How to add nostalgic charm to your home with a leather trunk: buy modern with a Louis Vuitton and Tyler the Creator collab, or shop for a vintage model
Leather steamer trunks from the likes of Goyard, Au Départ, Moynat, Asprey and Finnigans bring to mind the golden age of travel, as well as those from Hermès and original trunk maker Louis Vuitton
Every year there are specific decorative pieces that the style set covet for their homes – be it a designer chair, table or piece of art. There’s one item, though, that continues to stand the test of time and trend cycles: a vintage luggage trunk.
“Vintage trunks evoke a sense of adventure and nostalgia, blending functionality with timeless style. Their enduring charm lies in their ability to conjure the spirit of travel while offering practical storage and durability,” says New York-based interior designer Melissa Bowers.
Once ubiquitous at flea markets around the world, vintage luggage trunks are now a common site at auction houses and antique stores, as homeowners and interior designers jostle among collectors to find unique pieces to display in their homes.
“Integrating a vintage trunk into an interior immediately adds a layer of history and individuality. The trunks also connect to the heritage and craftsmanship of a brand, and showcase the choice of the best-quality materials and the skills of their craftspeople,” says Tim Bent, owner of antique boutique Bentleys London.
“Plus the mixture of materials used – leather trim, brass locks, monogrammed canvases – provides texture, warmth and interest to a room,” he says.
Travelling trunks have been used for hundreds of years but the 19th century was considered the era of luggage innovation. Trunks became more popular among the elite while travelling by rail or steamship (that’s where the nickname “steamer trunks” comes from).
Over the decades different trunk makers – many of them hailing from France and the United Kingdom – would introduce new and practical designs, including flat top and monogram styles (circa 1896) by Louis Vuitton, and limousine and automobile luggage by another French brand, Moynat, in the early 1900s.
“These steamer trunks were made in a variety of forms to accommodate a variety of contents, from clothing to shoes to hats, and speciality cases often included liners and trays to fit their contents,” explains Anthony Barzilay Freund, editorial director and director of fine art at e-commerce platform 1stDibs.