In 1854, Louis Vuitton opened his very first store in Paris, on the rue Neuve-des-Capucines. The house confirmed its attachment to the “City of Lights” in 1914 when his son Georges had a beautiful Art Nouveau-inspired building built on the Champs-Elysées, later to become LV’s flagship store. In 2010, the Parisian luxury house is staging an exhibition at the Musée Carnavalet, the most Parisian of the capital’s museums.
Around the iconic trunks and luggage brought together for the first time, the Carnavalet museum is showcasing the saga of Louis Vuitton, which has embodied the art of travel for more than 150 years. The visitors will discover the treasures of Louis Vuitton’s heritage collections, juxtaposed with works from the museum’s collections or other loaned pieces.
The famous trunk-maker has produced furnished sets in which the design of the form and the choice of materials were combined with technical know-how to develop a specific product or tailor it to its client’s tastes and requirements from the very first beginning. This is one of the house’s strength. It is a true pleasure to see all those different creations, an expertise of tradition and innovation, craftsmanship and creativity.
The exhibition is presented at the Musée Carnavalet – History of Paris, 23, rue de Sévigné, 75003 Paris from 13 October 2010 to 27 February 2011, open Tuesday to Sunday from 10am to 6pm. Lecture visits are offered along with storytelling for younger visitors. For further information, please contact +33 1 44 59 58 58.
In case you cannot make it to Paris for the exhibition, I recommend the new book “Louis Vuitton: 100 legendary Trunks”, where all the travelers chronology of the house is recalled. It is a beautiful hommage to the Louis Vuitton trunk, the probably most iconic accessory in the world of luxury and travel. Published by Edition de la Martiniere (€100) and on sale in bookshops and at the exhibition sales desk.
LoL, Sandra
Limited edition available exclusively in LV stores, €140
Covered leather tea case, 1926 © Louis Vuitton / Patrick Gries, Photos: Courtesy of Louis Vuitton
