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1940s Metal Trunk

French Cabin Trunk by Innovation in Beige Canvas, 1940s
French Cabin Trunk by Innovation in Beige Canvas, 1940s

French Cabin Trunk by Innovation in Beige Canvas, 1940s

$1,647

H 13.78 in W 35.44 in D 23.23 in

French Cabin Trunk by Innovation in Beige Canvas, 1940s

Located in Barcelona, ES

1940s cabin trunk manufactured by Innovation. It is made all in wood and canvas, it has wooden black painted bars with metal protections and leather and iron fittings.

Category

20th Century French Trunks and Luggage

Materials

Metal, Iron

Two 1940s Royalshire Ever-Wear Trunk Works Green Embossed Leather Suitcases
Two 1940s Royalshire Ever-Wear Trunk Works Green Embossed Leather Suitcases

Two 1940s Royalshire Ever-Wear Trunk Works Green Embossed Leather Suitcases

Located in Morristown, NJ

Two 1940's vintage "Royalshire Ever-Wear Trunk Works" suitcases in a dark green alligator pattern, made of embossed cowhide with lovely stitching detail. The interior is fabric lined...

Category

Vintage 1940s American Mid-Century Modern Trunks and Luggage

Materials

Metal

Mid‑Century Rustic French Tree Trunk Stool, France 1940s
Mid‑Century Rustic French Tree Trunk Stool, France 1940s

Mid‑Century Rustic French Tree Trunk Stool, France 1940s

Located in Meulebeke, BE

This combination of natural wood and industrial metal reflects a transitional moment in French design, when traditional materials met the emerging modernist sensibility of the 1940s.

Category

Vintage 1940s French Mid-Century Modern Stools

Materials

Metal

Recent Sales

1940's Cream Colored Trunk
1940's Cream Colored Trunk

1940's Cream Colored Trunk

Sold

H 10 in W 13 in D 19 in

1940's Cream Colored Trunk

Located in Napa, CA

Pig skin leather has held up beautifully over the decades. This cream colored valise has a great patina,very nice chrome details and the interior is in great condition. The locks o...

Category

Vintage 1940s Trunks and Luggage

Materials

Metal

1940s Spanish Leather & Wood Travel Trunk w/ Initials
1940s Spanish Leather & Wood Travel Trunk w/ Initials

1940s Spanish Leather & Wood Travel Trunk w/ Initials

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H 24.02 in W 34.26 in D 20.48 in

1940s Spanish Leather & Wood Travel Trunk w/ Initials

Located in Marbella, ES

Vintage 1940s Spanish leather & wood travel trunk with initials.

Category

Mid-20th Century Spanish Trunks and Luggage

Materials

Metal, Iron

Antique Wood and Metal Travel Trunk, Italy 1940s
Antique Wood and Metal Travel Trunk, Italy 1940s

Antique Wood and Metal Travel Trunk, Italy 1940s

Sold

H 24.81 in W 23.63 in D 39.38 in

Antique Wood and Metal Travel Trunk, Italy 1940s

Located in Naples, IT

Antique travel trunk with distinctive shape Presents some signs of time, there are traces of rust on the frames. The interior, lined with lovely flowered paper,needs restoration.

Category

Vintage 1940s Italian Mid-Century Modern Trunks and Luggage

Materials

Metal

Leather Travel Trunk with Handles, France 1940s
Leather Travel Trunk with Handles, France 1940s

Leather Travel Trunk with Handles, France 1940s

Sold

H 14.18 in W 27.17 in D 11.42 in

Leather Travel Trunk with Handles, France 1940s

Located in Barcelona, ES

Beautiful leather trunk manufactured at the mid-20th century period in France. It has very nice proportions, handles at both sides and 2 large solid metal rings at the back enable to...

Category

Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Trunks and Luggage

Materials

Metal, Iron

Art Deco Industrial Suitcase Trunk, Crocodile look, France 1940s
Art Deco Industrial Suitcase Trunk, Crocodile look, France 1940s

Art Deco Industrial Suitcase Trunk, Crocodile look, France 1940s

Located in Saarbruecken, DE

Brown Art Deco suitcase with a reptile pattern - an original piece for travel or as home decor. Hard cardboard shell with metal details, two keys and a brown leather luggage tag. The...

Category

Mid-20th Century French Art Deco Trunks and Luggage

Materials

Metal

1940s Folk Art Wire with Slatted Wood Lidded Box or Storage Trunk
1940s Folk Art Wire with Slatted Wood Lidded Box or Storage Trunk

1940s Folk Art Wire with Slatted Wood Lidded Box or Storage Trunk

Located in Ferndale, MI

Slats of wood connected by twisted wire for the box part of this trunk. Larger boards make up the top.

Category

Mid-20th Century American Folk Art Native American Objects

Materials

Sheet Metal, Wire

1940's English Leather Luggage Trunk
1940's English Leather Luggage Trunk

1940's English Leather Luggage Trunk

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H 18 in W 24 in D 18 in

1940's English Leather Luggage Trunk

Located in New York, NY

Made in England. Vintage, leather luggage trunk.

Category

Vintage 1940s English Trunks and Luggage

Materials

Metal

Madler Koffer Steamer Trunk, 1940s
Madler Koffer Steamer Trunk, 1940s

Madler Koffer Steamer Trunk, 1940s

Sold

H 42.13 in W 21.26 in D 18.51 in

Madler Koffer Steamer Trunk, 1940s

By Moritz Maedler

Located in Sint Joris Weert, BE

Vintage travel trunk or steamer trunk. In the past when travelling was for the wealthy, these suitcases or travel trunks where used to store as much home goods and clothing as pos...

Category

Vintage 1940s German Industrial Trunks and Luggage

Materials

Metal, Copper

1940s Royal WWII Canvas Artillery Trunk Found in France
1940s Royal WWII Canvas Artillery Trunk Found in France

1940s Royal WWII Canvas Artillery Trunk Found in France

Located in Houston, TX

This canvas artillery trunk was sourced in France and dates to the 1940s during World War II. The interior is sectioned and there is a lock on the front of the piece, but no key. The...

Category

Vintage 1940s French Historical Memorabilia

Materials

Metal

People Also Browsed

Library of Antique Leatherbound Books
Library of Antique Leatherbound Books

Library of Antique Leatherbound Books

$3,177 / set

H 61.03 in W 31.5 in D 47.25 in

Library of Antique Leatherbound Books

Located in Brønshøj, DK

This collection consists of 400 antique decorative books, mainly dating from 1850–1950, with most published before 1920. The books are bound in leather, many with fine gold leaf embo...

Category

20th Century Danish Victorian Books

Materials

Gold Leaf

Napoleon III Patinated Bronze & Ormolu Crown, France, Circa 1870
Napoleon III Patinated Bronze & Ormolu Crown, France, Circa 1870

Napoleon III Patinated Bronze & Ormolu Crown, France, Circa 1870

Located in West Palm Beach, FL

Napoleon III Patinated Bronze & Ormolu Crown, France, Circa 1870 A rare and unusual Napoleon III patinated bronze and ormolu crown from France, circa 1870. This distinctive work fea...

Category

Antique 19th Century French Napoleon III Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Bronze, Ormolu

Modern Fabric Pendant Light by Studio Mirei, Nebula 60, from Costantini
Modern Fabric Pendant Light by Studio Mirei, Nebula 60, from Costantini

Modern Fabric Pendant Light by Studio Mirei, Nebula 60, from Costantini

Located in New York, NY

The Nebula collection is drawn out of the interstellar clouds of dust and gas in space - regions where stars begin to form. Made of a woven natural fiber from the banana tree, which ...

Category

2010s Italian Organic Modern Chandeliers and Pendants

Materials

Natural Fiber

Mustard Velvet Daybed with V-Shaped Beechwood Base, Model V
Mustard Velvet Daybed with V-Shaped Beechwood Base, Model V

Mustard Velvet Daybed with V-Shaped Beechwood Base, Model V

$3,990 / item

H 15.75 in W 74.81 in D 29.14 in

Mustard Velvet Daybed with V-Shaped Beechwood Base, Model V

By Dusty Deco

Located in Los Angeles, CA

DD V daybed is an exclusive daybed made by hand in Bosnia and Herzegovina by skilled craftsmen with long experience in wood and upholstery. Both frame and the characteristic V-shaped...

Category

2010s Bosnian Mid-Century Modern Daybeds

Materials

Fabric, Beech, Velvet

ANTIQUE ROYAL HAND CARVED ENGLISH OAK ARMORIAL COAT OF ARMS CROWNS EAGLEs
ANTIQUE ROYAL HAND CARVED ENGLISH OAK ARMORIAL COAT OF ARMS CROWNS EAGLEs

ANTIQUE ROYAL HAND CARVED ENGLISH OAK ARMORIAL COAT OF ARMS CROWNS EAGLEs

Located in West Sussex, Pulborough

Royal House Antiques We are delighted to offer for sale this very collectable hand carved Armorial Coat of Arms Depicting a Royal crest This is an exceptionally well made and deco...

Category

Antique 19th Century Victorian Arms, Armor and Weapons

Materials

Oak

Italian Mid-Century Modern Large Architectural Library in Walnut
Italian Mid-Century Modern Large Architectural Library in Walnut

Italian Mid-Century Modern Large Architectural Library in Walnut

Located in Waalwijk, NL

Library wall-unit, walnut, Italy, 1960s Rooted in Italy’s mid-century design tradition, this substantial bookcase highlights the makers architectural sensibility and refined taste f...

Category

Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Bookcases

Materials

Walnut

Maurice Dufrêne for La Maitrise art deco tapestry 1922
Maurice Dufrêne for La Maitrise art deco tapestry 1922

Maurice Dufrêne for La Maitrise art deco tapestry 1922

$41,195

H 60.24 in W 90.95 in D 0.4 in

Maurice Dufrêne for La Maitrise art deco tapestry 1922

By Maurice Dufrêne, La Maitrise

Located in Paris, IDF

Maurice Dufrene designed this tapestry for the studio La Maitrise, Les Galeries Lafayette, in Paris in 1922, just as he became the director of the studio. Crafted from handspun wool,...

Category

Vintage 1920s French Art Deco Tapestries

Materials

Wool

Set of 12 Lucite Pink and Chrome Plia Chairs, Piretti for Castelli, Italy 1970s
Set of 12 Lucite Pink and Chrome Plia Chairs, Piretti for Castelli, Italy 1970s

Set of 12 Lucite Pink and Chrome Plia Chairs, Piretti for Castelli, Italy 1970s

By Giancarlo Piretti, Anonima Castelli

Located in Roma, IT

Set of 12 original and signed "Plia" pink lucite folding chairs. NOS (new old Stock) This fantastic set was designed by Giancarlo Piretti for Castelli in 1967. PLIA, the symbol of a...

Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Chairs

Materials

Steel, Chrome

Antique Personal Diary Repository, Scottish, Brass, Keepsake Case, Victorian
Antique Personal Diary Repository, Scottish, Brass, Keepsake Case, Victorian

Antique Personal Diary Repository, Scottish, Brass, Keepsake Case, Victorian

$1,188Sale Price|20% Off

H 7.49 in W 5.12 in D 2.37 in

Antique Personal Diary Repository, Scottish, Brass, Keepsake Case, Victorian

Located in Hele, Devon, GB

This is a fine antique personal diary repository, originating from Scotland during the Victorian period, circa 1870. This striking book form keepsake case showcases the craftsmanship...

Category

Antique 1870s British Victorian Decorative Boxes

Materials

Brass

Bird Cage Jugendstil, Art Nouveau, Liberty, Year: 1900, France
Bird Cage Jugendstil, Art Nouveau, Liberty, Year: 1900, France

Bird Cage Jugendstil, Art Nouveau, Liberty, Year: 1900, France

Located in Ciudad Autónoma Buenos Aires, C

Bird Cage, Art Nouveau Year: 1900 Country: French Material: Iron It is an elegant and sophisticated bird cage. We have specialized in the sale of Art Deco and Art Nouveau styles s...

Category

Antique Early 1900s French Art Nouveau Bird Cages

Materials

Iron

Leather Doctors Bag, 1940s France
Leather Doctors Bag, 1940s France

Leather Doctors Bag, 1940s France

$1,200

H 10 in W 11 in D 7 in

Leather Doctors Bag, 1940s France

By Jacques Adnet

Located in Los Angeles, CA

Substantial cowhide bag with brass hardware and closure. Used a travel bag for physicians to play tools and prescriptions in. Perfect as a purse or for travel. This structured bag is...

Category

Vintage 1940s American Colonial Revival Trunks and Luggage

Materials

Brass

Original Early 1900s French Steamer Wardrobe Trunk Chest
Original Early 1900s French Steamer Wardrobe Trunk Chest

Original Early 1900s French Steamer Wardrobe Trunk Chest

$3,600Sale Price|25% Off

H 41 in W 23 in D 22 in

Original Early 1900s French Steamer Wardrobe Trunk Chest

Located in North York, ON

Original early 1900s French steamer trunk wardrobe chest. In all original good condition with original interior fitting, compartments, hangers and hardware. The interior and drawer c...

Category

Vintage 1920s French Industrial Trunks and Luggage

Materials

Brass

20th Century Large Exotic Embossed Leather Vertical Valet Wardrobe Trunk
20th Century Large Exotic Embossed Leather Vertical Valet Wardrobe Trunk

20th Century Large Exotic Embossed Leather Vertical Valet Wardrobe Trunk

$3,000Sale Price|33% Off

H 49.75 in W 22.5 in D 19.5 in

20th Century Large Exotic Embossed Leather Vertical Valet Wardrobe Trunk

Located in Encinitas, CA

Mid century embossed leather steamer trunk on caster wheels, with brass plated hardware. A vertical trunk - a royal traveling companion functioning as a portable wardrobe. Slick desi...

Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Wardrobes and Armoires

Materials

Brass

20th Century Pair of Italian Triton Garden Statues - Antique Marble Sculptures
20th Century Pair of Italian Triton Garden Statues - Antique Marble Sculptures

20th Century Pair of Italian Triton Garden Statues - Antique Marble Sculptures

Located in West Palm Beach, FL

Circa 20th Century, a pair of large antique garden statues hand carved in natural stone named Biancone d’Istria Marble. These antique natural stone statues or garden ornaments were p...

Category

Early 20th Century Italian Statues

Materials

Marble

Pair of French Louis XVI Style Carved-Wood Cream-Lacquered Settees, Jansen Attr.
Pair of French Louis XVI Style Carved-Wood Cream-Lacquered Settees, Jansen Attr.

Pair of French Louis XVI Style Carved-Wood Cream-Lacquered Settees, Jansen Attr.

By Maison Jansen

Located in Los Angeles, CA

A Fine Pair of French Louis XVI Style Carved-wood Cream-Lacquered Settees, probably by Maison Jansen. The rectangular shaped Love Seats, each with scrolled carved armrests ending wit...

Category

20th Century French Louis XVI Settees

Materials

Fabric, Satin, Silk, Wood

Antique Chinese Carved Camphor wood Trunk Coffer 20th Century
Antique Chinese Carved Camphor wood Trunk Coffer 20th Century

Antique Chinese Carved Camphor wood Trunk Coffer 20th Century

Located in London, GB

This is a stunning antique Chinese camphor wood trunk with brass fittings, and featuring an interesting desert scape scene, circa 1920 in date.  Elaborately detailed, the trunk has ...

Category

Vintage 1920s Chinese Trunks and Luggage

Materials

Wood

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1940s Metal Trunk For Sale on 1stDibs

Choose from an assortment of styles, material and more with respect to the 1940s metal trunk you’re looking for at 1stDibs. Each 1940s metal trunk for sale was constructed with extraordinary care, often using metal, wood and animal skin. Whether you’re looking for an older or newer 1940s metal trunk, there are earlier versions available from the 20th Century and newer variations made as recently as the 20th Century. A 1940s metal trunk made by mid-century modern designers — as well as those associated with Art Deco — is very popular. You’ll likely find more than one 1940s metal trunk that is appealing in its simplicity, but Berber Tribes of Morocco produced versions that are worth a look.

Finding the Right Trunks-luggage for You

Add a charming piece of travel history to your space. Antique and vintage trunks and luggage can make a statement as decorative accents and practical furnishings in nearly every room of your home.

There have been many types of trunks and luggage over the years, with availability of these wares broadening as train travel expanded during the 19th century. Antique steamer trunks — named for their use on steamships — mostly date from around 1880 to 1920. These pieces of luggage fit a steamship’s luggage size regulations and essentially doubled as wardrobes, ensuring that a traveler’s evening dresses and suits were kept wrinkle-free on a journey from city to city.

In 1858, French luxury brand Louis Vuitton introduced the world to the now-iconic Louis Vuitton trunks. During this early period of railroad travel, Louis Vuitton trunks solved common travel problems. Instead of the traditional round shape, these handcrafted rectangular trunks stored better on trains. To discourage burglars, the French craftsman and his son, Georges, also eventually patented a revolutionary sophisticated lock for the trunks. The famous LV monogram was first used in 1896 as part of an initiative by Georges to prevent counterfeiting of his coveted travel trunks.

Even if no longer used for travel, the vintage luggage is a popular item among collectors for its historical value and charm. At home, an old wood trunk is a durable storage solution as much as it is a versatile surface. It’s a coffee table in the living room of your farmhouse-style home or rustic loft apartment and a nightstand or blanket chest at the foot of your bed in your bedroom.

From Victorian trunks to Art Deco traveling jewelry cases, journey through history today with an extensive collection of antique trunk suitcases and vintage luggage on 1stDibs.

Questions About 1940s Metal Trunk
  • 1stDibs ExpertMay 5, 2023
    You can do a variety of things with old metal trunks. Use one in place of your coffee table in the living room or add a cushion and throw pillows to transform it into a bench. Lift the lid and add supports and cushions to create a one-of-a-kind accent chair, or position it beside your bed as a nightstand. On 1stDibs, shop an assortment of metal trunks.