Christie's Opens Up The Louis Vuitton Archive With Auction Of Rare Trunks
Ranging from obscure to outlandish, the esteemed auction house has partnered with a private collector in possession of over 100 limited-edition, rarely-seen Louis Vuitton trunks.
In a historic move, Christie's has gathered a massive number of iconic, revered, and rare Louis Vuitton trunks—the largest number ever to go to auction. The sale, which was brought together by a private collector with a passion for Louis Vuitton trunks, features over 100 different pieces, all hailing from different eras of the luxury label's past, ranging from its founding back in the mid 19th century, all the way to the Virgil Abloh era of Louis Vuitton. This auction collection not only brings together passionate collectors and aficionados of the iconic Louis Vuitton trunk, it also charts the style journey that the house has taken over the years and the evolution of travel trunks over time.
Although an undeniably functional, necessary item, created by expert craftsmen throughout history, the travel trunk has emerged as a luxury object thanks to the sumptuous working of leather, wood, and canvas and the timelessly sophisticated design of each and every one of the Louis Vuitton trunks.
Many trunks within the collection were also crafted for ultra-specific purposes at the behest of various clients across the years. Among the pieces in this genre, the most unique include a trunk with a built-in caviar set, a vintage Louis Vuitton trunk with interior space designed for a birthday cake, a Croquet Trunk from 2004, and a Library trunk—created for Ernest Hemingway with the purpose of storing his all-important typewriter.
Another highly sought-after piece from the collection is the Lily Pons Shoe Trunk, which traces its origins all the way back to 1920 when it was created for the French-American opera star of the same name. The vintage Louis Vuitton trunk stores over 20 pairs of shoes and boasts a sunny yellow leather interior with the iconic monogrammed leather exterior. Although this piece marks just a small fragment of the singer's personal history, it stands out among the Louis Vuitton archive as a powerful, enduring representation of the luxury and dedication to its clientele that the label has always infused into its business model. This vintage Louis Vuitton trunk is expected to fetch between €20,000 to €30,000, but as with any auction, it could go much higher depending on client demand.
The "Legendary Trunks: A European Private Collection" auction was unveiled to the public online in mid-June and will be available for bidding until July 3, 2024.
