ULTRA RARE AND MOST EXPENSIVE RESTORATION IN THE WORLD ALUMINUM TRUNK

It was a chance and a privilege for us when our client brought us this Louis Vuitton explorer trunk in aluminum , from 1892 with extraordinarydimensions. It is undoubtedly the most expensive trunk and one of the rarest that we have ever restored.

The notoriety of malle2luxe, the know-how of our workshops and its international reputation have brought our client to us. A smaller model in less good condition was sold at Christie's and broke the world record for auction price .

By entrusting us with her treasure, our client knew she would be in good hands and gave us carte blanche. Indeed we are the only ones to respect the rules of the art.  Combining know-how and perfect historical knowledge of the luxury house Louis Vuitton.  Without altering the object:

• No brushing
• No varnish
• No wax 
• No repainting

Preserve without degrading

Our goal is always the same: to return to the original state before his last trip. 

Rediscover the look she was in 90 years ago when she was looked after by the house staff, when she was pampered and loved by her owner. We must imagine at that time the extravagance of traveling with such trunks. This luxury left no one indifferent and further increased the legend of its owner. What could this trunk contain? After this dazzling and glorious period, it was abandoned and forgotten under the dust.

The final is not to have a new trunk as it left the factory or reconditioned but to find the original condition healthy, cleaned, without erasing its history. We had already restored explorer's trunks in brass, copper,  zinc,  but never aluminum . The first thing to determine is the finish of this white metal, extremely rare at the time. Was it shiny, matte, satin, smooth, brushed?

The top was heavily oxidized with white and black spots typical of aluminum. When examining the inside of the cover and the gasket, this area protected from weathering and oxidation revealed the original metal. By rubbing a little with a cotton ball moistened with alcohol, the original shine appeared: a shiny polished metal . This moment was incredible! one could imagine the finished result of this trunk!

Aluminum is a complicated metal to polish because it is very greasy. It is a question of polishing just enough not to remove the patina and those small fly tabs typical of the old aluminum production due to the rolling of this exceptional metal ... We will have to be patient. More than 100 hours of cleaning work will be necessary to return to the original state. Despite the imposing mass, this trunk which reflects the light and the surrounding decor is like a chameleon, making it an incredible decorative object , very light, almost invisible in the decor. it is a fascinating model, to contemplate, adding a little more mystery to its travels and its history ... the adventure continues.