The Curious Allure of Vampire Hunting Kits

Most people are curious by nature and generally drawn to mystery. The popularity of treasure boxes with secret compartments fascinates even from childhood and as we grow up, developing spookier tastes, Vampire Hunting Kits are surely the ultimate curiosity.

Hansons auctioneers certainly thought so, putting an antique Vampire Hunting Kit up for auction in July. Housed in a gloriously sombre wooden box covered with velvet and lined with crimson silk, the kit contained everything a dedicated vampire hunter would need: a painting of Christ’s resurrection, rosary beads, no less than three crucifixes and a carved ivory wolf also with a rosary as the religious essentials, a pocket pistol, mother-of-pearl and silver pocket knife and two sets of pliers (presumably for fang removal) for weaponry- and a cobalt blue glass phial (contents unknown), three clear and aqua glass bottles (perhaps for holy water) and a bottle holding sharks teeth.

Bids were estimated to reach around £3000. This is a conservative estimate- Vampire Hunting Kits have been auctioned at Sotheby’s, selling for thousands. One such kit attributed to German craftsman Professor Ernst Blomberg sold for $26,400 even though Professor Blomberg’s existence could not be confirmed. Another sold for $25,000 in 2011 and a Blomberg- attributed kit sold for $13,750 in 2012.

There is no reliable recorded history that can be referred to when examining such kits, but there are many theories about their origin. They certainly appear built for display rather than travel- so did a decorative gun seller design them? Were they based on a ‘standard Vampire Hunting Kit’ from eras past? Considering the subject matter, in such a decorative and intricate showpiece the mystery adds to its story. They are a staple of gothic fiction.

Vampire legends have endured for centuries but became widely popular after publication of John Polidori’s ‘The Vampyre’ in 1819, then reinforced by Bram Stoker’s ‘Dracula’ in 1847. Anne Rice’s books, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Twilight, Van Helsing; every generation seems to have a vampire story and unlike many popular crazes, this theme has endured. It is no wonder that a Vampire Hunters Kit is an incredibly desirable collector’s item.

Even without vampire enthusiasts, every item in such a kit is a curiosity in its own right, from the religious artefact to the weapon to the downright unexplainable. Each kit is unique, personal to the original creator and stored in such a decorative manner that even a person with no more than a passing interest in the supernatural may be drawn to one. These kits are a symbol of excitement, adventure, faith and mystery. Adding to this sense of mystery, the identities of the Sotheby’s buyers have not been confirmed and while the Hanson’s auction has closed, the selling price of the box is currently unknown…