Louis Vuitton Monogram Wardrobe Trunk, 1930s France, Multi-Drawer Fitted Clothing Case, 115 cm

From outside it is nearly monolithic, a tall brown rectangle edged in leather and heavy metal. Open it and the case divides into thin planes of storage stacked one above another, a traveling chest of drawers for shirts and folded linen in which the exterior speaks of transport and the interior of domestic order.

The Piece

This Louis Vuitton Monogram wardrobe trunk dates from circa the 1930s and was designed as an upright clothing case with an extensive fitted interior. At about 115 cm tall, it occupies the territory between luggage and furniture: closed, a disciplined vertical Monogram trunk; opened, a cabinet of shallow drawers intended for folded garments, shirts and personal effects.

Rather than packing clothing into a single cavity, the interior separates it into thin layers, so a traveler could reach one garment with minimal disturbance to the rest of the wardrobe through weeks of hotel stays, rail transfers and sea voyages. The exterior is wrapped in Monogram canvas over a timber carcass, reinforced with leather edging and structural bands, metal corner protectors, multiple clasps and hinges, central locking hardware, a side carrying handle and riveted construction; inside, the drawers are textile-lined within fitted woodwork.

The drawer pulls were repaired or replaced by a furniture craftsman associated with work commissioned by Louis Vuitton in Italy and are not original. For an interior buyer this may matter little; for an advanced trunk collector, fitted-interior originality is part of the object's historical integrity, so the point is disclosed plainly here.

Details

• Maker: Louis Vuitton
• Model: Antique wardrobe / clothing trunk
• Era: Circa 1930s
• Origin: France
• Material: Monogram-coated canvas; timber carcass; leather reinforcement; metal locks, clasps and hinges; textile-lined drawers
• Color: Brown Monogram
• Measurements: Height 115 cm (45.3 in) · Width 65 cm (25.6 in) · Depth 41 cm (16.1 in)
• Configuration: Extensive fitted multi-drawer storage for folded garments and shirts
• Restoration: Drawer pulls repaired or replaced, not original

Condition

• Antique condition with substantial age-related wear and documented restoration; not untouched.
• Surface dirt from age and exposure, scratches, wear, losses and general damage.
• Dents to the metal hardware, hardware oxidation, leather aging and areas of lifting or separation.
• Drawer pulls repaired or replaced and not original.
• Before functional use, a professional inspection is advisable, with attention to drawer runners and bottoms, cabinet framing, door alignment, hinges, lock plates, base, wood movement, canvas adhesion, leather dryness, metal corrosion and any sign of moisture; in a fitted interior, even minor distortion of the carcass can affect drawer movement.

Drawer Dimensions

Approximate interior measurements, height × width × depth.

• Upper drawer: 4 × 55 × 30 cm
• Second drawer: 4 × 56 × 32 cm
• Subsequent shallow drawers: approx. 5 × 56 × 33 cm each

Authenticity & Care

Canvas, timber construction, leather reinforcement, rivet, hinge and lock typology and the fitted drawer construction are consistent with a 1930s Louis Vuitton wardrobe trunk; the non-original drawer pulls are disclosed. Every piece is examined and documented in Japan before dispatch and is offered with the Japonista authenticity guarantee.

Delivery from Japan

Packed by hand in Japan and shipped insured and tracked by EMS or an equivalent express service. Import duties and taxes, where applicable, are payable on arrival. Returns follow our published policy.

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