Back when Revolution unloaded a lot of props from Hellboy, I scored a few great pieces. Abe Sapien's research box, some Nazi gold, and this, Ilsa's Salt Cellar.
I eventually was able to contact an art director of Hellboy, who turned out to have commissioned this piece, and I was told it's history.
He was in Prague and DelToro wanted the piece. The art director went to do research at the Jewish Museum in Prague, the perfect resource for determining what such an object might have possibly looked like. Guillermo had told him some of the history he wanted the object infused with.
The art director spoke at length to some of the conservators at the museum. These are the people who restore and fix and make replicas of the objects in the museum's collection. Perhaps no group on earth better for helping figure out how such a mystical item might look. After some conversation, they allowed that they could make the object as well as help him design it. So they did. It's made in lost wax, is solid brass, and is, according to the art director, the only one made for the film. It's heavy as hell, and he was surprised that the glass was intact, as they had that custom made for the film too, and one of the two glass vessels they'd made was broken during production.
I picked it up for under $400.00.
Here's a bunch of pictures of what it looks like and the key details. I've been asked by a member to supply a tape measure for size reference, I hope this is sufficient.
It's a gorgeous piece and I'm proud to have it in my collection.
I eventually was able to contact an art director of Hellboy, who turned out to have commissioned this piece, and I was told it's history.
He was in Prague and DelToro wanted the piece. The art director went to do research at the Jewish Museum in Prague, the perfect resource for determining what such an object might have possibly looked like. Guillermo had told him some of the history he wanted the object infused with.
The art director spoke at length to some of the conservators at the museum. These are the people who restore and fix and make replicas of the objects in the museum's collection. Perhaps no group on earth better for helping figure out how such a mystical item might look. After some conversation, they allowed that they could make the object as well as help him design it. So they did. It's made in lost wax, is solid brass, and is, according to the art director, the only one made for the film. It's heavy as hell, and he was surprised that the glass was intact, as they had that custom made for the film too, and one of the two glass vessels they'd made was broken during production.
I picked it up for under $400.00.
Here's a bunch of pictures of what it looks like and the key details. I've been asked by a member to supply a tape measure for size reference, I hope this is sufficient.
It's a gorgeous piece and I'm proud to have it in my collection.
