Haunted Collectibles: The Most Chilling Objects Ever Auctioned

Edited by Thomas | 28 October 2025 What if the things that go bump in the night… were for sale? From dolls plucked from shipwrecks to exorcist kits that recall spooky rituals, history has a way of holding onto the eerie. This Halloween, Catawiki has delved deep into its archives to unearth the most unsettling haunted collectibles ever to pass under the gavel. These aren’t just curiosities – they’re ghost stories with receipts. The Doll That Survived the Titanic It began with a fisherman off the Spanish coast. What he thought was a piece of driftwood turned out to be a porcelain doll’s head, later linked to Titanic survivor Eva Hart. The child was just seven when the ship sank in 1912. Decades later, this haunted relic, bearing the weight of both tragedy and resilience, was sold to a Belgian collector for €6,500. The Vampire Killing Kit That Was Almost Too Prepared Some objects are strange. Others are strangely… prepared. The 19th-century vampire killing kit sold on Catawiki in 2017 might belong to the latter. Neatly arranged in a wooden box were the hallmarks of old-world fear: a copper mirror, a silver bullet, vials of holy water, and a cross. It sold for just €450 – a small price to pay for peace of mind, should things ever go bump in the night for real. This creepy antique remains one of Catawiki’s most talked-about haunted objects. A Mermaid Made for the Stage (and Your Nightmares) The Fiji Mermaid is the stuff of circus lore – part fish, part monkey, all unsettling. Made famous by showman P.T. Barnum, it stirred wonder and dread in equal measure. Though the original was lost to fire, replicas continue to surface, like the one that sold on Catawiki in 2018 for €1,000. Fins and fur, myth and mockery, stitched together into a single, uncanny creation – the kind of cursed auction item collectors dream of - or have nightmares about! A Witch Trial Condemnation, Signed in Fear Europe’s witch trials were neither legend nor fantasy. They were horrifyingly real. In 1603, Ursula Grimm stood accused of dancing with the devil at a wedding. Her fate was sealed by a letter – one written during a time when fear ruled and torture spoke louder than truth. That very letter, yellowed and frayed, changed hands on Catawiki in 2015 for €2,550. The Swimmer Who Never Swam There’s something uniquely disquieting about antique dolls. Perhaps it’s the fixed gaze or the too-human expressions. This automaton doll, dressed in a century-old swimmer’s outfit, still “moved” as if to dive – despite its age. Crafted with a Simon & Halbig head, its charm was as haunting as it was nostalgic. It sold for €700 in 2022, though its stare lingers unpaid. A Wrinkled Japanese Ghost of the Edo Period Age does strange things to paper – stains like shadows, creases like scars. The Japanese print sold in 2022 looked innocent enough at first glance. But look closer, and you’d find the wear told a different tale. Dating back to the Edo period (1603–1867), it fetched €560. Whether it once adorned a temple wall or drifted through unknown hands, this spooky collectible now whispers quietly from a collector’s shelf. A Briefcase Built for Battles of the Soul The exorcist’s briefcase is not the kind of thing one buys lightly. It isn’t just a leather case from the 1920s. It contains more than 20 sacred tools – a rosary, holy water flasks, a crucifix, and even a portable altar. Auctioned in 2025 for €443, this case likely never asked for attention… until now. It waits, quiet and patient, for a collector brave enough to open it. Whether you’re a seasoned collector or simply love a good spine-tingling tale, these eerie artefacts are a reminder of just how strange and wonderful our world can be. And who knows? The next haunted heirloom might be waiting for you in Catawiki’s auctions… Are you ready to explore the unknown? Have a look through our most curious and extraordinary items currently up for auction – if you dare. Browse the strange, the rare, and the utterly unforgettable special objects on Catawiki. You might also like: Top 10 Craziest Cars Ever These are the most bizarre objects ever sold on Catawiki