Oscar-winning film director Guillermo del Toro sold the first part of his macabre collection, known as "Bleak House," through Heritage Auctions in Dallas, Texas, for a total of $1.65 million. The trove included art, props, and rare objects tied to his fascination with the macabre, with highlights such as H. R. Giger's painting for the unrealized project *The Tourist* fetching $325,000 (an auction record for the artist), Mike Mignola's original illustration for *Hellboy: Seed of Destruction* selling for over $50,000, and Bernie Wrightson's cover for Meat Loaf's *Dead Ringer* album reaching $167,000. Props from del Toro's films, including a clay model of the Amphibian Man from *The Shape of Water* and drivesuits from *Pacific Rim*, also sold for significant sums.
The sale matters because it demonstrates the strong market demand for film memorabilia and macabre art, particularly when tied to a visionary director like del Toro. The auction's success, with bidders responding to what Heritage Auctions executive vice president Joe Maddalena called "the creative DNA of one of cinema's most visionary storytellers," underscores the crossover between Hollywood and the fine art market. The remaining two parts of the collection, set to be sold in spring and fall of next year, will likely continue to attract attention from collectors and fans alike.