Louis Vuitton Steamer Bag
Vintage 1970s French Trunks and Luggage
Brass
21st Century and Contemporary Top Handle Bags
Vintage 1970s French Trunks and Luggage
Brass
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20th Century French Trunks and Luggage
Leather, Canvas
21st Century and Contemporary Crossbody Bags and Messenger Bags
21st Century and Contemporary Crossbody Bags and Messenger Bags
21st Century and Contemporary Crossbody Bags and Messenger Bags
21st Century and Contemporary Top Handle Bags
1970s Duffel Bags and Carry-On Bags
1980s Duffel Bags and Carry-On Bags
1980s Duffel Bags and Carry-On Bags
2010s Crossbody Bags and Messenger Bags
2010s Crossbody Bags and Messenger Bags
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20th Century Shoulder Bags
21st Century and Contemporary Crossbody Bags and Messenger Bags
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2010s Tote Bags
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2010s Tote Bags
21st Century and Contemporary Duffel Bags and Carry-On Bags
1990s Luggage and Travel Bags
2010s Duffel Bags and Carry-On Bags
2010s Tote Bags
2010s Structured Shoulder Bags
2010s Tote Bags
1970s Top Handle Bags
Early 20th Century French Trunks and Luggage
Leather, Canvas
Late 20th Century Duffel Bags and Carry-On Bags
20th Century Luggage and Travel Bags
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Early 20th Century French Trunks and Luggage
Brass
Early 20th Century French Victorian Trunks and Luggage
Early 20th Century French Trunks and Luggage
Brass
Early 20th Century Trunks and Luggage
Brass
Vintage 1960s French Trunks and Luggage
Brass
1990s French Trunks and Luggage
Canvas, Leather
Vintage 1980s French Trunks and Luggage
Leather
Late 20th Century Trunks and Luggage
Leather, Canvas
Vintage 1980s French Trunks and Luggage
Canvas, Leather
21st Century and Contemporary Top Handle Bags
21st Century and Contemporary Shoulder Bags
21st Century and Contemporary Duffel Bags and Carry-On Bags
Vintage 1980s French Trunks and Luggage
Leather
1970s Duffel Bags and Carry-On Bags
21st Century and Contemporary Top Handle Bags
21st Century and Contemporary Crossbody Bags and Messenger Bags
21st Century and Contemporary Crossbody Bags and Messenger Bags
21st Century and Contemporary Crossbody Bags and Messenger Bags
21st Century and Contemporary Backpacks
21st Century and Contemporary Crossbody Bags and Messenger Bags
21st Century and Contemporary Top Handle Bags
20th Century French Trunks and Luggage
Canvas
1970s Duffel Bags and Carry-On Bags
21st Century and Contemporary Top Handle Bags
Early 20th Century French Trunks and Luggage
Canvas, Leather
21st Century and Contemporary Top Handle Bags
Vintage 1970s Trunks and Luggage
Leather, Canvas
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Louis Vuitton Steamer Bag For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much is a Louis Vuitton Steamer Bag?
Louis Vuitton Biography and Important Works
The story behind iconic luxury brand Louis Vuitton — best known for its esteemed handbags, crossbody bags, leather goods, ready-to-wear clothing and more — is one of craft and innovation in the worlds of fashion, jewelry and furniture.
The company’s modest origins can be traced back to when its founder, Louis Vuitton (1821–92), wishing to free himself from the conventional lifestyle in his provincial French city of Anchay as well as a difficult stepmother, left in the early 1830s to make a new life in Paris. The young Vuitton was 13 at the time and would need to travel on foot to get to the capital, which was hundreds of miles away. With stops along the way to make money so that he could forge ahead, the journey took a couple of years, but reward was close at hand.
When he arrived in Paris, Vuitton made a living with his hands. He toiled as a box maker and packer for more than a decade and built relationships with royals and members of the upper class while working for the empress of France, Eugenie de Montijo. In 1854, Vuitton launched his namesake company. The craftsman opened a humble workshop on rue Neuve des Capucines and advertised his services with a small poster that read: “Securely packs the most fragile objects. Specializing in packing fashions.”
Long before his brand would become known globally for its exemplary top-handle bags and stylish totes, Vuitton produced stackable and rectangular trunks. The most common trunks of the era were round, which weren’t ideal for toting and storing. In 1858, Vuitton debuted his lightweight, handcrafted canvas trunks, which were sturdy, rugged and equipped with convenient compartments. Travel’s popularity broadened in the late 19th century, and Vuitton’s trunks could easily be packed into train cars and ships — upright trunks meant hanging wardrobe storage that would allow his clients to transport their sophisticated garments without worry. Demand increased and the company grew. When Louis Vuitton died in 1892, control of the luxury house was passed onto his only son, Georges Vuitton.
In 1914, a Louis Vuitton store opened at 70 Champs-Élysées. The largest travel-goods store in the world at the time, it became the company’s flagship.
The Louis Vuitton brand embodies all the attributes of luxury, from the craftsmanship, exclusivity and relevance to heritage. It’s only appropriate that it boasts one of the most recognizable insignias — the imaginative interlocking of letters and fleurettes — in the fashion world. The famous LV monogram was first used in 1896 as part of an initiative by Georges to prevent counterfeiting of his coveted new line of travel trunks. It’s one of the earliest examples of fashion branding.
The LV monogram would soon appear on everything from bags and various fashion accessories to alligator-skin champagne cases, from stylish apparel and earrings to teddy bears and airplane models.
On 1stDibs, the unmistakable insignia can be found on both modern and vintage Louis Vuitton shoulder bags, suitcases, original 19th-century trunks, jackets and more.
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