If the shipping is less I will refund the difference. Insurance is recommended. I can't be responsible for damages or losses during transit if insurance isn't purchased..
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LOUIS VUITTON Vintage Steamer Wardrobe Trunk 1885's
Item Description: This auction is for a very large, very old Louis Vuitton steamer trunk. This trunk belonged to Solomon Hirsch. Solomon was a senator from Portland Oregon during the "Gilded Age" (Late 1800's) - we can pinpoint the date of this trunk to about 1885. Even without this information, you could tell what era it came from by the style of the lock (pre-dating the more modern lock invented by Louis Vuitton in 1890). The lack of Loius Vuitton markings on the trunk is also characteristic of these early year trunks. They started out making them in this plain fashion before they moved to the damier checker canvas, and then later to the LV monogram.
Considering its age (over 110 years old) it is in remarkable shape; all the components of this trunk are in their original state, only cleaned up a bit (brass shined up, general cleaning, and a light coat of treatment on the wood for preservation. The metal handles are fully intact and functional. The striped inside lining is also original and in generally great shape. The two trays are original and in good condition. The side of this beautiful trunk is inscribed in black with the Senator's name and town: "S. Hirsch, Portland, OR". Feel free to ask any questions.
Authenticity guaranteed. The locking mechanism is slightly bent, but you can't tell when it's closed. The is no key with it either.
DIMENSIONS: 47 inches lengthwise and 25.5 width and 27 inches from top to bottom.
You can read Mr. Hirsch's Biography here: Solomon Hirsch genealogy
Some info and history about Louis Vuitton Vintage Trunks:
Antique and vintage Vuitton luggage is among todays hottest collectibles, not for travel usually, but for decorative panache and use as extra storage in stylish interiors. Although enough of the luggage has been made to fill the holds of an ocean liner several times over, the pieces produced from the late 19th century until the mid 20th century, the heyday of passenger ships and trains, are the most coveted. Pre 1890s pieces are highly prized too, but so few have survived that they rarely appear for sale. It is fitting that this period is the one that collectors fetishize, since it was then that the Vuitton legend was made. In the 1850s, Vuitton introduced trunks with wood-railed flat tops, which were easier to store on boats and trains than the common dome-topped models; the varnished canvas he clad them in was lighter, tougher and more waterproof than leather. The nascent Vuitton luster was further buffed by his association with explorers, outfitting expeditions like Pierre Savorgnan de Brazzas 1875 journey to the Congo. Of course, Vuitton is a crucial part of the style history not just as a travel accessory but as a trademark. The company introduced a striped canvas in 1872, which was copied by others, and in 1888, the Damier check, which was also much imitated. By 1896, Vuittons son, Georges, was running the firm and he created the famed Monogram canvas as a trademark pattern. For the next 60 years a grand collection of Vuitton trunks and suitcases, customized so that one key opened every piece, was the ultimate mobile home for the well heeled traveler.
While vintage Vuitton trunks manufactured with the companys monogram canvas remain popular and are regularly available, by comparison, vintage LV leather trunks are much more elusive. One small irony of the Vuitton collecting craze is that many of the most sought after pieces don’t sport the logo at all. The company frequently custom made items and these are now hard to find and highly prized.
Three more factors help determine the value of a piece of vintage luggage: provenance, patina and originality. Just as the knowledge that an Hermes briefcase belonged to John F. Kennedy added tens of thousands of dollars to its auction price, a Vuitton trunk that carried the clothes of a celebrated figure, a movie star, a maharaja, a marquess, increased in desirability and value as well. Likewise, while a Vuitton piece should be structurally sound, the fabric free of tears or serious scuffs, and the locks, hinges and handles fully functional, there should be some evidence that the bag/trunk has led a colorful if genteel life. And bespoke pieces, even if their function is archaic, are always in demand.
(In the 1910s and 1920s, following his fathers lead in keeping up with travel advances, Georges Vuitton launched a line of luggage tailored specifically for automobiles. Made of patternless canvas or black leather, these collectible cases often came in curvy shapes, designed to fit the odd contours of early cars.) |
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