Malle2luxe was born from a passion for French craftsmanship and a passion for old luggage , shining brasses, cowhide leather, fabrics patinated by transatlantic crossings and distant journeys. This article aims to educate future buyers , so that they make the best choice on their next investments , at the best price.
Denounce certain indelicate practices . We help you avoid the pitfalls! It is a question of fighting against the destruction of the heritage which affects the world of the restoration of old trunk Louis Vuitton, Goyard, Moynat. No article is available to date to precisely point out the defects to avoid when purchasing a collector's trunk. In order to help you, our expertise in the world of the old travel trunk and our experience in the catering sector, will be invaluable to you.
Buying with an invoice , and not paying with cash scams are plentiful as you will discover throughout this article. The invoice protects you in the event of a stolen object, and will allow you to better resell your trunk if the seller has a good reputation in the luxury trunk market. This invoice, however, does not guarantee the authenticity of the trunk, nor the good restoration. Because not all sellers, or association have a good reputation, be careful especially the one that offers certificates of authenticity and free estimates. which both have no values. Obviously, if possible, prefer trunks in perfect original condition. Unfortunately, the states of origin are increasingly rare, because these trunks have traveled, were poorly stored, sometimes mistreated. It is therefore common to buy trunks that have undergone one or more restorations. The restorations are not harmful from the moment they r espectent certain points :
The discounts are:
The elements that condemn a trunk:
Buying in the auction room or from an art dealer (brokers, Saint-Ouen flea market, antique dealers, galleries) does not guarantee a good restoration, nor the authenticity of the trunk, so once again, remain vigilant!
By acquiring a trunk in the auction room, buyers think they are making a good deal. It's not always the case ! Pay attention to the selling costs ranging from 16% to 28% in addition to the hammer price. The enthusiasm of buyers to acquire collector's trunks drives up the price. In fact, on some products they regularly pay 20% to 30% more than the real price in the store. These trunks often need to be renovated and the cost of a restoration is not negligible: several thousand euros. So it's very risky. Complications can happen, like glasses in the wood , which causes their value to drop. The price of the work increases accordingly. It is the double penalty.
Only a specialist in luxury trunk can accurately assess the object and determine the extent of the damage and detect malfeasance of previous restorations, such as a varnished or waxed canvas. During these sales, dealers from all over the world mingle with collectors and often novice individuals. The euphoric atmosphere of the auction rooms stimulates buyers who push the auction and this is reflected in the final sale price, sometimes delusional. However, the price of luxury Louis Vuitton, Goyard and Moynat trunks has steadily increased over the past few years and exceptional trunks are becoming scarce., these auction house acquisitions are not such a bad deal for the finest pieces. However, it will take longer for the price of the rating to approach the selling price. In addition, the "Poubelle" trunks of which the canvas is varnished, repainted or tinkered with are to be banned.
Labels travel trunk makers, these three brands have no collectible value . Abuse of common name.
It's a conversation that we have several times a week with novices or amateurs on the importance of restoring a trunk or not. Here are some ways to become fully aware of a subject rarely discussed. This expert article will help you see more clearly. When talking about "restoration" collection trunk Louis Vuitton, Goyard , Moynat , Hermes many believe to be redone to nine ! You have to know how to qualify.
The verb to restore means:
Restore to its old state or to its original form.
Repair, renovate, restore to good condition (a work of art, a monument) while respecting the primitive state, the style.
The act of preserving, keeping intact or in the same state.
The word restore therefore also designates:
The answer is of course YES but under certain conditions. The main ones being:
Otherwise it will have the opposite effect. A bad restoration is detrimental to the value of a trunk .
Now if the question is:
The answer is NO , except for very rare models . The price of a restoration is very important and it will be easier to sell the trunk cheaper as it is than more expensive, taking into account the price of the restoration.
Even if these objects are old, even if they have a certain charm to look like a ruin , like the end of a good period, a bygone time. The more the object is degraded the more mysterious it becomes, and the imagination takes precedence over reality.
For a collector, a museum , a heritage institution it is inconceivable to own a precious, luxury object, damaged by an inadequate restoration, dirty and dilapidated and therefore not in conformity with the origin!
The wreckage of an old car leaves one dreaming. But any collector likes clean, healthy cars where the chrome is not stuck by rust rather than a wrecked car in its own juice. In a collective imagination, restoration is harmful. While if it is well conducted it allows to sublimate the objects of the past. And against all popular belief, restoration is essential for conservation by stopping degradation. Catering is a taboo subject. As if the unrestored object is pristine and pure, as if dust and dirt are more pure and genuine.
While dust degrades the pigments and oxidation further degrades the conservation of the object. As if the act of restoring it damaged his identity. Catering is a taboo subject. As if the unrestored object is pristine and pure, as if dust and dirt are more pure and genuine. While dust degrades the pigments and oxidation further degrades the conservation of the object. As if the act of restoring it damaged his identity. In museums each object has been restored to its original state.
We are not trying to have a replica more beautiful than the origin, or a new object brought up to date with the finishes or colors fashionable today.
For example, the brushed finish today is much more fashionable than the gloss , but it will not do justice to these objects and their history, than to distort them and follow the fashion to be appreciated by a wider audience. public. The restoration consists in recovering the aesthetics of the object in the state in which it would have been if it had been kept in ideal conditions (away from dust, humidity ...) and leaving a heritage for future generations.
The most beautiful objects in the world have all been restored, whatever their era:
Egyptian Museum in Cairo
Louvre Museum
Louvre Museum
Which was offered to Louis XIV in 1686
before and after its restoration sponsorship of the LVMH group.
Castle of Versailles
We restore our luxury Goyard, Moynat and Louis Vuitton trunks for museums and collectors in the same perspective, not to denature, to clean up weathering to preserve and transmit the history of French know-how to future generations:
Louis Vuitton FULL aluminum explorer trunk . Discover the incredible work of conservation in our workshops of this mail trunk from 1892 which is one of the most expensive in the world.
The fantasy of the object in perfect condition that has not undergone any restoration is indeed a legend. The restored trunks in perfect condition are more sought after and therefore negotiate better than those in their "juice". The myth which implies that a trunk in "its own juice" is rarer and more sought after by collectors is maintained by many dealers. For economic reasons alone, they do not restore their trunks and offer trunks in their "juice" by making the customer believe that they are more valuable because no one has touched them. Other merchants entrust the work to "handymen" who botch the work and destroy the heritage. Likewise, brasses are poorly restored out of ignorance of techniques and not for the sake of retaining some charm to aold trunk .
Catering is a profession in its own right, subtle, requiring training, knowledge and extremely specific skills that cannot be improvised.
Malle2Luxe is committed for many years to the conservation, restoration and sale of collection of trunks within the rules of art and knowledge
of the craft to the French.
Our requirement is to find the original appearance of the trunk before its last trip. Like a window on history.
French page : 1er partie guide d'achat