Louis Vuitton Hermetically Sealed Zinc Explorers Trunk, circa 1885.

A rare hermetically sealed zinc Louis Vuitton Cabin Trunk, circa 1885. This extremely rare and highly sought-after all-zinc covered small Malle Cabine (Cabin Trunk) with an all brass trim, LV brass studs, copper pins, brass side handles and locks, with two wooden slats to the top, and a single slat to the front. The interior with original label, and plain with no fittings or trays. These very early and rare all-metal bound pieces provided a hermetic seal for the trunk’s contents, assuring the owner that their belongings stayed clean and dry on journeys to inhospitable and humid climates. The award winning lock system paired with the zinc allowed the trunk to be impervious to water, and protected the original owner’s possessions not only from the elements but from thieves.

Whether you were going to Paris or the Congo, it was expected that you looked as fashionable as possible at all times, requiring you to stay fresh and change often. This etiquette made having reliable luggage a worthwhile investment, such as this Louis Vuitton Zinc Trunk. The locks on this trunk are the signature and revolutionary burglar proof locks and the bottom of the trunk features the original casters. The Louis Vuitton Company received many letters of thanks and congratulations from distinguished travelers, members of the military, and private citizens, all hailing the Zinc Trunk.

This item is over 100 years old.