A unique pair of sneakers designed by the supplier adidas and the German porcelain maker Meissen could become the first to reach the price of a million dollars at the end of a sale organized by the house Sotheby's, estimates the latter.
This pretty pair of sneakers is unique.
KENA BETANCUR / AFP
In recent years, auction houses have positioned themselves in the collector's sneakers market, but until now they only offered copies from even limited series.
The model that will be offered for sale online from Monday until December 16 is unique and estimated by Sotheby's between “
1 and 1,000,000
” dollars.
Note: these sneakers are not made to be worn.
KENA BETANCUR / AFP
Based on the ZX8000, a popular model marketed by adidas, the leather pair was painted by craftsmen from Meissen, who then affixed porcelain elements, also decorated.
These sneakers are not meant to be worn.
The design, rarity, and price of these adidas could help take the now established collector's basketball market to a new level.
Like art
The record for a pair of athletic shoes has been broken several times this year, the last by Nike Air Jordan 1s, which sold for $ 615,000 after a sale organized by Christie's in mid-August.
Read also: A pair of Air Jordan 1 sold for $ 615,000, a record
"
There is an evolution in the market, which now sees these sneakers as art,
" explains Brahm Wachter, director of online sales development at Sotheby's.
Until now, the American supplier Nike has been by far the most popular among collectors, mainly through the house brand Jordan Brand, associated with former basketball legend Michael Jordan.
“
Auction houses are capitalizing on the emergence of 'sneaker' culture and using it to attract new audiences to their ecosystem,
” said Tom Woodger, vice-president in charge of cultural marketing for the platform StockX online sales.
"
These extremely rare products offered by auction houses only concern the richest 0.01% among collectors,
" he continues, while specialized platforms like StockX "
provide access to the rest
".
For Brahm Wachter, if other unique pairs were offered at auction, “
it would change the market
”, with the arrival of new collectors and the emergence of a
different price
“
dynamic
”.
As such, he says, the sale which starts Monday and the proceeds of which will go to the Brooklyn Museum in New York and its programming for the young people of the city, “
is truly a first.
It's a test.
"