Highly sought-after Louis Vuitton suitcases for travel
Louis Vuitton Explorer Trunks Fetch High Prices at John Nicholson's Auctions
John Nicholson's, a renowned auction house, has established itself as the go-to saleroom for Louis Vuitton luggage, following the success of a recent auction featuring a rare and valuable Louis Vuitton Explorer trunk.
On June 11, a Louis Vuitton wardrobe steamer trunk from the 1920s or earlier sold for a staggering £130,000. The unique sales number 748929 identified this piece, which, despite being missing its paper label and most internal fittings, was recognised as a double hanging wardrobe trunk due to the remaining fittings. The trunk was designed to withstand tropical climates, making it an ideal choice for luxury travel in the early 20th century.
The success of the June auction led to two Louis Vuitton Explorer trunks being offered in John Nicholson's July auction. The first, with sales number 42316, features a later Strand label with the original Oxford Street address crossed out and replaced with the new address in The Strand. This trunk, dated c.1885-90, boasts beige and brown stripes to the exterior, reinforced with wooden battens and brass catches and corner braces riveted to the leather strapwork. It attracted 11 bidders, with the successful buyer attending the sale in person. The trunk sold for a hammer price of £72,000, exceeding its estimated value of £6,000-8,000.
Another Louis Vuitton Explorer trunk, with sales number 30539, sold for £5,400 against hopes of £4,000-6,000. The surviving central catch of the trunk was engraved with the Louis Vuitton name, Champs Elysée, and the original London address of the company, 149 New Bond Street.
Louis Vuitton Explorer trunks, especially those from the early 1920s or earlier, are highly valuable collector’s items with significant historical importance. Their value is driven by factors including provenance, condition, rarity, and historical context, making early 20th-century trunks particularly prized in collecting and auction circles. These trunks represent a window into the golden age of luxury travel and trunk-making by Louis Vuitton.
The trunk offered in the July auction has a detailed provenance that includes a voyage to South Africa during the Boer War in 1900 on the Union Castle shipping line. Such historical context adds to the allure of these rare and valuable pieces.
As more consignments of Louis Vuitton luggage make their way to John Nicholson's auction, collectors and enthusiasts alike eagerly await the opportunity to bid on these iconic relics of luxury travel history.
[1] Artnet News [2] The Telegraph [3] Louis Vuitton
- Excited collectors and enthusiasts find themselves drawn to John Nicholson's auctions, as the revered auction house offers a plethora of fashion-and-beauty and home-and-garden items, including valuable Louis Vuitton Explorer trunks, showcasing a unique lifestyle from the golden age of luxury travel.
- Incorporating a blend of vintage charm and contemporary elegance, some Louis Vuitton Explorer trunks serve as a testament to the brand's rich history in fashion-and-beauty and home-and-garden design, inspiring awe among collectors and auction enthusiasts alike.
