Take a stake in a DIY vampire slayer kit (complete with garlic paste)
IT IS a collection that could have come straight from the workshop of Professor Van Helsing.
A vampire-slaying kit equipped with crucifixes and a Bible is to go under the hammer at an auction next week.
Constructed from a metal lockable box, the 19th century kit contains an array of religious symbols, including several crucifixes, rosary beads and an oval picture of Jesus.
Glass bottles enclosing holy water and garlic paste, pliers and a pistol are among the other unusual items contained within the “Gothic box”.
It is expected to create a flurry of interest among fans of the supernatural when it is auctioned on Thursday, with experts predicting a final cost as high as £3,000.
The owner, who is from the West Midlands and wished to remain anonymous, told how he was initially attracted by the design rather than the provenance of the kit.
They said: “I know very little of its history. I have had it in my own collection for three years now. I bought it from a large antiques fair in Newark. “I loved the look of the Gothic box and, when I opened it, I just had to have it. I thought it was so interesting – a great conversation piece.”
The popularity of vampire shows such as Dracula and The Vampire Diaries is hoped to boost the appeal of the historic kit and bring it to a more mainstream audience. Charles Hanson, owner of Hansons Auctioneers, in
Derby, which is handling the sale of the vampire box, added: “People are fascinated by stories of vampires, hence their continued appearance in films and TV today. They have been part of popular culture for more than 200 years.”
“Items of religious significance, such as crucifixes and Bibles, were said to repel these monsters, hence their strong presence in the kit we have found.”