Guillermo del Toro's Collection Brings $1.65 Million USD at Auction
Leading the sale was H.R. Giger’s painting for “The Tourist.”
Summary
- Marking the first time the Oscar-winning filmmaker has offered works from his personal archive
- H.R. Giger’s painting for the unrealized project “The Tourist” set an auction record
Heritage Auctions has sold the first part of Guillermo del Toro’s famed “Bleak House” collection, raising $1.65 million USD. It is the first time the Oscar-winning filmmaker has offered works from his personal archive, which spans decades of collecting art, props and rare objects tied to his fascination with the macabre.
Artworks topped the results. Bernie Wrightson’s album cover painting for Meat Loaf’s ‘Dead Ringer’ earned $167,000 USD, while his original plate for Marvel’s adaptation of ‘Frankenstein’ brought $250,000 USD. Mike Mignola’s illustration for ‘Hellboy: Seed of Destruction’ (1994) sold for $51,250 USD. Leading the sale was H.R. Giger’s painting for the unrealized project “The Tourist,” which achieved $325,000 USD, setting a new auction record for the Swiss artist.
Props from del Toro’s films also drew strong bids. A clay model of the Amphibian Man from ‘The Shape of Water’ sold for $6,250 USD, Ron Perlman’s trench coat from ‘Hellboy’ fetched $50,000 USD and drivesuits from ‘Pacific Rim’ realized $75,000 USD each.
“These are the creative DNA of one of cinema’s most visionary storytellers,” said Heritage’s Joe Maddalena to Artnet. Del Toro added he felt like “a good guardian” knowing the pieces had found “loving hands.” Two more sales are planned for 2026.
