Early 1900s Steamer Trunk
Vintage 1920s French Industrial Trunks and Luggage
Brass
Antique Early 1900s American Industrial Trunks and Luggage
Steel
Recent Sales
Early 20th Century French Edwardian Trunks and Luggage
Early 20th Century British Colonial Trunks and Luggage
Leather
Early 20th Century American Rustic Trunks and Luggage
Steel
Early 20th Century Trunks and Luggage
Brass
Early 20th Century American Edwardian Trunks and Luggage
Metal, Other
Early 20th Century American Trunks and Luggage
Steel
Early 20th Century French Trunks and Luggage
Brass
Early 20th Century Victorian Trunks and Luggage
Leather
Early 20th Century French Trunks and Luggage
Brass
People Also Browsed
Antique Mid-19th Century English High Victorian Taxidermy
Other
Mid-20th Century English Art Deco Dressers
Steel
Vintage 1970s Italian Space Age Architectural Elements
Composition
1990s French Modern Trunks and Luggage
Brass
20th Century European Victorian Trunks and Luggage
Brass
20th Century French Modern Trunks and Luggage
Brass
Early 20th Century North American Art Deco Blanket Chests
Metal, Brass
21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese George II Dry Bars
Wood
Antique Early 1900s Arts and Crafts Trunks and Luggage
Canvas
Antique Early 1900s North American Industrial Trunks and Luggage
Metal
Early 20th Century Art Deco Trunks and Luggage
Wood
Vintage 1920s American Blanket Chests
Leather, Wood
Early 20th Century Argentine American Colonial Blanket Chests
Metal
Vintage 1910s French Mid-Century Modern Trunks and Luggage
Brass
Antique Late 19th Century French Victorian Bookcases
Wood
Early 20th Century French Other Wardrobes and Armoires
Leather
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.
Read More
Medal-Worthy Memorabilia from Epic Past Olympic Games
Get into the games! These items celebrate the events, athletes, host countries and sporting spirit.
Ahoy! You’ve Never Seen a Collection of Sailor Art and Kitsch Quite Like This
French trendsetter and serial collector Daniel Rozensztroch tells us about his obsession with objects related to seafaring men.
39 Incredible Swimming Pools
It's hard to resist the allure of a beautiful pool. So, go ahead and daydream about whiling away your summer in paradise.
Pamela Shamshiri Shares the Secrets behind Her First-Ever Book and Its Effortlessly Cool Interiors
The sought-after designer worked with the team at Hoffman Creative to produce a monograph that beautifully showcases some of Studio Shamshiri's most inspiring projects.
Moroccan Artworks and Objects Take Center Stage in an Extraordinary Villa in Tangier
Italian writer and collector Umberto Pasti opens the doors to his remarkable cave of wonders in North Africa.
Montecito Has Drawn Royalty and Celebrities, and These Homes Are Proof of Its Allure
Hollywood A-listers, ex-pat aristocrats and art collectors and style setters of all stripes appreciate the allure of the coastal California hamlet — much on our minds after recent winter floods.
Whaam! Blam! Pow! — a New Book on Pop Art Packs a Punch
Publishing house Assouline and writer Julie Belcove have teamed up to trace the history of the genre, from Roy Lichtenstein, Andy Warhol and Yayoi Kusama to Mickalene Thomas and Jeff Koons.
The Sparkling Legacy of Tiffany & Co. Explained, One Jewel at a Time
A gorgeous new book celebrates — and memorializes — the iconic jeweler’s rich heritage.