The finest, hand crafted hauntiques
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About Dark Artefacts
Dark Artefacts, spelt with an ‘e’ (we’re Brits), was conceived in 2014 with one goal in mind: to create the kind of museum quality effects we’d like to collect and perform ourselves.
Since that time our portfolio of products has steadily grown offering the magic and mentalism community some of the most unique and innovative performance pieces available anywhere.
Some of our creations are entirely new. Others are recreations and adaptations often based around true events using familiar principles. Every DA product will have one thing in common though – a dark authenticity which turns audiences into believers. And if our effects help mystery performers and bizarre magicians enhance their performances and unsettle audiences. We’re happy.
Meet the team
Nick Birch
Creative Director
Nick Birch is the Creative Director and owner of Dark Artefacts. Nick is a writer, designer and photographer and has run creative agencies for most of his career. He's also a magician and collector of bizarre wonderments.
Karen Woodhead
Communications Director
Karen has spent over 25 years in marketing and is currently Global Marketing Director for a market leading software company. A creative strategist, writer and promulgator of exemplary customer relations, Karen provides consultancy services for Dark Artefacts.
Peter Heath
Woodworking Evangelist
Pete is a cabinet maker and restorer of fine antiquities and has established himself as an invaluable member of the Dark Artefacts team. Pete brings many years experience of intricate woodworking and finishing, keeping many of the old techniques alive for our customers to enjoy.
our vision
Our vision is to become the leading producer and manufacturer of niche props and effects worldwide. Our ideation, storytelling, engineering and artistic prowess enable us to push at the edges of what’s possible to create museum quality pieces that performers love to use and that collectors covet.
What makes Dark Artefact's props different?
For us, the devil is in the detail. Literally. From the props themselves to the carefully curated backstory and detailed routining that accompanies each of our effects. Several customers have commented that antique ‘experts’ have appraised our props and confirmed their antiquity. This makes us smile. It’s the icing on the cake as most of our props don’t just look authentic. They are authentic. They are made the same way, using traditional methods and craftsmanship and finished with ‘proper’ period correct fittings.
Where are Dark Artefact's props made?
Everything we sell is manufactured in our own workshops and studio. From detailed woodworking and metal fabrication to electronics, model-making and printing. The only items we outsource are our PCBs. We don’t buy pre-built items and modify them everything is designed and built from the ground up to our own exacting specifications so you won’t find props like these anywhere else.
You're based in the UK, where do you ship to?
We ship worldwide. We use a brokerage service that helps us find the best shipping rates. We only ship with recognised carriers such as DPD, DHL, FedEx and UPS. Smaller items are often sent via Royal Mail to keep costs to a minimum. Our items are always sent tracked and require a signature on receipt.
How long will I have to wait for an item?
You can check stock levels on each product page. If an item is in stock it will ship within three working days and you’ll be notified by our system when your order is complete. You will then receive a further email with a tracking number.
Some of our regular products are available for backorder. Lead times are provided for back orders on each individual product page. If backordering is not available simply add your email to the ‘in-stock notifier’ and you’ll be notified as soon as it becomes available again so you can decide if you still want to purchase.
Ordering from us
Our preferred method of payment is PayPal via the website. We also accept bank transfers so please email us if you’re considering that as an option. We also accept most major credit cards at conventions here in the UK. It’s probably also worth mentioning that we don’t discount our products other than at conventions. We prefer to reward our loyal customers in other ways – with add-ons, extras and customisations if they are required.
Consulting & Commissions
Having our own workshop, studio, photographic and printing facilities allows us to turn (almost) any idea into reality. We’ve produced props for visitor attractions, illusion shows and as one-off performance pieces.
We’re able to advise on design, production, routining and storytelling so if you have an idea and think it would make a really cool prop, we’d love to hear from you so get in touch.
Bizarre Magic Dealer Alliance
Dark Artefacts is a founding member of the BMDA. This volountary initiative was created to try and reinstate some trust back into the bizarre magic community and set the standard for distance selling.
It exists for the benefit of consumers so they can be reasurred in the knowledge that those dealers displaying the Hamsa logo are trusted, professionals running legitimate businesses.
