RARE Vintage 1920 ' S Louis Vuitton Wardrobe 85 Monogram Steamer Trunk Suitcase
Item History & Price
RARE Vintage 1920's Louis Vuitton Wardrobe 85 Monogram Steamer Trunk Suitcase Luggage
PROFESSIONALLY AUTHENTICATED BY PRO AUTHENTICATORS
Please allow 3 days after confirmed payment to ship in order to custom build a wood crate for shipping this gem!
More photos upon request!
This is a beautiful piece of history that is extremelydifficult to come by at a reasonable price. It is a statement piece of décorfor your living space or use it as a coffee table.
A ...must- have collector piece!
This rare 1920’s Louis Vuitton Wardrobe 85 Steamer Trunkhas not been restored. It is in its original condition. We lightly cleaned most of it and a bit heavier cleaning around the inside label. The body features the LVmonogram canvas. The brass latches, large rounded nail heads and the lozine borderhave either the “LV” or “Louis Vuitton” markings. The solid brass jewelry(hardware) has not been polished. The lozine border edging, which is avulcanized fiber that is often mistaken for leather, is in very good condition for the age of the luggage. It has normal wear and fading. The serial number is not legible. Missing original key (but can possibly be ordered from Louis Vuitton). Interior has stains and cracks. The chrome has not been polished and has some rust. Lots of dings, dents and marks which add character.
Originalaccessories and parts can sometimes still be found and purchased online ifdesired. The personalized initials “J. S. S” and “St Louis Mo” alongwith the red stripe costed extra as a customization when this trunk was orderedthrough a catalog before the luggage was made. Traveling half way across the UnitedStates and then overseas during the Great Depression also shows that theoriginal owner had style and money!
We cannot decipher the last name of the original ownerbut the name is on the Cunard White Star travel sticker so you may be able toresearch its provenance. The ship that the original owner sailed on was namedthe RMS Aquitania. All of the stickers appear to be “Cunard WhiteStar”. The travel stickers on thewardrobe date to between 1934 and 1950. The RMS Aquitania was removedfrom service in 1950. Cunard and White Star merged companies in 1934 (they werecompetitors) due to the impact from economic depression. The RMS Aquitaniawas used for the war effort on September 16, 1939. The original owner would havesailed within this approximate five-year time frame. Most likely sailingbetween Liverpool and New York.
Approximate Dimensions:
(inches) 34" Height x 21 5/8" Width x 9 1/4" Depth(cm) 86.36cm x 54.92cm x 23.49cm
Below is some historical information that we gatheredonline about Louis Vuitton, RMS Aquitania and Cunard White Star.
Excerpt from pamono/makers/louis-vuitton:In 1858, Vuitton had the novel idea of designing a flat-topped trunk—unlikethe rounded-top trunks that were popular at the time—in a gray Trianon canvas;the result was in a lightweight, airtight, stackable trunk. It’s speculatedthat Vuitton drew his inspiration from H.J. Cave’s flat-topped Osilitetrunk. Vuitton’s trunks, however, were designed to neatly store and organizewardrobes during long sea voyages and included an array of custom-made drawersand separate compartments. As demand for Vuitton’s trunks expanded, so did thecompany. In 1858, the workshop moved to Asnières, where it resides still.Vuitton’s company was founded in an age of vast imperialistexpansion. With the introduction of steamships and railroads, travel wassuddenly easily accessible for the masses and allowed for safer and morecomfortable journeys. During the grandeur of the Second Empire, Vuitton becamethe personal box-maker and packer to the Empress of France, Eugénie de Montijo.Soon, Vuitton was designing for other elite and royal clients, a status that thebrand has maintained until today.
Excerpts from wikipedia:
The International Mercantile Marine Company, originally the International Navigation Company, was a "Trust (19th century)"trust formed in the early twentieth century asan attempt by J.P. Morgan, one of the richest men in the world, to monopolize the shipping trade (J.P.Morgan was so wealthy that he used $60 million in bonds to bail out the UnitedStates government during the Panic of 1893).IMM was a holding company that controlled subsidiarycorporations that had their own subsidiaries. Morgan hoped to dominatetransatlantic shipping through interlocking directorates and contractualarrangements with the railroads, but that proved impossible because of thenature of sea transport, American antitrust legislation, and an agreement withthe British government. One of IMM's subsidiaries was the White Star Line, which owned the"Royal Mail Ship" RMS Titanic.The RMS Titanic sank on her maiden voyage on April 15, 1912.RMS Aquitania was a British oceanliner of Cunard Line in service from 1914 to 1950. She wasdesigned by Leonard Peskett and built by John Brown & Company in Clydebank , Scotland. She was launched on 21 April 1913and sailed on her maiden voyage from Liverpool toNewYork on 30 May 1914.The voyage and arrival in New York received great attention.Fifteen days later, the German liner SS Vaterland, being the largest ship in the world at the time, was put into service. In theeye of the press, this maiden voyage was a matter of national prestige.However, this event was overshadowed by the sinking of RMS Empress of Ireland inQuebec theprevious day with over a thousand drowned.However, no passenger cancelled their voyage aboard the Aquitania, despite the strong emotion aroused by this sinking.During her maiden voyage, the ship carried around 1, 055 passengers, which wasabout a third of her total capacity. This was because a superstition pushedsome people away from traveling on a ship's maiden voyage.Widely considered during the 1920’s as one of the mostattractive ships, Aquitania earned the nickname "the Ship Beautiful"from her passengers.She continued in service after the merger of Cunard Line with WhiteStar Line in 1934. The company planned to retire her and replace her with RMS Queen Elizabeth in 1940.However, the outbreak of World War II allowed her to remain in service for tenmore years. During the war and until 1947, she served as a troop transport. Shewas used in particular to take home Canadian soldiers from Europe.In the wake of the Titanic sinking, Aquitaniawas one of the first ships to carry enough lifeboats for all passengers andcrew. Eighty lifeboats, including two motorized launcheswith Marconi wireless equipment, were carried in both swan-neck and newer Welintype davits. Watertight compartments were installed in order to allow the ship to float withfive compartments flooded. She also possessed a double hull.As required by the British Admiralty, she was designed to be converted into an armed merchant cruiser, and was reinforcedto mount guns for service in that role. WE HAVE MORE GREAT LISTINGS SO PLEASE CHECK OUR OTHER AUCTIONS!
Additional photos available upon request.
Please check all photos as they are part of the description and ask any questions before bidding/buying! Returns will only be accepted if we have grossly misrepresented.
Payment is due 3 days after the auction ends. Please contact us with any issues or concerns.
ALL SALES ARE FINAL! Please, please ask all your questions and check all photos before bidding. Item is described to the best of our knowledge. If you feel there's any misrepresentations, please contact us.
PROFESSIONALLY AUTHENTICATED BY PRO AUTHENTICATORS
Please allow 3 days after confirmed payment to ship in order to custom build a wood crate for shipping this gem!
More photos upon request!
This is a beautiful piece of history that is extremelydifficult to come by at a reasonable price. It is a statement piece of décorfor your living space or use it as a coffee table.
A ...must- have collector piece!
This rare 1920’s Louis Vuitton Wardrobe 85 Steamer Trunkhas not been restored. It is in its original condition. We lightly cleaned most of it and a bit heavier cleaning around the inside label. The body features the LVmonogram canvas. The brass latches, large rounded nail heads and the lozine borderhave either the “LV” or “Louis Vuitton” markings. The solid brass jewelry(hardware) has not been polished. The lozine border edging, which is avulcanized fiber that is often mistaken for leather, is in very good condition for the age of the luggage. It has normal wear and fading. The serial number is not legible. Missing original key (but can possibly be ordered from Louis Vuitton). Interior has stains and cracks. The chrome has not been polished and has some rust. Lots of dings, dents and marks which add character.
Originalaccessories and parts can sometimes still be found and purchased online ifdesired. The personalized initials “J. S. S” and “St Louis Mo” alongwith the red stripe costed extra as a customization when this trunk was orderedthrough a catalog before the luggage was made. Traveling half way across the UnitedStates and then overseas during the Great Depression also shows that theoriginal owner had style and money!
We cannot decipher the last name of the original ownerbut the name is on the Cunard White Star travel sticker so you may be able toresearch its provenance. The ship that the original owner sailed on was namedthe RMS Aquitania. All of the stickers appear to be “Cunard WhiteStar”. The travel stickers on thewardrobe date to between 1934 and 1950. The RMS Aquitania was removedfrom service in 1950. Cunard and White Star merged companies in 1934 (they werecompetitors) due to the impact from economic depression. The RMS Aquitaniawas used for the war effort on September 16, 1939. The original owner would havesailed within this approximate five-year time frame. Most likely sailingbetween Liverpool and New York.
Approximate Dimensions:
(inches) 34" Height x 21 5/8" Width x 9 1/4" Depth(cm) 86.36cm x 54.92cm x 23.49cm
Below is some historical information that we gatheredonline about Louis Vuitton, RMS Aquitania and Cunard White Star.
Excerpt from pamono/makers/louis-vuitton:In 1858, Vuitton had the novel idea of designing a flat-topped trunk—unlikethe rounded-top trunks that were popular at the time—in a gray Trianon canvas;the result was in a lightweight, airtight, stackable trunk. It’s speculatedthat Vuitton drew his inspiration from H.J. Cave’s flat-topped Osilitetrunk. Vuitton’s trunks, however, were designed to neatly store and organizewardrobes during long sea voyages and included an array of custom-made drawersand separate compartments. As demand for Vuitton’s trunks expanded, so did thecompany. In 1858, the workshop moved to Asnières, where it resides still.Vuitton’s company was founded in an age of vast imperialistexpansion. With the introduction of steamships and railroads, travel wassuddenly easily accessible for the masses and allowed for safer and morecomfortable journeys. During the grandeur of the Second Empire, Vuitton becamethe personal box-maker and packer to the Empress of France, Eugénie de Montijo.Soon, Vuitton was designing for other elite and royal clients, a status that thebrand has maintained until today.
Excerpts from wikipedia:
The International Mercantile Marine Company, originally the International Navigation Company, was a "Trust (19th century)"trust formed in the early twentieth century asan attempt by J.P. Morgan, one of the richest men in the world, to monopolize the shipping trade (J.P.Morgan was so wealthy that he used $60 million in bonds to bail out the UnitedStates government during the Panic of 1893).IMM was a holding company that controlled subsidiarycorporations that had their own subsidiaries. Morgan hoped to dominatetransatlantic shipping through interlocking directorates and contractualarrangements with the railroads, but that proved impossible because of thenature of sea transport, American antitrust legislation, and an agreement withthe British government. One of IMM's subsidiaries was the White Star Line, which owned the"Royal Mail Ship" RMS Titanic.The RMS Titanic sank on her maiden voyage on April 15, 1912.RMS Aquitania was a British oceanliner of Cunard Line in service from 1914 to 1950. She wasdesigned by Leonard Peskett and built by John Brown & Company in Clydebank , Scotland. She was launched on 21 April 1913and sailed on her maiden voyage from Liverpool toNewYork on 30 May 1914.The voyage and arrival in New York received great attention.Fifteen days later, the German liner SS Vaterland, being the largest ship in the world at the time, was put into service. In theeye of the press, this maiden voyage was a matter of national prestige.However, this event was overshadowed by the sinking of RMS Empress of Ireland inQuebec theprevious day with over a thousand drowned.However, no passenger cancelled their voyage aboard the Aquitania, despite the strong emotion aroused by this sinking.During her maiden voyage, the ship carried around 1, 055 passengers, which wasabout a third of her total capacity. This was because a superstition pushedsome people away from traveling on a ship's maiden voyage.Widely considered during the 1920’s as one of the mostattractive ships, Aquitania earned the nickname "the Ship Beautiful"from her passengers.She continued in service after the merger of Cunard Line with WhiteStar Line in 1934. The company planned to retire her and replace her with RMS Queen Elizabeth in 1940.However, the outbreak of World War II allowed her to remain in service for tenmore years. During the war and until 1947, she served as a troop transport. Shewas used in particular to take home Canadian soldiers from Europe.In the wake of the Titanic sinking, Aquitaniawas one of the first ships to carry enough lifeboats for all passengers andcrew. Eighty lifeboats, including two motorized launcheswith Marconi wireless equipment, were carried in both swan-neck and newer Welintype davits. Watertight compartments were installed in order to allow the ship to float withfive compartments flooded. She also possessed a double hull.As required by the British Admiralty, she was designed to be converted into an armed merchant cruiser, and was reinforcedto mount guns for service in that role. WE HAVE MORE GREAT LISTINGS SO PLEASE CHECK OUR OTHER AUCTIONS!
Additional photos available upon request.
Please check all photos as they are part of the description and ask any questions before bidding/buying! Returns will only be accepted if we have grossly misrepresented.
Payment is due 3 days after the auction ends. Please contact us with any issues or concerns.
ALL SALES ARE FINAL! Please, please ask all your questions and check all photos before bidding. Item is described to the best of our knowledge. If you feel there's any misrepresentations, please contact us.
