A pair of silk mules believed to have belonged to Marie-Antoinette fetched over 43,000 euros at an auction of French Revolution era artefacts on Saturday.
The white silk shoes decorated with tricolour pleated ribbons date back to 1790 and are size 36.5, which corresponds to Marie-Antoinette’s shoe size.
They went under the hammer in the French city of Toulon for 43,225 euros (over $57,000), vastly exceeding the expected sale price of 5,000 euros.
The shoes may have been worn by the Austrian-born Marie-Antoinette, the Queen consort of Louis XVI, at national day celebrations on July 14, 1790.
Marie-Antoinette, the subject of deep resentment in France for her legendary extravagance, was executed by the guillotine in October 1793 for treason following the revolution.
- Marie Antoinette’s silk slippers sell for 62,000 euros
A pair of silk slippers that have been worn by Marie-Antoinette, the wife of French monarch Louis XVI, sold at auction for 62,460 euros on Wednesday.... - Beatles guitar auctioned for $408,000 in US
A six-cord electric guitar that Beatles John Lennon and George Harrison played went under the hammer for $408,000, Julien's Auctions said Sunday.... - Coffee with Apple chief: $610,000
An anonymous bidder paid $610,000 in a charity auction for coffee date with Apple chief Tim Cook, the organizers said Wednesday.... - Harry Winston buys $26.7mn diamond at auction
Prestigious jeweller Harry Winston bought a new colourless, flawless 101.73-carat diamond for a record $26.7 million at an auction in Geneva on Wednes... - Lollobrigida’s jewels sell for nearly $5 million
A pair of pearl earrings belonging to actress Gina Lollobrigida sold for an auction record of $2.39 million at Sotheby's Geneva Tuesday....
