Antique 20th Century Rare French Louis Vuitton Leather Travelling Case
By Louis Vuitton
Located in Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent
It was here that he began to establish himself as a luggage maker. Then, in 1858, Vuitton designed the first Louis Vuitton steamer trunk.
Brass
Louis Vuitton Yellow Gold Malachite and Diamond B Blossom Ring
By Louis Vuitton
Located in New York, NY
Louis Vuitton Yellow Gold Malachite and Diamond B Blossom Ring PRIMARY DETAILS SKU: 155663 Listing Title: Louis Vuitton Yellow Gold Malachite and Diamond B Blossom Ring Condition De...
Yellow Gold
Louis Vuitton Rose Indien Monogram Articles de Voyage Ikat Neverfull MM
By Louis Vuitton
Located in New York, NY
Listing Title: Louis Vuitton Rose Indien Monogram Articles de Voyage Ikat Neverfull MM SKU: 156430 Condition: Pre-owned Condition Description: Since Louis Vuitton crafted his first ...
20th Century Louis Vuitton Cow Hide Suitcase, France c.1920
By Louis Vuitton
Located in Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent
It was here that he began to establish himself as a luggage maker. Then, in 1858, Vuitton designed the first Louis Vuitton steamer trunk.
Brass
20th Century Louis Vuitton Cow Hide Suitcase, France c.1920
By Louis Vuitton
Located in Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent
It was here that he began to establish himself as a luggage maker. Then, in 1858, Vuitton designed the first Louis Vuitton steamer trunk.
Brass
Louis Vuitton x Virgil Abloh Silver Miroir Monogram Vinyl & Vachetta Cotteville
By Louis Vuitton
Located in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire
Louis Vuitton x Virgil Abloh Silver Miroir Monogram Vinyl & Vachetta Leather Cotteville 40 Product Details Xupes Ref: CB1608 Brand: Louis Vuitton Model: Cotteville 40 Type: Trunk Se...
20th Century Louis Vuitton Suitcase In Monogram Canvas, France c.1970
By Louis Vuitton
Located in Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent
It was here that he began to establish himself as a luggage maker. Then, in 1858, Vuitton designed the first Louis Vuitton steamer trunk.
Brass
20thC Louis Vuitton Presidential Briefcase In Orange Epi Leather, Made In France
By Louis Vuitton
Located in Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent
It was here that he began to establish himself as a luggage maker. Then, in 1858, Vuitton designed the first Louis Vuitton steamer trunk.
Brass
20th Century Louis Vuitton Suitcase In Monogram Canvas, France c.1970
By Louis Vuitton
Located in Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent
It was here that he began to establish himself as a luggage maker. Then, in 1858, Vuitton designed the first Louis Vuitton steamer trunk.
Leather, Canvas
Louis Vuitton x Nigo Brown Stripe Reverse Monogram Coated Canvas Tiger Cottevill
By Louis Vuitton
Located in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire
Louis Vuitton x Nigo Brown Stripe Reverse Monogram Coated Canvas Tiger Cotteville 40 Product Details Xupes Ref: CB1607 Brand: Louis Vuitton Model: Cotteville 40 Type: Trunk Serial N...
20th Century Louis Vuitton "Malle Haute" In Monogram Canvas, France, c.1910
By Louis Vuitton
Located in Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent
An exquisite “malle haute“ (tall trunk) by Louis Vuitton, early 20th century. The malle haute is the largest of the standard sizes, any trunk larger than this one would have been cus...
Brass
20th Century Louis Vuitton Suitcase In Natural Cow Hide, France c.1910
By Louis Vuitton
Located in Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent
It was here that he began to establish himself as a luggage maker. Then, in 1858, Vuitton designed the first Louis Vuitton steamer trunk.
Brass
20th Century Louis Vuitton Black Epi Leather Document Case, Made In France c1990
By Louis Vuitton
Located in Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent
It was here that he began to establish himself as a luggage maker. Then, in 1858, Vuitton designed the first Louis Vuitton steamer trunk.
Brass
20th Century Louis Vuitton Steamer 35 Bag In Monogram Canvas, Made In France
By Louis Vuitton
Located in Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent
It was here that he began to establish himself as a luggage maker. Then, in 1858, Vuitton designed the first Louis Vuitton steamer trunk.
Brass
Louis Vuitton X Yayoi Kusama Limited Edition Monogram Pumpkin Cotteville 40
By Yayoi Kusama, Louis Vuitton
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
This very rare and highly collectible Louis Vuitton x Yayoi Kusama Cotteville 40 trunk was born from the celebrated ultra limited-edition collaboration between the Louis Vuitton and ...
Brass
Vintage French Aux Etats Unis Travel Trunk
By Aux Etats Unis
Located in Newtown, CT
Aux Etats Unis was a competitor of Louis Vuitton and other well known trunk makers of the time.
Leather, Canvas
Louis Vuitton Quartz Epi Nano Alma
By Hermès
Located in New York, NY
Listing Title: Louis Vuitton Quartz Epi Nano Alma SKU: 156495 MSRP: 2000.00 USD Condition: Pre-owned Condition Description: Since Louis Vuitton crafted his first trunk in Paris in 1...
Louis Vuitton Light Blue Monogram Embossed Lambskin Coussin PM
By Chanel
Located in New York, NY
Listing Title: Louis Vuitton Light Blue Monogram Embossed Lambskin Coussin PM SKU: Z158198 Condition: Pre-owned Condition Description: Since Louis Vuitton crafted his first trunk in ...
Chanel Pink Quilted Lambskin Logo Chain Bucket Bag
By Chanel
Located in New York, NY
Listing Title: Chanel Pink Quilted Lambskin Logo Chain Bucket Bag SKU: Z157027 Condition: Pre-owned Condition Description: Since Louis Vuitton crafted his first trunk in Paris in 18...
Fendi Brown Zucca Canvas Mama Baguette
By Fendi
Located in New York, NY
Listing Title: Fendi Brown Zucca Canvas Mama Baguette SKU: 155866 Condition: Pre-owned Condition Description: Since Louis Vuitton crafted his first trunk in Paris in 1854, the maison...
Chanel Pink Quilted Lambskin Logo Chain Bucket Bag
By Chanel
Located in New York, NY
Listing Title: Chanel Pink Quilted Lambskin Logo Chain Bucket Bag SKU: Z157027 Condition: Pre-owned Condition Description: Since Louis Vuitton crafted his first trunk in Paris in 18...
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.
Diamonds and sapphires still played a starring role, but less popular stones popped up too.
The Japanese artist is one of many creators with whom the French fashion house has partnered to impressive effect.
The late designer created an iridescent, irreverent take on the nearly century-old travel staple.
What are the telltale signs that you're holding a real Louis Vuitton and not a knockoff? We spoke with expert Diane D’Amato to find out. Of course, you don't have to worry about fakes on 1stDibs, where every seller is highly vetted.
The venerable brand has earned accolades (and gained new fans) for partnerships that meld fashion with art.
From Chanel to YSL, the logos of some legacy fashion houses spark instant brand recognition and have come to symbolize a kind of luxury that feels at once aspirational and attainable.
1stDibs dealers discuss the challenges of this unprecedented time, and the signs of hope.
When the name of a bag is as well-known as its brand, you know it's a classic.