Japonista is a curated destination for Japanese cultural objects and garments, selected for integrity, presence, and long-term collector value.

Do you ship internationally?

Yes. We offer international shipping with careful packing standards designed to protect delicate textiles and cultural objects.

What does museum-grade mean on your site?

Museum-grade refers to coherence and integrity: materials, technique, and condition align with a convincing internal logic and cultural presence.

How do you describe condition on vintage and antiques?

We describe condition with a collector’s lens, noting material aging, patina, and structural integrity so you can make confident decisions.

How should I care for Japanese vintage textiles and embroidery?

Avoid harsh light, humidity swings, and compression. Store with breathable protection and handle gently to preserve structure and surface.

How do I start collecting thoughtfully?

Begin with one category you truly connect with, learn its visual language, and expand slowly. Depth of understanding matters more than volume.

Collection: Louis Vuitton Trunks

Before the handbag, there was the trunk. From 1858 Louis Vuitton built its name on flat-topped, stackable travel cases, first in grey Trianon canvas, then in striped canvas, the Damier of 1888 and the Monogram of 1896. Each new covering answered a wave of imitation, and each now helps to date the piece that wears it.

This room gathers trunks that have surfaced in Japanese private collections: wardrobe trunks fitted with drawers and hangers, cabin and steamer trunks, shoe and courier trunks, and smaller jewelry cases. Every one is photographed in full, measured and graded, with its serial number, lock number and travel labels recorded wherever they survive.

Trunks travel crated and insured by air or sea freight, with a quote confirmed before dispatch through our Museum-Grade Logistics Suite™. Seeking a particular model, canvas or size? The Hunting Salon™ searches Japan on your behalf.

Dating a trunk by its canvas, lock and label is easier than it looks: our collector’s guide to antique Louis Vuitton trunks explains how.