Fans of the weird and wonderful are expected to come out in force to bid on a vampire-slaying kit set for auction – packed with an arsenal of weapons to ward off the mythical beast.
The Victorian-style kit, housed in a wooden box adorned with crosses and a crucifix, includes a dagger, pistol, stakes to drive through the creature’s heart, a 19th century Book of Common Prayer and a bottle labelled ‘Holy Water’. And, in case that’ s not enough, there is also a sizeable axe.
But the curious collectible is pure theatre, according to Hansons Auctioneers, which will be offering the kit for auction on September 26 with a guide price of £800-£1,000. It says the kit was created, probably in the 20th century, to sell as a novelty item to horror fans.
However, it could still exceed expectations under the hammer. In June, a similar whimsical piece sold for a total of £16,900 at Hansons, from an estimate of £2,000-£3,000. The result prompted the seller of the new find to come forward.
The 68-year-old retired driving instructor from Sutton in Ashfield, Nottinghamshire, said: “I bought my vampire-slaying kit about 18 months ago at an international antiques fair in Peterborough. It just caught my eye.
“I like quirky items. It’s a fun piece and a great talking point. I’ve done my research and items like this are created by putting together a selection of objects relating to the vampire myth. I hadn’t heard of one having an axe before. I suppose it’s something to fall back on if the silver bullet doesn’t work. I think this kit could kill zombies as well as vampires!
“I’m well aware it was created just for fun. I’ve had my enjoyment out of it now. I have shown it to all my friends. It’s someone else’s turn to enjoy this quirky collectible.”
Charles Hanson, owner of Hansons Auctioneers, said: “This vampire-slaying kit is pure theatre. Examples, some older than others, emerge from time to time and always spark major interest. The one which achieved £16,900 was owned by a former peer of the realm, Lord William Malcolm Hailey, who lived from 1872 to 1969.
“It made headlines all over the world and, by sheer coincidence, it too was found in Nottinghamshire. These items are sought after for their novelty value and because the vampire myth is still so popular today.
“The fascination with all things dark and mysterious means vampires makes appearances in contemporary TV shows, films and literature. However, references to them go back more than 200 years.
“The creatures, which is said to need human blood to survive, are enshrined in European folklore and embedded in superstition. The publication of John Polidori’s The Vampyre in 1819 had a major impact and that was followed by Bram Stoker’s 1897 classic Dracula.
“If the need arose to kill a vampire particular methods and tools were advised. Items of religious significance, such as crucifixes and Bibles, were said to repel the monsters, hence their presence in the kit.
“Some kits are believed to be late-Victorian novelties but this example is more recent. It may have been created during the era of the classic Hammer Film gothic horror movies which were made from the mid-1950s to 1970s.
“The mix of items confirm its composed nature as some objects are from different centuries. The scissors are early 20th century but the flintlock pistol is mainly 19th century, as is the prayer book. Also, the potion bottles have been artificially aged. Other items include silver-painted lead balls, three crucifixes, rosary beads, a syringe, opera glasses and brass candlesticks. All in all, it’s wonderfully quirky curiosity.”
The vampire-slaying kit will be offered on September 26 in Hansons’ monthly Antiques and Collectors sale which runs from September 22-26. To find out more, or to arrange a free valuation, email [email protected].
Free valuations in Nottinghamshire
Hansons holds free valuation/consignment events in Nottinghamshire. Their team will be at Eastwood Hall, Mansfield Road, Eastwood, NG16 3SS, on September 28, 10am-noon; and the Civil War Museum, 14 Appleton Gate, Newark, NG24 1JY, on September 21, 11am-1pm. To find out more, or to book a free valuation or home visit, email [email protected] or call 01283 733988.
