A COLLECTION of drawings recording the building of the Eiffel Tower is going under the hammer in Dorchester.
The sketches drawn by Warwick Herbert Draper in the late 19th century are going up for auction at Dukes’ fine painting auction on September 29.
Mr Draper, a qualified barrister as well as a writer and artist, made the sketches when he was a 17-year-old student.
They have been passed down through his family and until now have been owned by his grandson who lives in Dorset.
Deborah Doyle valuer at Dukes commented: “The drawings are of great interest as they show different stages of the Eiffel Tower being constructed.
“Draper was obviously a very talented draughtsman.
“These small drawings show first the geological sections of the strata at the foot of the tower, the position of the four foundation blocks and several drawings of workers at work including one of the Edoux lifts with people changing cars at a height of 650ft.
“The final drawing of the summit of the Eiffel Tower shows the light-house, laboratories, and the Edoux lift.”
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