Late 1800s Louis Vuitton steamer trunk Ex. condition NO reserve Start Price USD 999.00 Current Price USD 999.00 Time Left - Bid Count 0 Buy It Now Price - Reserve Price - Start Time Saturday, July 05, 2008 End Time Saturday, July 12, 2008 Location waterford See more about 'Late 1800s Louis Vuitton steamer trunk Ex. condition' Description   Antique Louis Vuitton Steamer Trunk LARGE   You are bidding on this rare, vintage original Louis Vuitton Steamer Trunk dating from the late 1800's.  It was purchased at an estate sale in Upstate New York from the original owners great grandaughter.  The grandaughter related that the item belonged to her great grandmother who came to the United states from England in the late 1800's and brought this with her. Authentic and over 100 years old this Louis Vuitton  made steamer trunk measures approximately:       39 1/4" wide X 23" deep and 27 " high                                    This was covered in the classic check Vuitton canvas, but has since been painted.  (I have spoken to a dealer about this and he says there are two differing opinions about value after painting one being it decreases in value, the other being the paint actually protected the item and kept it in better shape).The bottom of the trunk is wood and there is some wear.  There are the dings in the canvas as one would expect from such a trunk as these usually traveled all around the world. all the solid brass  rivets appear to be there. THe locks were brass as well. The hardware on the sides is the original and has the LV stamp on it (Please see pic)  I will be happy to send you by email more pictures.The Original Louis Vuitton identifier is still on the trunk and very legible (again, please see the pic)It is a big solid piece of furniture and is quite weighty..It weighs approximately  75-85 pounds. I will do a Local Pickup and will also work with you (for a niminal fee is you have your own shipper who will come in and pack it up and take it away.  If you REALLY want the item, email me first and I will see if I can figure out a way to Freight ship it to you,, but I am worried about damage.  I am not a dealer or collector of these trunks.  This was justa great find at an Estate Sale in Upstate NEw York!  So please ask all questions prior to bidding.         I am told you can pinpoint the date of this trunk to about 1885.because 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 Louis 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 excellent condition. The metal handles are fully intact and functional. The striped inside lining is also original and in generally great shape. There is no key with it either. One could probably find one with a little searching though. 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 Momogram 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.) Place a Bid!