RESTORATION OF OLD TRUNK WOOD

The profession of carpenter is one of the oldest master's degrees in the world. Since antiquity, particularly in Egypt , the Middle Ages and today, the carpenter has perpetuated the tradition and know-how of woodworking to make all kinds of objects: furniture, door frames, carriages, armchairs ... and of course the trunks .

Initially the carpenter / packer was called  layetier . He made packaging that would later be sheathed withcoated canvasprecious and waterproof, giving a new dimension to "packaging" chests, becoming a trunk, a fashion and luxury item in its own right. The container becomes as important as the content. May this case be as beautiful as what it contains. This is the first step in the manufacture of a trunk, it all begins with the work of the carpenter, who will build the structure of the trunk. 

It is unusual to work on the wooden structure, it is solid and designed to last. However, humidity is often responsible for deterioration of old Louis Vuitton, Goyard and Moynat trunks . Rotting wood then attracts fungi, worms, larvae, insects and pests of all kinds who love damp woods to lay their eggs. When you see the traces of their passage, it is often too late, on this Louis Vuitton Trianon trunk the wood was infested. Read more...

Wood-boring insects: 

Are formidable enemies of wood, in the form of larvae and worms. Just as harmful, they are also present in the form of an insect. The most common insects are termites and beetles.

The problem when you have pests in a trunk that you bring into your house, it's like a Trojan horse. Hidden in the trunk, they are ready to attack all your family furniture, frames, parquet, etc.

Whatever the contamination of the wood, a curative treatment is essential. Xylophene treatment will  prevent pests from returning and settling there but will not strengthen weakened woods. Sometimes we do injection treatments.

Note :

Please note that wood pulp is not a repair solution! The wood filler fills the holes, cracks but will not consolidate the structure. Only a structural recovery, consisting in replacing the damaged wood is a lasting solution. We do not use any wood filler or resin on the restorations of our trunks, it is nonsense to use products of this nature.

We custom manufacture all deteriorated solid wood parts of our trunks. All the parts strictly respect the characteristics of the original parts. The wardrobe legs are in solid beech, and covered with a thin layer of metal (which will be lacquered in black on this version). Our approach as restorer of old trunks is not to "kill" the soul and the history of our trunks. We therefore age our new parts in order to respect the aesthetics and harmony with the other woods present on the trunk. The patina of the wood and its aging are unique to each trunk, so we tailor it on a case-by-case basis.

On this  Louis Vuitton mail trunk from 1906, the beech wood slats of which have been completely eaten by pests. After cleaning and restoration of the  coated canvas  and leather.

The damaged wooden slats were replaced by beech wood of the same type and of the same quality, the wood was aged to be in harmony and not to denote the age of our Louis Vuitton trunk. This is the job of the restorer. 

The undersides of the trunks in direct contact with the ground are often attacked. On this Mark II checkered canvas mail trunk , wood powder came out of the entrances to galleries dug by insects. As always our wish is to have a healthy trunk to guarantee a quality of restoration and conservation for future generations. Read more...

The restoration of structure is the traditional work   of the carpenter, on this Louis Vuitton wardrobe  trunk stored in humidity and eaten by insects, fungi and other pests. The rotten, attacked and contaminated woods damaging the very structure of the trunk are then removed until a  holy wood is found .  Adjustment and resumption of structure with a wood of the same thickness and of the same nature. Read more...

In certain rare cases, the structure is totally screwed up, the plywood is entirely to be replaced, so we had to strip the trunk of its canvas, lozine, brass jewelry , to dress a new barrel. Read more...

We manufacture the interior drawers of the missing Wardrobe trunk, which will be entrusted to the upholsterer to be covered with fabric after manufacture. Read more...

The profession of sheathing is linked to that of the carpenter. We have made this wooden structure which will be a Louis Vuitton two- pipe case  . Before this case can be covered with leather, the barrel must be made from poplar wood. Like old luxury trunks, this wood offers great lightness.

For a made to measure case, everything must be anticipated, the thicknesses of the leather as well as the different operating games. Read more...

Louis Vuitton car trunk tool box, on this solid mahogany box the varnish with the buffer was completely damaged, dull and scratched. Read more...

How to maintain your old trunk?

You have recovered a trunk in an attic, you have bought a trunk that you display in your living room. How to use and maintain it without damaging it. Precautions for use.