Louis Vuitton Travel Trunk in Damier Canvas. Wooden Slats and Hardware.

This travel trunk is covered in the famous coated damier canvas, introduced by Louis Vuitton in 1888 to counteract counterfeits of his striped canvas. The box and slightly domed lid are reinforced with curved wooden slats secured by brass nails, with the edges protected by leather borders and metal corners. The front retains its central lock and two brass hasps; side handles facilitate carrying. The Louis Vuitton house, founded in 1854, revolutionized the art of travel with its stackable flat trunks; the damier canvas examples from 1888-1896, predating the Monogram canvas, are among the most sought after by collectors of vintage trunks. Condition report: Used condition consistent with age: damier canvas showing wear, rubbing, and some localized losses, slats and fittings patinated, natural oxidation of brass — all testimonies of a life of travel that add to the charm of these trunks. A collectible piece full of history, superb at the foot of a bed or as a characterful coffee table.