Among the most accomplished forms in the Louis Vuitton canon, the fitted wardrobe trunk represents the apex of the house's ambition during the golden age of transatlantic travel — a self-contained traveling cabinet engineered to the same standard as the finest furniture, and tailored to the exacting requirements of its original owner.
This exceptional example, bearing serial number 062145 and retailing through Vuitton's London address at 149 New Bond Street and the Paris maison at 70 Champs-Élysées, was made for the Birge family of Buffalo, New York — placing it within the tradition of bespoke commission that defined Vuitton's relationship with America's most prominent families during the 1920s. Buffalo's Birge family were among the city's leading industrial dynasties, and their patronage of Vuitton is entirely consistent with the social world they inhabited — one of ocean liner crossings, European seasons, and the grand hotels of London and Paris.
The exterior is executed in the house's iconic monogram canvas, structured with natural leather trim, brass hardware throughout, and the characteristic studded lozine borders. The flat-top profile — Vuitton's signature innovation over the domed trunks of rival makers — permitted efficient stacking in the hold of a Cunard or White Star liner, while the robustness of the construction ensured the contents arrived in precisely the condition they departed.
The interior is of the first order. A full bank of ten drawers, each fitted with original leather pull-tabs stamped with the Vuitton name, provides comprehensive storage for clothing and personal effects. Above, a removable tray with original linen-lined compartments and period brass fittings accommodates more delicate items. The lid interior is lined in quilted cream fabric with studded detailing — a hallmark of Vuitton's premium wardrobe production during this period. The door interior retains its original orange canvas lining with fitted horizontal rails.
Wardrobe trunks of this quality and completeness — retaining original interior fittings, original hardware, and documented provenance — are increasingly rare on the market. The combination of named family provenance, dual-address lock plate, and intact interior configuration places this example among the most desirable pieces of its kind.
Serial No.: 062145 Retailed through: 149 New Bond Street, London & 70 Champs-Élysées, Paris Provenance: Birge Family, Buffalo, New York
Condition: Very good overall. Monogram canvas strong and intact with honest patina consistent with age and use. Leather trim retains good structure throughout. Brass hardware present and complete — lock plate, clasps, corner guards, and studs all in place. Serial number 062145 clearly legible on lock plate. Interior exceptional: all ten drawers present and functioning, original leather Vuitton-stamped pulls intact on each. Removable upper tray present with original linen dividers. Quilted cream lid lining clean and intact. Orange canvas door lining present. A rare example retaining its complete original interior.
Literature:
Paul-Gérard Pasols, Louis Vuitton: Malletier à Paris, Paris, 1987
Florence Müller, Louis Vuitton: 100 Legendary Trunks, New York, 2010
Pierre Léonforte, Louis Vuitton: The Birth of Modern Luxury, Paris, 2004
Among the most accomplished forms in the Louis Vuitton canon, the fitted wardrobe trunk represents the apex of the house's ambition during the golden age of transatlantic travel — a self-contained traveling cabinet engineered to the same standard as the finest furniture, and tailored to the exacting requirements of its original owner.
This exceptional example, bearing serial number 062145 and retailing through Vuitton's London address at 149 New Bond Street and the Paris maison at 70 Champs-Élysées, was made for the Birge family of Buffalo, New York — placing it within the tradition of bespoke commission that defined Vuitton's relationship with America's most prominent families during the 1920s. Buffalo's Birge family were among the city's leading industrial dynasties, and their patronage of Vuitton is entirely consistent with the social world they inhabited — one of ocean liner crossings, European seasons, and the grand hotels of London and Paris.
The exterior is executed in the house's iconic monogram canvas, structured with natural leather trim, brass hardware throughout, and the characteristic studded lozine borders. The flat-top profile — Vuitton's signature innovation over the domed trunks of rival makers — permitted efficient stacking in the hold of a Cunard or White Star liner, while the robustness of the construction ensured the contents arrived in precisely the condition they departed.
The interior is of the first order. A full bank of ten drawers, each fitted with original leather pull-tabs stamped with the Vuitton name, provides comprehensive storage for clothing and personal effects. Above, a removable tray with original linen-lined compartments and period brass fittings accommodates more delicate items. The lid interior is lined in quilted cream fabric with studded detailing — a hallmark of Vuitton's premium wardrobe production during this period. The door interior retains its original orange canvas lining with fitted horizontal rails.
Wardrobe trunks of this quality and completeness — retaining original interior fittings, original hardware, and documented provenance — are increasingly rare on the market. The combination of named family provenance, dual-address lock plate, and intact interior configuration places this example among the most desirable pieces of its kind.
Serial No.: 062145 Retailed through: 149 New Bond Street, London & 70 Champs-Élysées, Paris Provenance: Birge Family, Buffalo, New York
Condition: Very good overall. Monogram canvas strong and intact with honest patina consistent with age and use. Leather trim retains good structure throughout. Brass hardware present and complete — lock plate, clasps, corner guards, and studs all in place. Serial number 062145 clearly legible on lock plate. Interior exceptional: all ten drawers present and functioning, original leather Vuitton-stamped pulls intact on each. Removable upper tray present with original linen dividers. Quilted cream lid lining clean and intact. Orange canvas door lining present. A rare example retaining its complete original interior.
Literature:
Paul-Gérard Pasols, Louis Vuitton: Malletier à Paris, Paris, 1987
Florence Müller, Louis Vuitton: 100 Legendary Trunks, New York, 2010
Pierre Léonforte, Louis Vuitton: The Birth of Modern Luxury, Paris, 2004
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