Guillermo del Toro Auctions Parts of His Horror Collection

Renowned filmmaker Guillermo del Toro is set to auction a segment of his prized horror memorabilia collection, which faced near destruction in a significant wildfire in Los Angeles earlier this year.

The 60-year-old director has partnered with a heritage auction house for this three-part sale, kicking off online on September 26. Interestingly, only a fraction of his extensive collection will be available.

The initial phase of the auction will feature hundreds of items, with more planned for next year’s offerings. Del Toro aims to illustrate his journey as both a collector and a filmmaker through this collection.

He sees this venture as a heartfelt tribute to the collector community, emphasizing the importance of encouraging others to explore and understand film design in diverse ways.

“This hurts,” he reflected. “If you care for someone, you make plans for your belongings. This is my legacy for my family,” Del Toro shared.

As one of the most celebrated contemporary directors, his collection beautifully showcases his distinct visual flair and horror style that permeates his work.

Away from Hollywood, Del Toro is also the custodian of “Bleak House,” which is packed with thousands of eerie figures, beloved cartoons, books, and movie props spread throughout two and a half houses in Santa Monica. It’s a unique blend of a museum, library, and workspace, housing a large part of his extensive collection.

During a tour with the Associated Press, the Oscar winner showcased a dining room themed around a “ghost mansion,” playfully greeting a life-size figure each time he entered.

“This isn’t just a casual collection; it’s curated,” he explained.

This entire collection nearly met its fate in January when a wildfire approached his home, leaving him with just hours to save thousands of irreplaceable items. Remarkably, he managed to rescue 150 pieces before the flames raged on.

Reflecting on the experience, Del Toro expressed the stark realization of how fragile such a comprehensive collection can be, reiterating his lifelong mission to preserve “a portion of human audiovisual history.”

He shared his internal dialogue during the crisis, wondering about the fate of wonderful works from creators like Richard Corben, Jack Kirby, and Bernie Wrightson.

“This is a response to love and fire,” he remarked.

By parting with some of the collection, he hopes to better manage the rest of his home and memorabilia. He devotes much of his time to “Bleak House,” ensuring that his collection is shielded from direct sunlight and kept at a stable temperature.

However, Del Toro doesn’t view this responsibility as a burden.

“As a collector, you’re preserving a piece of culture for future generations. They’re not just yours,” he mused. “I don’t know which items will hold cultural significance in 50 or 100 years. That’s part of the weight I carry.”