Way back in 1889 when the Eiffel Tower was first constructed, the only way up to the top was by trudging up the 1,911 step staircase. In 1983, the stairs were dismantled and sold off to museums and collectors. Well, if you missed out 20 years ago, now's your chance.

A piece of that staircase is being auctioned at Hotel Drouot auction house on November 19. The 14-foot section once linked the second and third levels on the monument and is expected to fetch between $29,000 and $44,000. Source

I suppose you could turn the step into a coffee table for your living room? Or just prop it up against the wall? Who knows, whatever you might do with it - it will surely be a conversation starter!

A small auction house in Gloucestershire England hosted the art event of the season this past Wednesday. They featured the above painting, widely agreed upon as a portrait of "Rembrandt as Democrates - the laughing philosopher." The authorship of the painting has never been proven, so the auction house had the painting estimated worth at £1000- £1500. Seems the ultimate buyer was more confident of it's provenance and was willing to risk £2.2 million on it.

The 17th century piece, "The Young Rembrandt as Democrates - the Laughing Philosopher", has been in a house in the Cotswolds for 50 years. But speculation mounted in the international art world and several collectors identified it as the genuine article. This led to frenzied bidding at the small auction house in Cirencester, Gloucestershire, with bidders taking just 15 minutes to reach the final price.

Expert Charles Dupplin, of specialist art insurers Hiscox, said Rembrandt's paintings are difficult to identify because he rarely painted the whole piece himself.

What do you think? I did a few reports on the Baroque master back in art school... but couldn't tell ya. This one almost sounds like an urban legend... we'll have to keep our eye on Scopes to discover the truth... Source 

My oh my, I love the internet. Ebay is featuring an auction that guarantees you the Secrets of Invisbility! Yup, invisibility! Evidently all you ever needed to know is in this handy, digital e-book. Of course, at first glance, I was skeptical so I took a peek at the sellers feedback. What did I find, you ask? POSITIVE FEEDBACK! Some people even claim it works. Like I said, I loooooooove the internet. Here's a little bit of the selling copy from the buy-it-now auction:

The Secret of Invisibility has survived the ages but it was always under the tightest control by its masters... UNTIL NOW.

• NO mumbo-jumbo or hocus pocus
• NO spells or potions
  
• NO burning candles or magic wands
  
• NO alchemy or hidden symbols
• NO hype or Bull. You get exactly what you need
  
• NO danger. You can't be hurt in any way
  
• NO disappointment. This works with diligent intent
  
• No trouble. You're either visible or invisible as you wish
  
• NO bait & switch. You get just what we promise

This is one of the best-kept secrets of the ages… a secret so powerful that throughout history, men have literally died trying to wrestle it from the tight fists of its masters.

I was relieved to see that this product comes with a warning that is is for "moral purposes only" and it doesn't involve any magic wands or hocus pocus. That's the exact point where I draw the line in my individual invisibility adventures. No hocus pocus!

Check out the auction here if you dare! For your troubles, you'll also receive a copy of The Wizard's Book of Animal Secrets. You'll learn how to teach your dog to walk on stilts as well as how to keep a squirrel in your pocket. How can you resist this deal for only $19.99? Seriously... I've blown way more than 20 bucks on way more useless items.

Hugh Grant is letting go of his 1963 Elizabeth Taylor by Andy Warhol. It's set to go on the block at Christie's in New York this November and stands to reap 10 times it's previously paid price of $3.5 million in 2001. Hugh's gonna score big out of his relationship with Liz... kinda like Larry Fortensky. Except without the leather jacket/hairy chest combo, natch. Source

I have no idea if you are as obsessed with the tv show Heroes as I am... if you are... you can imagine how excited I was when I found out some of the original artwork from the series is going up for auction.

The artwork in this special auction represents pieces on the show from Isaac’s art gallery. The artwork is actually created by Tim Sale, a comic book artist who has professionally drawn some of the most famous superheroes of modern times including Marvel Comics’ Spider-Man, Hulk, and Daredevil and DC Comics’ Superman and Batman.

On Monday March 26th and Monday April 2nd, immediately after Heroes, fans will be able to bid on unique collector’s editions of this artwork, including the prints on canvas and the original drawings autographed by Tim Sale. NBC has made special arrangements for all proceeds from the art auction to benefit the Epilepsy Foundation.

There are four main pictures on the block (shown above) including: Hiro's T-Rex, Cheerleader on the Stairs, Exploding Man and The Eclipse. None of them are the really cool ones from the show, but they all reflect prominent parts of the story. If you've got a few extra bucks, watch after the show on March 26th and April 2nd. Read more here... 

Ebay is a wonderful, wonderful place. A seller in the UK has the original Pink Panther mobile from the 1960s cartoon tv series. It's the actual car used in the opening sequence where Inspector Clousseau and the Pink Panther jump out to start the show. The car is not in driving condition - but with a little TLC, the right person could get the Oldsmobile Toronado hybrid out on the road in no time. The seller will transfer the rights to show the car with MGM's blessing.

This is pretty cool. I would love to drive up to my office wearing a trench coat and beret and fumble-bumble through my day until everything works out so that I appear quite the genius. I could go out to lunch with my best gal-pals for hamburgers perhaps? Maybe the car is the key to this fantasy? You can find out for yourself...the bidding is currently at 11,000 pounds with only 7 days to go... check out the entire auction listing here.

What happens when animals are feeling artistic? Multi-species experimentation maybe? This bear and bunny are making quite the statement this week in an auction at Christie's in New York. Paul McCarthy's Bear and Rabbit on a Rock is estimated at $1-1.5 million as part of a larger lot called 'Beyond Selections from the Collections of Peter Huber' that will be held February 26, 2007.

During an evening sale on February 26, Christie's New York is to offer 78 pieces from the private collection of post-war and contemporary art of the legendary Swiss connoisseur, art dealer and Lebenskünstler Pierre Huber. Formed over the past two decades, the collection offers a glimpse into the mind and soul of Huber, a relentless purist and uncompromising explorere intent on following a very individual path. The sale is expected to realize in the region of $11-15 million.

The  auction includes additional installations, photography and  works by Cindy Sherman, Jim Shaw, Albert Oehlen and Franz West.

See details on the auction here. Bid 'em if you want 'em! 

Ebay is an amazing place. To think that out of a little pez trading came the mother of all auction houses. This week on ebay - you can own a little piece of American history for a little over $3 million dollars. A Texas collector has put the window from the 6th floor of Dallas' Book Depository building up for auction. Yup folks, the window where Lee Harvey Oswald shot President John Kennedy is now available for you to scoop up. See the whole listing here.

This window and frame was on display for over ten years at the Sixth Floor Museum in Dallas, Texas. The window and frame has been picked up by it's owner Caruth Byrd and is now in his possession. This valuable historical artifact is now being offered for sale to an avid JFK collector by Caruth Byrd, whose family owned the Texas School Book Depository at the time of the assassination, Nov. 22, 1963. Also included in this auction is a leather booklet with all the official documentation and contracts related to the window and frame's authenticity. The assassination of John F. Kennedy changed history and this is perhaps the most famous window ever offered up for sale in the world.

Unfortunately, even I, a master collector of all things curious, can't see displaying this one outside a museum. Maybe the Smithsonian will pick it up...  let's hope so. If not, it could be yours.... $3,000,700 and counting.

Another piece of Vintage Vegas is going up on the block. There will be a 5-day auction Thursday, November 17 - Tuesday, November 22 in Las Vegas of items from the Stardust Casino. They are closing their doors after Gaming tables, artwork, signage, room furnishings, memorabilia, antiques, kitchen items and lots of other lots are up for grabs. Don't miss your chance... I've got my eye on a hippie blackjack table. It would look great in my dining room!

Check out the entire auction catalog and details of the auction here. The sale manifest is huge - pics of hundreds of items here!

Once upon a time there was a casino mogul who loved art and displayed his priceless collections in his various venues. Picasso's famous erotic painting, La Reve, painted of his mistress Marie-Therese Walter recently sold at auction for a record-breaking $140 million dollars to Connecticut collector Steven Cohen. Then Steve Wynn, the painting and casino owner, put his elbow through it. That's the sum of the sad story. Evidently his retinitis pigmentosa was acting up again and he didn't realize as he stepped into the painting and punched his elbow through the forearm of the subject causing a silver-dollar sized hole with 3" tears running from two separate sides. Ouch.

Nora Ephron tells the tale of how she came to witness this art tragedy and how she was sworn to secrecy of the canvas crime on her blog. In her charming version we learn that the Wynns are keeping the painting after all - and they are both very happy about it. The End.

Okay lame rhyme, but it's late, what do you want from me! Anyways... down to bizness! Jack Palance is holding an auction of his private collections at his private home. His large collection of art, furniture, artifacts, automobiles and various sundries will be sold at a 3 day event from October 12-14th.

Jack Palance is a passionate and diverse collector, amassing a huge eclectic collection spanning art and antiques from three centuries and almost every continent. He now lives on his ranch in Southern California.

We are proud to offer you the entire contents of his Pennsylvania collection housed at the historic Holly-Brooke Farm.
More than 3,000 items (approximately 1,800 lots) will come under the hammer with no minimum or reserve.

Check out the complete catalog of items up for sale...

The auction in Cornwall, England on September 26 06 went off without a hitch, well almost, making about $220,000 in total for the 21 oil paintings and 2 sketches attributed to the infamous Nazi leader.

...the sale in a tranquil English town was interrupted by a noisy protest by two self-styled “comedy terrorists. The works, reputed to have been created by Hitler as he served in the German military during the First World War, sold for $220,000 (U.S.) after security staff removed the gatecrashers — one of whom dressed as the Nazi leader and shouted “Third Reich” after making a mock bid. A second protester, Aaron Barschak, previously gained notoriety by dressing up as Osama bin Laden and crashing Prince William's 21st birthday party in 2003.

The works were purchased for as little as $6,100 and as much as $19,975 - with the whole lot exceeding twice it's estimate. The controversial auction brings up mixed emotions among the public. Some believe that profiting off of a mass murder's fame is wrong - while others tend to accept the works as relevant pieces of artistic history, regardless of their creator's criminal atrocities. I suppose outsider art like this is akin to the prison drawings of John Wayne Gacy and the cult-like following they inspire. Read more about the auction here...

Calling all trekkies! Come out come out whereever you are! Christie's is hosting a 40 Years of Star Trek Memorabilia auction spanning the entire franchise. The upcoming sale, October 5-7, 2006 at Christie's in Rockefeller Center, NYC, presents an array of items from the archives of CBS and Paramount Studios.

Star Trek's prolific 40-year history is reflected in an exciting three-day sale that offers fans and colelctors once in a lifetime opportunity to purchase an exciting variety of items - from costumes, weapons, artwork and rare starship models, to original production sets, furniture, accessories and more.

This sale is sure to attract all sorts of Star Trek fans - the die-hards and the ones with the cold cash on hand. Check out the complete auction catalogue here. Early bidding registration ends on 9.15... so get in on the action before it's too late!

Last May, a mysterious man walked into the highly-anticipated Sotheby's auction, was quietly seated in the back, and proceeded to make mincemeat of the veteran aesthetists in the room when he outbid them all for Picasso's Dora Maar au Chat for a cool $95 Million. While he was there he picked up a Monet and a Chagall for good measure, making his purchases total more than half the night's total take. Not bad for an auction newcomer, a virtual artworld nobody. He is rumored to have outbid Steve Wynn, Microsoft's Paul Allen and Leslie Wexner.

The unknown  collector has kept  art circles buzzing about his identity since that unexpected night. Only a (very) few people at Sotheby's know the buyer's identity as well as a handful of dealers and "in-the-know" types. One could deduce that it would take a billionaire to be able to drop that kind of cash without warning... and the number of billionaires in this world is still finite. Speculation is that the man is most likely Russian, thereby explaining why we don't know who he is. He was described as naive with the nuances of auction ettiquette yet agressive with his conquests, relentless with his bidding not flinching until he got what he wanted.... which is consistent with the "New Russian" breed of gazillionaire art-guzzlers.

New York Magazine has done some super-sleuthing and speculation of their own in this edition of Masterpiece Mystery Theater... here's their take on the biggest bidder of them all and his secret identity:

CLUE 1
A Moscow Banker - This piece of information, from a source who claims to know the buyer personally, narrows down the list of 33 Russian billionaires to these men.
        • Boris Ivanishvili, Impexbank; worth $3.9 billion
        • Vagit Alekperov, Imperial Bank; worth $11 billion
        • Alexander Lebedev, National Reserve Bank, worth $3.5 billion
        • Nikolai Tsvetkov, Uralsib; worth $5.2 billion
        • Andrei Melnichenko, MDM-Bank; worth $2.7 billion
        • German Khan, Alfa Group, worth $6.1 billion
        • Sergei Popov, MDM-Bank; worth $2.7 billion
        • Alexei Kuzmichov, Alfa Group; worth $4.8 billion

CLUE 2
But Not Russian - The only way to square this clue with the first is to focus on Moscow bankers who come from countries outside the Russian Federation.
        • German Khan, born in Ukraine
        •Vagit Alekperov, born in Azerbaijan
        • Boris Ivanishvili, born and currently residing in Georgia

CLUE 3
Most Likely Suspect - Alekperov is more of an oilman than a banker, and Khan has art-aficionado friends who would have advised him on auction protocol. So that leaves ...
    • Boris Ivanishvili*  - He fits the profile. Plus, he sold his Moscow bank a week before the auction, giving him $550 million in extra spending money.

Read more about the painting and the auction here. Will the buyer make his name known? Will he continue to anonymously collect art's most coveted canvases and stash them away from the world? Is he good or evil? Time will tell... so stay tuned!