Early 1900s Steamer Trunk
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Brass
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Steel
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Metal, Other
Early 20th Century American Trunks and Luggage
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Early 20th Century French Trunks and Luggage
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Early 1900s Steamer Trunk For Sale on 1stDibs
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.
- 1stDibs ExpertNovember 21, 2023In the early 1900s, engagement rings often looked like other jewelry from the Edwardian era, which coincided with the reign of King Edward VII in the United Kingdom from 1901 to 1910. Cutters used new diamond saws and jewelry lathes to refine the old European cut. The resulting stones, designed to sparkle in the light from candles and gas lamps, are beloved by connoisseurs for their inner fire and romantic glow. The invention of the oxyacetylene torch enabled jewelers to use platinum, which had previously been too challenging to work with. This technological advancement made it possible for Edwardian rings to show off lacy filigree and milgrain work. Nature also influenced jewelry in the early 1900s. Flowing and floral garland motifs were so popular that the Edwardian age is sometimes called the "garland era." Find a selection of Edwardian engagement rings on 1stDibs.
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