paint that had accumulated over the course of 120 years.
After the sandblasting, a restorative painter oversaw the application of a two-part epoxy coating of the exposed metal, sealing and preserving it. For the next step in the restoration, a craftsman-blacksmith, specializing in old metals was consulted. He used a minimally-invasive gentle heat process, overseeing the straightening of bent hand rails, treads, and risers. This was damage that had occurred over the many years of use, removal, and storage. None of the steps, risers, or railings was replaced; all were kept intact and the original structure maintained. In addition, a custom-made tripod was designed and fabricated, to be affixed to the base of the staircase for ease of display.
As the last step in this painstaking and meticulous process, the painter then came back to apply a final coat of paint. The true color of this last coat was discovered from areas of the staircase where the original paint could be seen after the sandblasting had been finished. That work was done so carefully that certain areas were buffed free of the subsequent layers of paint leaving traces of that first coat. This color was exactingly matched, so as to preserve the integrity of the staircase section, and to heighten the beauty and splendor of its original state.
The Eiffel Tower and the 1889 World’s Fair or Exposition Universelle
The Eiffel Tower is one of the most iconic images in the world, and has inspired dreams, envy, exasperation, and adoration since it was first built. It was made for the Exposition Universelle of 1889, also known as the World’s Fair, held to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the storming of the Bastille, an event traditionally considered as the symbol for the beginning of the French Revolution. The Eiffel Tower, named after Gustave Eiffel, the chief designer and engineer, was started in 1887 and completed in 1889, and acted as the gateway arch to the Fair. The fair lasted from 6 May to 31 October 1889.
The Eiffel Tower is 1,063 feet tall, making it the tallest building in Paris, and was the tallest man-made structure in the world until 1930 . The tower was constructed of puddled iron, a form of purified wrought iron. It has three levels for visitors, the first having over 300 steps to reach it, as does the second. There are no steps to the third level. The tower needs thousands of gallons of paint every seven years to protect it from rust.
The original lifts were replaced by modern components in 1982. At that time, the structural changes required for the new elevators allowed two new emergency staircases to be installed. These replaced the dangerous winding stairs that were put in when the tower was first constructed. It was these staircase sections that constituted the sale of the first 20 pieces staged by Ader-Picard-Tajan in Paris in 1983.
The last piece offered at auction went for $810,000.
Estimate: $300,000 - $400,000