NORDIC EXHIBITIONS PRESENTS
LEGENDARY
LOUIS VUITTON BAGS & TRUNKS THE EXHIBITION ON WORLD TOUR
LOOKBOOK
EXPLORE THE EXHIBITION Legendary Trunks the Exhibition is an interactive, immersive experience exploring the luggage of iconic designer Louis Vuitton, and the Golden Age of Travel they symbolize. This unique exhibition transports viewers to the Golden Age of Travel beginning over 150 years ago and continuing through the 20th century, when groundbreaking innovations in transportation opened up new frontiers for exploration, and Louis Vuitton trunks created a new paradigm for transporting one’s possessions. Through Vuitton’s remarkably crafted objects, captivating stories are told: stories of unprecedented adventure and elegance; of formidable personalities, and of a modernity that was exhilarating in its newness, complexity and speed.
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Each trunk is whispering its own story and life experience. Stefan Papangelis, Nordic Exhibitions
Thematic sections explore different modes of travel from this Golden Age - rail, air, auto, and sea - which are vibrantly brought to life through multi-media recreations inspired by the provenance and details of the many original Louis Vuitton trunks on display. The exhibition also highlights some of the famous owners of Louis Vuitton trunks - Franklin D Roosevelt, Ernest Hemingway, and Judy Garland among others - imparting their historically significant journeys and giving visitors the opportunity to view their personal effects up close.
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TIMELINE
“Extraordinary.” MARIE CLAIRE
“Go visit the exhibition!” TICKET MASTER
“This is a must see!” VOGUE MAGAZINE
TR AVEL CHALLENGES
Travelling is an innate part of the human experience, from prehistoric people roaming in search of food and shelter, to the conquering armies of Antiquity, to pioneering explorers, all the way to Edwardian Grand Tours, modern adventurers and jet-setters. Throughout the ages, tested by journey after journey, modes for transporting one’s possessions were devised. Functionality and imperviousness were crucial, as having the right luggage could mean the difference between a successful, well-appointed journey or an uncomfortable, dangerous one.
IMMERSIVE THEMED ISL AND
EXOTIC ADVENTURES ZINK TRUNK WITH BRASS
This Explorer Trunk dates from 1900. It was specifically designed for those travelling to remote, tropical locations. With its gleaming zinc exterior, the trunk protected its contents from the rainwater, humidity and burrowing insects that plagued the colonial traveller. Its eight interior frames are large enough to securely hold everything necessary for a lengthy and civilized stay in the wild.
BED TRUNK
By the beginning of the twentieth century, many European countries had expanded colonial empires and were sending scientific and humanitarian expeditions deeper and deeper into unmapped territory. Thrill-seeking, often very wealthy men and women had to carefully consider what they would bring on their unprecedented adventures. A “Bed Trunk” from 1900 that folds out to create a comfortable platform on which a weary traveller can sleep. Used by African explorers since the mid1800s, they were known by some as “Belgian Beds” because of their popularity with visitors to “The Belgian Congo”. One of the most famous owners of a “Bed Trunk” was the French humanitarian and anti-slavery campaigner Pierre Savoragnan de Brazza who took one on all his expeditions.
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RED CROSS RED CROSS TRUNK
In the early 1900s Louis Vuitton made different models of first-aid cases. One was almost identical to a lunch case for four people. It became very popular and was exposed in the Louis Vuitton catalog a few years later.
There are few places closer to hell on earth than a battlefield. Amidst all of the death and suffering stand a group of dedicated men and women whose only goal is to provide hope and healing in the middle of all the horror: The International Red Cross and Red Crescent. The Red Cross wields a unique authority under international law to protect the life and dignity of all combatants in armed conflict. Their skill in utilizing the bandages, medicines and surgical instruments contained in their medicine trunks has saved countless soldiers’ lives.
IMMERSIVE THEMED ISL AND
R AILS WARDROBE TRUNK
This Wardrobe Trunk and Cabin Trunk are part of a collection which belonged to the Scottish mining pioneer John Moffat. Extremely wealthy, Moffat had no home address, but instead lived in hotels all over the world, from the Plaza in Paris to the Royal Montreux.
CABIN TRUNK
A superstitious yet business-savvy man, John Moffat liked his hotel suites to be painted in celadon green and was always careful about the amount of money he paid for them. Years after his death, 120 pieces of expensive luggage were found in his estate* - most were Louis Vuitton.
The Industrial Revolution was powered by steam trains, which enabled travel and the expansion of settlements at an unprecedented level. By the end of the nineteenth century, railways crisscrossed the world, transporting goods and people in vast quantities. In the early twentieth century, train travel was practically the only way to travel across great distances overland. For many, traveling by train symbolized the romance of unexplored horizons and epic journeys, and the exhilaration of modernity.
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ALBERT K AHN
Albert Kahn was a famous French banker and philanthropist. In 1909 he set out on an ambitious project to document every culture of the global human family. By 1931 Albert Kahn and his photographic teams had collected over 72,000 color photographs and 183,000 meters of moving film, comprising an invaluable record of lifestyles and cultures which may no longer exist. Kahn was motivated in his travels and in his work to reveal the universal nature of our humanity, no matter where we come from.
IMMERSIVE THEMED ISL AND
ROADS
CAR TRUNK/CHAUFFEUR’S KIT 1900
This held one of early motoring’s most vital spare parts – the inner tube of the spare tyre. Solid rubber tyres had proved themselves impractical, air filled ones manufactured by Dunlop or Michelin were much more effective. Exposure to outdoor heat and cold could result in the inner tubes perishing and becoming useless. Safely stored in a zinc lined trunk however, the delicate rubber tubes were always in perfect condition.
CUSTOM MADE ROLLS ROYCE TRUNKS
These two car trunks were custom made in the 1920s for the iconic manufacturer Rolls Royce. The company was founded in 1904 by Charles Stewart Rolls and Frederick Henry Royce. It’s quickly established reputation for luxury, was reflected in the luggage that it attached to its vehicles.
When the “automobile” first appeared, it could only travel at a maximum of four miles an hour, and there were laws requiring a person walk in front of the vehicle, waving a red flag to warn pedestrians. As the early twentieth century progressed, cars increased in speed and became a practical option for an expanding middle class. Families could take trips to the countryside or visit faraway relatives whenever they pleased. For the more sporting gentleman there were races around tracks or even across entire continents.
IMMERSIVE THEMED ISL AND
SEA
SECRETARY TRUNK
This trunk was owned by Artic Explorer Louise Arner Boyd. Captivated by the region following her first visit in 1926, Boyd spent over 20 years exploring its frozen wilderness - In 1955 she became the first woman to fly over the North Pole. Newspapers called her “The Arctic Diana” and “The Girl Who Tamed the Arctic.” Internationally famous, she spent most of her fortune financing her expeditions and died in 1972.
On a ship with limited space, the easily stackable shape of Vuitton’s trunks meant each first-class passenger was allowed up to 200 kg of luggage in the hold, plus a steamer trunk and one item of hand baggage in their cabin.
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RMS TITANIC
In 1912, Walter Douglas, American billionaire heir to the Quaker Oats fortune, and his wife Mahala travelled to Europe. During their trip, they met a poor young French woman named Berthe Leroy. Mr. and Mrs. Douglas agreed to hire Berthe as their servant, and she accompanied them onto the Titanic for their journey home. When the wreck occurred, Mr. Douglas made sure that his wife and servant were safely aboard lifeboats, but unfortunately he died in the sinking. Berthe remained loyal to Mrs. Douglas and went on to stay with her at her estate. They journeyed to Paris together in 1924 and bought this trunk, along with another identical one. When Mrs. Douglas reached the end of her life, she left the trunk to Berthe.
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EDWARD FOLEY
CABIN TRUNK
Sometimes the ability to travel can mean the difference between life and death. Major Francis Edward Foley CMG helped tens of thousands of Jews fleeing persecution escape from Nazi Germany in the years before World War II. The number of lifesaving permits he issued could have filled several large trunks. Countless people owe Major Foley their lives. Some called him “the Scarlet Pimpernel” others, “the British Schindler.”
IMMERSIVE THEMED ISL AND
SK Y
SUITCASE TRUNK
This 1930s Suitcase Trunk belonged to Douglas MacArthur. A “five-star general” and one of The United States’ greatest military heroes, MacArthur received the Medal of Honor during World War II for his bravery in service in the Philippines Campaign. The medal had also been awarded to his father, Arthur MacArthur Jr. in 1890, making the two of them the first father and son to be recipients.
“Flying helmet on, goggles down, chocks away!” The advent of human flight would have seemed like an impossible fantasy to all but a few exceptional visionaries throughout most of history. In the 1700s the hot air balloon was developed, which enabled human flight and was employed for military observation purposes. Later, the balloon would crossover into the civilian realm, with daredevil gentleman flying them in competitions such as the Gordon Bennet Cup. In 1903, the Wright Brothers got the first “aeroplane” off the ground and within a few years, Louis Bleriot was flying across the English Channel.
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FR ANKLIN D ROOSEVELT WARDROBE TRUNK
In the 1930s, passenger air-travel was becoming increasingly common, but it was not until 1933 when Franklin D. Roosevelt flew in an aircraft that a sitting president had ever travelled by air. A special aircraft was designed for him, a precursor to Air Force One, (although there is no evidence that President Roosevelt actually used the craft). It was not until 1947 under Harry Truman that Air Force One became the official method of transportation for the president.
EXCLUSIVE PERSONALITIES
For the adventurous spirit, travel is all about the excitement of discovery. For those of great wealth, fame or status, travel can also be an inherent part of a luxurious lifestyle. Celebrities, business tycoons and the aristocracy have made adventuring through the world a glamorous way of life, always accompanied by their accoutrement, clothing, accessories and jewels. Only the finest luggage would suffice for personages and items such as these.
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CELEBRITIES & ACADEMICS SECRETARY TRUNK
Mary Pickford was one of the first movie stars of the silent era. Born Gladys Louise Smith, in the 1910s and 20s she was known as ”America’s Sweetheart” and became one of Hollywood’s most powerful women. Pickford was a co-founder of the United Artists film studio and The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences – who host the annual “Oscar” ceremony. Recognised for her contribution to cinema, she is regarded as one of the greatest female stars of all time.
CUBE TRUNK
Imagine being a painter with no brushes, palette or easel. Or an author with no typewriter, or a musician without an instrument. Creative people have always considered it a necessity to carry the tools of their trade with them as they travel, almost as an extension of themselves. Customized travel trunks were created to be unique on the inside but were typically discreet on the outside, so that others could not tell what they contained.
Pierre de Frédy, Baron de Coubertin was a French educator and historian, and founder of the International Olympic Committee. He is considered the father of the modern Olympic Games. From 1964 the International Olympic Committee has awarded a medal bearing his name to athletes and sporting professionals who exemplify the spirit of Olympic sportsmanship.
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ERNEST HEMINGWAY
LIBRARY TRUNK
Library trunks were popular, especially with authors such as Ernest Hemingway. When he was not writing or otherwise engaged in exciting pursuits like watching bullfighting, deep sea fishing, or drunken carousing, Hemingway liked to read. He travelled extensively and took his books everywhere with him in specialized trunks. Each trunk could hold up to 80 books and was fitted for a typewriter, with hidden drawers and compact shelves for “essentials.� In 1927 Hemingway designed his own trunk to cope with the demands of going on safari and reporting on the Spanish Civil War.
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JUDY GARL AND LP TRUNK
Today Judy Garland is known from the silver screen, but during her time she could also be witnessed live as a genuine musical artist. As a teenager, she had already been recorded in movies, but the real fame would occur in 1938 when she was cast as Dorothy Gale in “The Wizard of Oz.” Judy Garland won an Oscar at the 1939 Academy Awards for her unforgettable performance, which included her singing the now legendary song, “Somewhere Over the Rainbow.” Her trunk was purposed with carrying her favorite LPs, for inspiration while travelling.
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ROYALT Y & HIGH SOCIET Y WARDROBE TRUNK
Stephanie Julianne von Hohenlohe was an Austrian princess by marriage to Prince Friedrich Franz von Hohenlohe-Waldenburg-SchillingsfĂźrst. She was born a commoner but had gained entrĂŠe into high society as a young woman enrolled at the ballet school at the Vienna Court Opera. After she and the prince divorced, she retained her title and connections. Being an enthusiastic supporter of the Nazi party, she became a close confidant of Adolf Hitler. Throughout World War II she lived in Britain and *attempted to use her position in society to influence decision makers and reportedly functioned as a secret courier among sympathizers. She was accused of being a spy and fled to the United States, where she was arrested as an enemy and spent the years 1941-1945 in an internment camp.
The wealthy elite have travelled in extraordinary, sometimes unbelievable luxury. For European royalty, American high society, and the emperors and empresses of business and finance, sophisticated transport has long been a means of distinction. Traditionally, luggage would be sent ahead by freight train or cargo ship so that it could be laid out and ready for their owners when they arrived.
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MAHAR A JA OF ALWAR
The Maharaja of Alwar enjoyed traveling and was especially fond of fine cars. On one notable occasion while visiting London in 1920, he stepped into a Rolls Royce showroom to browse their latest models. Due to the Maharaja’s casual attire, the sales assistant mistook him for “a poor colonial” and treated him rudely, ignoring his request for a test drive. The Maharaja decided to teach him a lesson, and had his employees visit the showroom to purchase a fleet of seven vehicles. They then asked the sales assistant to accompany the car to the Maharaja’s palace in India. When the salesman arrived, he was horrified to recognize the Maharaja, and to discover that the cars had been ordered to collect and deliver his city’s waste to the local dump.
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KING FAROUK DOUBLE DRAWER WARDROBE
King Farouk was the tenth ruler of Egypt’s Muhammad Ali Dynasty and the penultimate King of Egypt and the Sudan. He was just sixteen years old when crowned king in 1936, and completely immersed himself in the glamorous royal lifestyle. Owning thousands of acres of land, dozens of palaces and hundreds of cars, the youthful king often traveled to Europe for grand shopping sprees, earning the ire of many of his subjects. It is said that he ate 600 oysters a week.
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EX TR AVAGANT LIFEST YLES
AMFAR ONE VANITY CASE
The American Foundation for AIDS research (amfAR) was founded by Elizabeth Taylor in 1985. Sharon Stone designed the “amfAR One� vanity case for the event Cinema Against AIDS in the year 2000.
Sometimes it is the simple things that provide the most pleasure...like slipping on a haute couture dress with a custom suite of jewelry and accessories. The fashion world is defined by innovative ideas, creativity and imagination. It is populated by powerful and eccentric characters - legendary designers who dictate the styles of the season. When they have presented ideas - however unusual - for ways to store their garments and accessories, the accommodating craftsmen at Louis Vuitton have always risen to the challenge. Some of the resulting solutions could be said to transcend innovation into the realm of art.
HIGHLIGHTS & EXHIBITION FACTS 200 authentic trunks and artifacts, never exhibited before Explore the unique production and wonderful history of the world’s most legendary trunks A story of inspired vision, painstaking construction, and uncompromising standards Highlights also include many famous celebrities The exhibition is presented with an audio tour Area required: Adaptable from 800sqm (8,600sqft) to 1,200sqm (13,000sqft) Minimum height required: 3,5 meter (11ft+) Marketing templates
Legendary Trunks The Exhibition is produced by Nordic Exhibitions & Events Ltd based on one of the world’s largest private unique collections. For additional information and the opportunity to host, please contact: Stefan Papangelis | T: +46 738 22 80 90 | E: stefan.papangelis@nordicexhibitions.se