Sotheby's Sneaker Auction: 100 Rarest Sneakers Ever Produced

Sotheby’s sneaker auction is where the worlds of art and sneakers meet.

The Nike Waffle Racing Flat, Moon Shoe (size 12.5) is estimated to be worth US$110,000 -160,000.

Some sneakers on auction include the 1994 Air Jordan 1 and the handmade Nike “Moon Shoe” from 1972, designed by Nike co-founder Bill Bowerman.

The auction, which runs through to July 23, is held in partnership with sneaker reseller platform Stadium Goods. It has been described as the “ultimate sneaker collection, presented in the first ever auction of its kind.”

The collection comprises mostly Nike branded sneakers and some Adidas selections including the Adidas PW x CC Hu NMD and Yeezy Boost 350 V2.

According to Quartz, Sotheby’s is expecting these shoes to fetch high prices – possibly US$3,000 for the 1994 Jordans; up to US$50,000 for the Adidas NMD; and an astronomical US$160,000 for the Nike Moon Shoe.

The highly-valued Moon Shoe was made by hand in 1972 by Bill Bowerman, who gained inspiration for the grippy sole from his waffle iron. The pair on auction is the only unworn pair known to exist, according to Sotheby’s.

Sotheby’s and street culture

Going by the auction house’s track record in recent months, it doesn’t surprise us to see the worlds of Sotheby’s and street culture conflating.

In March this year, Sotheby’s auctioned a complete set of Supreme skateboards (sold to a young Chinese collector, Carson Guo) and pieces from the personal collection of Nigo, founder of streetwear label A Bathing Ape.

The position that sneakers hold in culture today cannot be underestimated and it’s – for want of a better adjective – cool that the world’s oldest auction house recognizes their value.

Interested to bid or ogle at shoes? Visit the Sotheby’s sneaker auction page.

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