Louis Vuitton Ochre Canvas Travel Trunk No. 188555, Blue & Black Stripes, Initials C.T.G., Circa 1910s

Long before brown Monogram became the house signature, Louis Vuitton dressed its trunks in other canvases, and this one wears warm ochre ruled with blue and black. Attributed to the 1910s and painted with the initials C.T.G., it shows a quieter, rarer face of the Maison, its century of patina intact.

The Piece

This antique Louis Vuitton travel trunk is attributed to circa the 1910s and was made in France, in the era when the Maison's reputation still rested overwhelmingly on travel architecture. Instead of Monogram canvas, the exterior is a warm ochre-toned canvas interrupted by narrow blue and black linear striping, a far less common treatment and a reminder of how broad Louis Vuitton's early visual vocabulary was. Here the luxury is not loud; it lies in proportion, construction, reinforced edges and hardware.

The broad, low body measures approximately 90.5 cm wide, 49.5 cm high and 51 cm deep, rising to about 92 cm with the lid open. It was engineered for durability, stacking and transport, with leather perimeter reinforcement, metal corner fittings, riveted structural elements, central lock hardware, secondary front closures and side carrying hardware. The painted initials C.T.G. remain prominent across the upper surface, a trace of an early owner from a period when travel trunks were frequently customized for individual clients.

Inside, a pale lined finish with an elegant quilted treatment beneath the lid contrasts with the darker exterior. The original removable tray system is no longer present, leaving an open interior of approximately 87 cm wide, 48.5 cm high and 48 cm deep. Ochre canvas, deep brown leather edging, aged brass-toned hardware, black and muted blue striping and pale textiles give the trunk an almost archaeological mood; under a removable glass top it serves as a coffee-table trunk, and it sits equally well as a library centerpiece or collector's archive piece.

Founded in nineteenth-century Paris, Louis Vuitton built its reputation on durable luggage for an era transformed by railways, steamships and grand hotels, carefully engineered from leather, canvas, timber and metal. Before Speedys, Keepalls and modern leather goods became cultural symbols, there was the trunk.

Details

• Maker: Louis Vuitton
• Model: Travel / storage trunk
• Serial / trunk number: 188555
• Era: Attributed to circa 1910s
• Origin: France
• Material: Ochre-toned historic trunk canvas; leather reinforcement; aged metal fittings and clasps; quilted pale lining
• Color: Ochre with blue and black linear striping
• Measurements: Exterior: width approx. 90.5 cm · height approx. 49.5 cm · depth approx. 51 cm · height with lid open approx. 92 cm. Interior: width approx. 87 cm · height approx. 48.5 cm · depth approx. 48 cm
• Personalization: Painted initials C.T.G.
• Included: Trunk only; the removable tray and the key are not present

Condition

• Antique condition, more than a century old, with extensive natural age-related wear and patina: surface dirt, scratches, abrasions, canvas wear, small losses, aged leather, metal oxidation, hardware wear, minor dents and general patination.
• The key is not present, and the original interior tray system is no longer included.
• Its structural form, decorative exterior and major hardware survive; collectors seeking pristine modern-condition luggage should consider a later object.

Authenticity & Care

Serial / trunk number 188555, with painted initials C.T.G. The trunk is assessed through construction, canvas characteristics, leather aging, rivet placement, hardware, lock and clasp architecture, timber, interior materials and markings; the date is attributed conservatively in the absence of archival documentation. Every piece is examined and documented in Japan before dispatch and is offered with the Japonista authenticity guarantee.

Delivery from Japan

Crated in Japan and shipped insured by air or sea freight. A freight quote is confirmed with you before dispatch through our Museum-Grade Logistics Suite™. Import duties and taxes, where applicable, are payable on arrival. Returns follow our published policy.

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