Skip to main content
1 of 13

Louis Vuitton Library Trunk, circa 1930s

You May Also Like

Louis Vuitton Leather Cabin Trunk, circa 1930
By Louis Vuitton
Located in London, GB
A well proportioned natural leather covered Louis Vuitton cabin trunk that has built up an attractive patina with age. Has original leather handles & brass fittings and has its original interior in-tact (including the original tray); Circa 1930. One of the original handle supports is a newly made replacement of the original, that was beyond repair. Provenance: From the collection of Anouska Hempel, noted interior designer, hotelier and taste maker. Dimensions: 91 cm/35⅞ inches (length) x 52 cm/20½ inches (depth) x 34.5 cm/13⅝ inches (height). About Louis Vuitton From humble beginnings, Louis Vuitton laid the foundations for a luggage enterprise serving the upper echelons of 19th-century society. His son, Georges, expanded on his father’s work throughout the 20th century. Louis Vuitton was born on 4 August 1821 in Anchay, a rural village in Eastern France. His father, Xavier Vuitton, was a farmer, his mother, Coronne Gaillard, a milliner. In 1835, aged 13, Vuitton left Anchay on foot for his two-year journey to Paris. He found work as a layetier – a maker of wooden boxes and cases for transporting travelers’ possessions – and was selected as the personal layetier to Empress Eugénie de Montijo, a Spanish Countess and wife of Napoleon III. In 1854, at 4 Rue Neuve de Capucines, Paris, Vuitton launched his enterprise, gaining recognition among Parisian nobility. A second Parisian store opened at 1, Rue Scribe, after the 1871 Siege of Paris. Striped “Rayée” canvas and the first Vuitton Wardrobe Trunk arrived in the 1870s, expanding abroad to 289 Oxford Street, London, and introducing the Damier canvas in the 1880s. Louis Vuitton passed away in 1892, leaving the business to his son, Georges. He set about expanding the family firm even further, selling out at the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair. J.P. Morgan and family became valued clients, and Georges patented the iconic LV monogram design in 1896, paying homage to a medieval Franc box rosette motif from his personal collection. The early 1900s saw the Steamer Bag launch and new premises on the Champs Élysées. Georges was never one to shy away from a bespoke order; customers could, and regularly did, request whatever their heart desired. Legendary commissions included a “Malle Lit” explorer’s camp bed trunk...
Category

Vintage 1930s French Trunks and Luggage

Materials

Brass

Louis Vuitton Wardrobe Trunk , Louis Vuitton Trunk, Vuitton Steamer Trunk
By Louis Vuitton
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
This impressive Louis Vuitton wardrobe features monogramm canvas, lozine trim, LV stamped solid brass locks and studs as well as solid brass corners. It has got a lift top that close...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary French Trunks and Luggage

Materials

Brass

Louis Vuitton Trunk, Louis Vuitton Steamer Trunk, 62 cm Louis Vuitton Hat Trunk
By Louis Vuitton
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
This beautiful and very rare Louis Vuitton trunk features hand painted stenciled monogram canvas, honey color lozine trim, large leather side handles, sta...
Category

Early 20th Century French Trunks and Luggage

Materials

Brass

1920's Louis Vuitton Trunk, 70 cm Louis Vuitton Steamer Trunk, Vuitton Hat Trunk
By Louis Vuitton
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Superb Louis Vuitton steamer trunk featuring stenciled canvas, all leather trim in deep chocolate color, solid brass Louis Vuitton stamped clasps, lock and studs, solid brass corners...
Category

Vintage 1920s French Trunks and Luggage

Materials

Brass

20th Century Louis Vuitton Trunk, France c.1930
By Louis Vuitton
Located in Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent
An exquisite and complete Louis Vuitton trunk from the early part of the 20th century. An absolutely essential item for elite travellers of its time the trunk is adorned in the iconic LV monogrammed canvas, accented by lozine trim and brass fittings. This trunk stood as the epitome of luxury over 100 years ago, boasting an unparalleled level of sophistication and elegance, it remains a timeless masterpiece that transcends eras. The captivating allure of the Louis Vuitton trunk transforms it into more than a mere luggage accessory; it becomes a focal point for any room. With its impressive dimensions, it is perfectly suited as a striking coffee table, side table, or even as a standalone centrepiece, seamlessly integrating into any interior, whether modern or traditional. An extraordinary piece that not only pays homage to the past but also serves as a statement of unparalleled luxury in the present. A brief history about Louis Vuitton trunks: Louis Vuitton was born in 1821 to a farmer and milliner and came from a long-established working-class family in eastern France. Vuitton grew up understanding the effects of perseverance and a strong work ethic from watching his family. At the age of 16, he made the decision to walk 292 miles from his hometown to Paris to try and make a new life for himself. When he arrived the city was in the midst of industrialization with current modes of transportation evolving quickly allowing for longer journeys. With this came the need for sturdy travel pieces. Vuitton was taken as an apprentice for a successful box maker and packer named Monsieur Marechal. He learned to craft durable containers and how to pack them properly – a well-respected profession at the time.In 1854, years after he had mastered his craft and became well respected for it, Vuitton ventured out on his own to open a shop on Rue Neuve des Capucines. It was here that he began to establish himself as a luggage maker. Then, in 1858, Vuitton designed the first Louis Vuitton steamer trunk. At the time trunks had rounded tops to allow for water to run off but this did not allow for convenient stowage. Vuitton introduced a flat, yet waterproof, trunk that was easily stackable. The first of his trunks were outfitted with a grey canvas referred to as Trianon – it wouldn’t be until several decades later that the signature monogram would be introduced. With a burgeoning business, Vuitton moved his family and workplace to Asniere, where he employed twenty workers to craft his trunks. By 1900 he would have 100 employees, and in 1914 the company would more than double in size. After years of success, Vuitton began to experiment with the design of his luggage by introducing a new striped canvas pattern (1876) and later the still well-known Damier print (1888). The hand-painted patterns were developed to prevent counterfeits. Even in the late 1800s, Louis Vuitton was enough of a status symbol to warrant counterfeiting. In 1886, his son George invented and patented an ingenious locking system that made it impossible to pick the lock of their trunks. This lock is still used today. 1892 would prove to be a time of mourning for the family as Louis Vuitton passed...
Category

20th Century French Other Trunks and Luggage

Materials

Brass

1930’s Louis Vuitton Monogram Cabin Trunk for Restoration
By Louis Vuitton
Located in Bridgeport, CT
A well worn and well-used Vuitton Cabin Trunk from the Golden Age of Travel bearing the marks, tears and losses of a well-travelled piece. Worn label insi...
Category

Vintage 1930s European Hollywood Regency Trunks and Luggage

Materials

Brass

Recently Viewed

View All