‘I got an old Louis Vuitton luggage bag from a junk yard and was gobsmacked to find out it was worth £7,500’
AN ANTIQUES Roadshow guest brought an old Louis Vuitton suitcase found in a junk shop for £25 to be valued – and he wasn’t expecting it to be worth £7,500.
A vintage 1890s Louis Vuitton luggage trunk was brought to be valued.
“Looking at that chequerboard design, it is about the most recognisable logo, isn’t it? In any piece of luggage or handbag ware, and it is of course Louis Vuitton” the expert said.
The guest stated that he went to see his mother-in-law to assist her with some housework, and when he asked where the tools were, she replied that they were in a box in the shed.
The expert then told the guest about the designer and how he came to design the suitcase.
It was then revealed that the suitcase was the “Damier design.
Damier is a French word that means “checkerboard” and Louis Vuitton made a name for himself with this unique design.
The Damier Ebene is built on a black canvas basis. They print a checkerboard pattern in brown over this base.
The trunk was made around the 1890s and had the original Louis Vuitton interior with no sign of any tool damage.
“I know this was bought by your mother in law, what do you think she paid for it,” asked the expert.
The guest responded: “She indicates to me that she’s paid about £25 in a junk shop.
The antiques expert said: “Well you’ll be pleased to know that the market has moved on a little bit since then.”
She revealed: “I think in an auction to the right buyer, we’re going to be talking about a minimum of £5,000, and perhaps as much as £7,500.”
The guest who looked shocked said: “Wow, that’s fantastic. Thank you very much.”
The expert then asked him what he was going to do with the item.
He replied: “I have two daughters here with me who made me bring it today, and I think they’ve got their eyes on it. How they’ll split it I don’t know!”