Relics Antique Mall welcomes Hollywood set decoration buyers for Christopher Nolan movie

Over the last year, Relics Antique Mall has been a popular destination for Hollywood buyers, sourcing props for in-production films.

Last week, Relics welcomed set decoration buyers in search of pieces for the upcoming movie "Oppenheimer" from director Christopher Nolan.

According to IMDb, "Oppenheimer" is based on the book, "American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer" by Kai Bird. Oppenheimer, an American scientist, is considered father of the atomic bomb.

The film stars Cillian Murphy as Oppenheimer, along with Florence Pugh, Matt Damon, Emily Blunt and Robert Downey Jr. It is expected to be released in July 2023.

Relics Antique Mall owner Beverly Robb said the buyers spent two days at the antique mall, looking for American antiques from the 1920s and 1930s. Purchased items included a wood bureau desk, cremation urn, glass candlestick, wooden file cabinets and more.

"We just can't wait to see the movie and see all of our things featured," Robb said.

Buyers for 'Killers of the Flower Moon' make several trips to Relics

Last week's visit was the second time in the last year Relics had visitors from Hollywood. During the summer, buyers for Martin Scorsese's upcoming film "Killers of the Flower Moon" stopped by.

Robb said she was unaware the buyers were from Hollywood initially. However, they made several trips to the store and bought in "mass quantities." An intrigued staff member discovered they were set decoration buyers for Scorsese's film.

While an assortment of antiques were purchased, Robb said the focus was on American, Empire-style furniture from the 1800s. Furniture from this era usually appears heavy and substantial, with ornate carving, brass details and animal-paw feet. Lamps, chairs and display cabinets were among the purchased antiques.

"Killers of the Flower Moon" follows the 1920s FBI investigation into the murder of members of the Osage Nation in the United States. The film, expected for release this year, stars Leonardo DiCaprio, Jesse Plemons and Brendan Fraser, according to IMDb.

Relics Antique Mall is the largest antique mall in Missouri at 90,000 square feet. The store says 500 dealers sell items ranging from $1 to museum collectibles. Robb said she believes the selection is what draws set decoration buyers in.

"I think they choose us because we do have such a huge collection to choose from," Robb said. "They know when they come here, they're not going to leave empty handed. They're going to have a lot of items they can pick up and make it worth their while."

Relics Antique Mall is located at 2015 W. Battlefield Road. Relics is open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and noon to 6 p.m. Sunday.

This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: Christopher Nolan movie to feature set pieces from Relics Antique Mall