LOUIS VUITTON, 1888

This rare trunk, dating back to the 19th century, is known as an ‘Explorer Trunk’. This exceptional piece is covered in brass sheeting with brass corners and lock, both of which are still used by Louis Vuitton today. The Explorer collection featured zinc, copper, aluminium and brass pieces, and was exclusively intended for adventurers travelling to the distant and exotic corners of the world. They counted on Louis Vuitton to produce trunks that would safeguard their possessions, which is why the outer material had to be durable enough to survive travelling to inhospitable climates. Since then, Louis Vuitton has experienced a fabulous evolution, but today a piece of Louis Vuitton luggage is still just as complex to make, and is still made to carry beautiful things. Legendary trunks are scattered around the globe — some sleep in attics, others in museums and others still travelling. The brass Explorer Trunk is worthy as an exceptional collector’s piece.