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Louis Vuitton Calf Leather Trunk with Titanic Provenance
$21,000List Price
About the Item
Provenance:
This authentic, custom-made Louis Vuitton trunk belonged to George Dunton Widener (it is uncertain whether it was the property of George Dunton Widener, Sr. or his second oldest son, George Dunton Widener, Jr.) and was recovered from Miramar Mansion in Newport, Rhode Island, the summer home of the Widener Family. The family's primary residence, as well as the location that is named on the trunk's plaque, was Lynnewood Mansion in Elkins Park, Pennsylvania, a 110-room, Georgian-style mansion that earned the heralded nick-named, "America's Versailles." It is the home in which the children of George Widener, Sr. were raised and thus, it is very plausible that this trunk belonged to George, Sr., and not his son, George, Jr.
Easily among the wealthiest of Americans, Widener, Sr. was an electric and cable streetcar magnate, as was his father, Peter Arrell Brown Widener. George, Sr., his wife, Eleanor Elkins, and their eldest son, Harry, were aboard the maiden voyage of the RMS Titanic. George, Sr., and Harry went down with the ship on April 15, 1912; Eleanor was saved and returned home to the couples' surviving son, George, Jr., and daughter, Eleanor.
George Dunton Widener, Jr. (1889-1971) became a prominent business man and thoroughbred racehorse owner. Named one of only five people ever designated "Exemplars of Racing" by the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame, George Jr. owned Old Kenney Farm (now Green Gates Farm) in Lexington, Kentucky.
Description:
Louis Vuitton Calf Leather (denotes a custom-order) Trunk with Brass and Copper hardware, as well as a special, custom-order locking mechanism. Three original trays included.
Decorating Ideas:
Considering the prestigious, captivating provenance of this trunk, it makes a fabulous focal point and unique conversational piece in a home. Consider stacking this trunk on top of a larger wardrobe or courier trunk, so that it is easily admired.
- Dimensions:Height: 16 in (40.64 cm)Width: 32 in (81.28 cm)Depth: 19 in (48.26 cm)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:Early 20th Century
- Condition:Exterior and interior condition are very good, especially for a trunk of this age and material--the Calf leather is the most difficult of the Louis Vuitton trunk canvases to maintain. Normal signs of use and travel. Faded, original owner initials (GDW) on end. Original, working locks. Original interior with no odors and only minor stains. Three original trays included. End handles easily support the trunk s weight. Please view all pictures which accurately depict condition and are completely unaltered. I have done no restorations to the trunk. Sold "as is.".
- Seller Location:Scottsdale, AZ
- Reference Number:1stDibs: U12010892066
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From humble beginnings, Louis Vuitton laid the foundations for a luggage enterprise serving the upper echelons of 19th-century society. His son, Georges, expanded on his father’s work throughout the 20th century.
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In 1854, at 4 Rue Neuve de Capucines, Paris, Vuitton launched his enterprise, gaining recognition among Parisian nobility. A second Parisian store opened at 1, Rue Scribe, after the 1871 Siege of Paris. Striped “Rayée” canvas and the first Vuitton Wardrobe Trunk arrived in the 1870s, expanding abroad to 289 Oxford Street, London, and introducing the Damier canvas in the 1880s.
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The early 1900s saw the Steamer Bag launch and new premises on the Champs Élysées. Georges was never one to shy away from a bespoke order; customers could, and regularly did, request whatever their heart desired. Legendary commissions included a “Malle Lit” explorer’s camp bed trunk...
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