Entitled “Scarce Air,” the Nike and Air Jordan auction begins at Sotheby’s on March 29th.
While they may be best known for their forays into fine art, including the infamous shredded Banksy incident, Sotheby’s has increasingly garnered worldwide headlines for some of their sneaker auctions. Last year, they sold a pair of game-worn, autographed Jordan 1s from Michael Jordan’s rookie season for $560,000.
But with their latest collection, they’re looking to outdo themselves — and then some. In a special collection entitled Scarce Air, Sotheby’s is auctioning off some of the rarest pairs of Jordan and Nike sneakers ever produced.
The collection includes pairs like the Entourage-inspired Undefeated x Fukijama Gold Air Force 1s, the “Mismatch” Nike Air Yeezy 2 signed by Kanye West, the Eminem “Encore” Jordan IV, and a trio of all-gold Jordans made specifically for R&B superstar Usher.
Opening prices for the collection vary. A pair of Ray Allen media day-worn and signed Air Jordan XXVIII are set for a starting bid for $1,600, while the signed Yeezys have an opening price at $35,000, with the sale expected to go between $40,000 and $60,000.
While the collection is almost entirely made up of coveted Jordans, there are a few Nike models, including a pair of mid-top Air Force 1s designed by South Korean artist June Lee to go with the Yeezys and Fukijama x Entourage Air Force 1s as well.
The collection is a collaboration with Chicago-based sneaker boutique and concierge service English Sole. The bidding on the collection runs through March 29th.