A Louis Vuitton Masterpiece

A stunning Art Deco Louis Vuitton Torino crocodile skin gentleman’s dressing case complete with all of the original fittings commissioned in 1934.

The case and fittings are in remarkable condition, the brass rivets, lock and catches retain the original lacquer finish and the richly coloured, red crocodile skin is superb and untouched having been protected by it’s crocodile skin trimmed canvas foul weather cover. The internal fittings are extensive with eleven “Flacon Tof” silver topped bottles, a hip flask and numerous containers with London hallmarks, Vuitton’s stamp and import marks for 1928. There is also a silver travelling shaving brush and a soap stick.

The case is lined in striking red Morocco leather with matching boxes for jewels, cigarettes and a razor and a comprehensively fitted manicure set including a Vuitton corkscrew and boot pulls. The original hair and clothes brushes are in antique ivory.

A leather example of the case is shown in a contemporary Louis Vuitton illustration in Henry L Vuitton’s book, “A Trunk Full of Memories”.

The case was commissioned by Edward William Mitchell (EWM) in 1934 whilst he was living in France. Mitchell was the son-in-law of Dr. Jean-Francois Calot, a famous French surgeon. Mitchell worked with Calot to manage his business affairs allowing Calot to develop his groundbreaking surgery. The suitcase stayed with EWM throughout his life and was evacuated from Le Touquet on the last civilian boat to England in June 1940, in the face of the advancing German army.

Note: Dr. Jean-Francois Calot (1861-1944) was a world renowned Orthopaedic surgeon based at Berck-sur-Mer in Northern France, who treated many illustrious patients including Queen Nathalie of Serbia, Helen Grand Duchess of Russia and the Rothschild family. In 1922, with the backing of the Rothschild family, he built the Orthopaedic Institute of Berck, which later became the Institut Calot, and which exists to this day as one of the leading centres of excellence in France for orthopaedic treatments and surgery. In 1941 Dr Calot retired to his Chateau at Miramont in Adast, Hautes Pyrenees and died in March 1944.

Dimensions: 27¼ inches/69cm x 18 inches/46cm x 9 inches/23cm tall

Price on application