PARIS.- Christie's presented from June 19 to July 3, 2024, the online auction of the largest private collection of Louis Vuitton trunks ever offered, titled Legendary Trunks: A European Private Collection. Assembled by a passionate collector, this collection of nearly 100 iconic models from a particular era or style constitutes a true anthology of Louis Vuitton trunks.
The sale totaled 2.4 million | $2.5 million, surpassing its initial estimate of 1.1 to 1.6 million, thus doubling its high estimate. Marked by significant international participation, the sale included 27% new buyers. The highlight of the sale, a rare 1925 copper explorer's wardrobe trunk, was sold for 189,000.
Among the most remarkable pieces of the sale, which greatly exceeded their high estimates, are:
A Monogram canvas Library Trunk, designed in the style of the trunk created in 1927 by Gaston-Louis Vuitton for Ernest Hemingway. This trunk fetched 88,200, eight times its high estimate. (Estimate: 8,000 10,000)
A red Vuittonite canvas trunk from the collection of French banker and philanthropist Albert Kahn reached 94,500, more than three times its high estimate. (Estimate: 20,000 30,000)
A Monogram canvas Courier 110 Trunk, once owned by industrialist John Moffat from the 1930s, soared to 81,900, eight times its high estimate. (Estimate: 8,000 10,000)
A rare, black wooden explorator's camp bed trunk, a true example of an object designed to meet the travel needs of its time, reached 69,300. (Estimate: 8,000 10,000)
"The sale totaled 2.4 million, setting a world record for a collection of Louis Vuitton trunks. Presenting the largest private collection of trunks ever offered, achieving 217% of the low estimate, it is a resounding success confirming collectors' attraction to this category. We are delighted with these exceptional results." Lucile Andreani, EMEA Director of the Handbags & Accessories department at Christies.