“We can open this lot at $8,000,” Jim Julia said as he began to sell lot 2510, a Louis Vuitton wardrobe steamer trunk, dating from the early Twentieth Century, French. You could tell there was a bit of surprise from those at the gallery since the lot was estimated at $1,5/2,500. Those taking phone bids just kept waving their cards as the bids jumped by the hundreds, finally coming to rest at $30,000, plus the buyer’s premium, making the final cost $34,500.

The trunk has serial/lock no. 020608 and the lid, interior quilted, opens to a well-fitted compartment tray. The front of the trunk has a pair of doors opening to reveal two long drawers mounted with leather handles. The case ends with brass carrying handles, the key is missing, and there is slight scuffing leather edges.

After the noise of surprise and amazement settled down, Jim went right on to the next lot, another Louis Vuitton steamer trunk that was a bit more worn, and less interesting. “Here’s one for those who missed out on the first one,” Jim said, knocking it down for $6,000, again over the high estimate of $1,200, plus buyer’s premium.

A report on Julia’s four-day sale, August 21′4, will be in a future issue of Antiques and The Arts Weekly.

⁒. Scudder Smith