The Louis Vuitton travel trunk was originally conceived as an elegant yet practical piece of luggage that would accompany stylish globetrotters to far-flung destinations and hold their treasures collected while away. Even for modern travelers, what to do with all of those keepsakes once home can be an issue — one that the esteemed designer Marc Newson has tried for years to unpack. “I am always struggling to find places to put my things, and I have accumulated a lot of ephemera and books over my life and travels,” Newson tells Grazia USA. As a result, he says, “I have been exploring systems of display for some time now, having always had trouble finding shelving or display cabinets that I really liked.”
So when Louis Vuitton presented Newson the opportunity to recreate the classic trunk as a display piece of art for the home — as part of his longstanding collaboration with the Maison — the designer jumped at the chance. The result: Cabinet of Curiosities, a nod to Louis Vuitton’s heritage and savoir faire. The modular trunk system showcases the fashion house’s legendary monogram-covered hard exterior, but a wonderfully inventive world awaits inside. Newson’s interior features 19 removable leather-covered cubes in three sizes, creating a luxurious labyrinth of spaces and shelving that can be rearranged in more than 1,000 configurations to exhibit one’s personal collection of romantic travel books and curated knickknacks from around the world. Some trunks are even equipped with secret compartments for valuables, and the cubes are available in three colorways: natural VVN leather; vivid yellow; and vibrant red, green and blue.
“The intention was to create a fun and sculptural piece that would pay homage to the history of the trunk,” Newson says of his design, which adeptly combines whimsicality and simplicity and shows off the designer’s acclaimed eye for detail. “It’s a highly functional shelving system, and the practicality of this within what could otherwise be considered a specialty piece is appealing.”
The designer appreciates how the original travel trunks are “readymade heirlooms,” and now his Cabinet of Curiosities elevates the tradition to the next level since it’s made to measure and Louis Vuitton will craft only 40 in the world. Says Newson, “I especially like the concept of having something forever, and then to pass down for generations to come.”
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