Posted 7 years ago
jscott0363
(900 items)
Hello fellow collectors!!
I just completed the exterior of this lovely very late 1800's, possibly 1900, French made flat top trunk. It's made by Saingermier, in the southern part of France. It has a coated canvas covering, almost like a patent leather, that is still 100% intact, as are both of the very thick 3-ply leather handles. And, as you can see, it's monogrammed for the original owner "B M".
This one still retains some hotel decals on each end. One is from the Hotel Du Commerce, in Paris. I'm still trying to make out what the other two read.
I've never had a trunk with this much brass jewelry before. It took what seemed like weeks with my Dremel tool and polishing compound. It's still in quite nice condition for it's age. This one is also the lightest weight trunk that I own. Though not a Louis Vuitton, Goyard or Moynat, I'd say that this one was still a very high end trunk in it's day.
This is all I plan to do with the exterior of this one. I'd like to keep this one as original as I possibly can.
The striped fabric interior lining is still 100% intact, as is the trunk makers label, but missing it's original trays and document holder. This one measures 30" long, 18" tall and 18" wide.
A very special THANK YOU to our CW friend kyratango for the wonderful information regarding the maker of this lovely trunk. Thank you Kyra!!!!
SAINGERMIER AINE trunk maker history from the BelMal Malletier Archives:
Established 1859, closed 1936. Two generations: Saingermier Ainé, and then Saingermier Fils (son) & Villemur (son in law). A daughter married another trunkmaker in Toulouse, called Laporte.
This sturdy type of trunk would generally be used as salesman trunk; possibly inspired by another maker, and countrywide reference, Lavolaille in Paris (who used sheet brass for the edges i.o. iron, leather, or fibre).
Thank you Jean-Pierre Bal for the wonderful trunk maker information.
Thanks for stopping to have a look and I do hope you enjoy seeing this one as much as I do.
Scott
You did a bang up job, scotty - it's gorgeous!
Well, Thank you Bonnie!! I do appreciate it very much. It's a labor of love and I do truly enjoy it.
Thanks very much for the loves
Bonnie
and
Rob
And thank you both very much for stopping in as well. Always very much appreciated!!!
Just awesome love your work. Nice addition Scotty.
Pops,
Thanks so very much for the appreciation and for stopping by. Very sincerely appreciated!!
Roy,
Thanks for the very fine compliment! I do appreciate it very much. Thanks also for the appreciation and for stopping by. Very much appreciated!!
This is tres belle ... so beautiful!! Gorgeous work on the refinish js... spectacular trunk all around.
Js I have one so similar with no label -- I have attributed it to another maker but the similarities are striking.... I think the Southern French malliers must have had a similar style.
Merci beaucoup T-man!! I love everything about this one. I thought it cleaned up rather well. So, in looking at the label, I've still not figured out what the trunk makers' company name is. I'll have to assume Saincermier Aine.
Thanks again very much!!
Thanks very much for the loves
Kevin
Thomas
and
Celiene
And thank you all for dropping by to have a look. Much appreciated!!!!
The maker's name is SAINGERMIER :-)
I found an advice in a pdf from an old newspaper, L'EXPRESS DU MIDI, saying:
"Messieurs SAINGERMIER ET VILLEMUR informent le public qu'ils cesseront à partir du 31 Décembre 1936 le commerce de malles et articles de voyage qu'ils exercent à Toulouse, 1bis 3bis et 6 rue du Rempart Villeneuve ".
To say they stopped their activity on 12/31/1936
Kyra,
You are my hero!! I have searched and searched and could find nothing in regards to the maker. Wonderful information! Thanks so very very much!
Thanks everyone for the loves
freheit
Karen
Judy
Phil
fortapache
fleafinder
Mike
and
Kyra (for the awesome information)
And thank you all for stopping in. I do appreciate you all!
Simply awesome Scott ,I have never seen this label before,nor those latches.
Surely a higher end trunk.LV/Goyard/Moynat get much of the glory these days as
the premier makers of the time. I have found that some other smaller makers were producing goods equal too theirs.
Drill,
Thanks very much!! I agree on the the latches. These latches have two stars embossed on each of them, which I really like. And yes, unless the French made trunks are of the top three makers, they tend to be disregarded. And though this isn't a LV, Goyard or Moynat, it's still, i my opinion, a top notch trunk. Thanks very much for the awesome comment, the appreciation and for stopping in. Always look forward to you dropping in.
http://lesobjetsanciensdeseb.overblog.com/
Check this site out Scott,you might enjoy it. there are many layers to dig through
to find French trunks/labels etc. that are off the grid.Hope it links.
You're very welcome, Scott :-)
I found nothing else about the maker...
Drill,
Wow, that one trunk looks nearly identical to this one. My interior has the same striped canvas and once had a "Red" document holder as well. The string still remains inside of mine, but no tray or document holder. Thanks very much for the link!
Thought you would enjoy it. When I first saw it I thought of this maker.
http://img.over-blog-kiwi.com/0/16/66/83/201310/phpuRzrSO
I do think as T-man, that similarities in french trunks were by region and
apprentices that learned the craft and moved on to start their own establishments.
A really beautiful trunk, and yes I agree it's a high quality trunk too! LV gets too much credit in my opinion, and it's mostly because that company survived and then eventually became famous because of name recognition. It's the same way with some American made trunks and until a few years ago nobody even heard of Martin Maier or the Romadka Brothers trunks. Great find!
Drill,
I totally agree! The Malles Lavolaille trunks are quite similar to this one. In fact, when I first saw this one, that's what I thought it was until I opened it. Thanks again very much for the cool links!
Marvin,
Thanks very much!!! Yes, LV gets too much attention and the prices are quite ridiculous at times. I too love the Martin Maier trunks and the Romadka hardware is incredibly over the top beautiful!
Thanks for the appreciations
Michael
fortapache
FatBoy
and
Marvin
And thank you guys for taking the time to drop by. Many thanks to you all!
I really like my LV (flat-top) but I love my Martin Maier and it gets the most reaction from people. Js I look at the trunk such as yours and think of how many small nails were hammered in and all the brass trimming -- these makers were on the top of the skill level in both materials and craftsmanship of their day -- and I agree wholeheartedly Marvin -- I only started collecting in earnest 5 years ago and up until then I have never heard of Romadka Brothers, (or MM) who have I believe a high degree of excellence in creativity and craftsmanship. Branding success pulls a lot of value weight but does not define craftsmanship.
T-man,
I too love the LVs, but I wouldn't want one already restored. So many badly restored LVs and a person who is not aware of the horrible mistakes, that are commonly made in LV restoration, could easily end up paying way more than they're actually worth.
I wouldn't even want to guess how many tiny nails are in this one. They're all spaced so closely together on the brass trim. 100's of them I'm sure.
I'd love a MM or a Romadka, but have yet to stumble across any in my searches that are within my trunk collecting budget! Can't wait to see your leather LV when completed. It's already quite beautiful, but I know it'll be over the top when you put you magic T-man touch on it. Thanks again T-man!
Thank you Gary!!!! I do appreciate the fine compliment. Thanks also for the appreciation and for taking time to drop in. Many thank to you my friend!!
This one is one of my favorites Scott! It's so beautifully made, and as you said, it's obviously a high-end! Gr8 piece!
Rick,
Thanks friend!! I have to say that it's also one of my all time favorites as well. Thanks for the appreciation and for dropping by. I do appreciate it very much!
NevadaBlades,
Thanks friend for the appreciation and for dropping in as well. Very much appreciated!!!
http://theredlist.com/media/database/fashion2/history/2000/louis-vuitton/062_louis-vuitton_theredlist.jpg
https://67.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lpja8haAnC1ql1gk3.png
http://fr.academic.ru/pictures/frwiki/77/Moynat_salon_auto_1907.jpg
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-THpx-gFrfYk/T1GlHQYQP8I/AAAAAAAAAF0/9CGrC12Pruw/s1600/Moynat+World's+fair.png
There are good reasons why they were top of the food chain.Well run firms with
solid products.
You know, I love the Moynat trunks as well or better than the LVs. I've had my eye out for a Moynat for the last several years now. I do believe one will come along that fits my trunking budget!
http://www.luxos.com/images/LUXOS-News/art_culture/5321/04.-Boutique-Au-Depart---29-avenue-de-lOpera.jpg
It will come for sure.
Or maybe AuDepart with a good bottle of wine???
I must admit, that I would love to find a Moynat Automobile Trunk .
Big bucket list item for me.
http://67.media.tumblr.com/4f2282b04b74f5f522e860e6a865523e/tumblr_mwpxgbptOf1rk667go1_500.jpg
I have to yet even see a Moynat trunk come up for sale anywhere in my vicinity which I consider to be most of Canada. They must have had a much more limited number of trunks made. (I rarely look at ebay but even there I can only remember one at some outrageous price) Someone posted on kijji (my main hunting ground) saying he was looking for antique trunks and to pay particular attention to the style he was looking for and posted a pic of a Moynat -- without naming what it was. Trolling....
Because this guy !! The guy that has your Trunk T-man! The only guy doing the work in all of France mind you.
https://media.npr.org/assets/img/2013/08/19/moynat1_wide-4c5dbd7b3be667444d8ed4fafabbbab8e4b26c8e.jpg?s=1400
Made a wrong freakin turn /ran out of oats for his buddy up front De Gaulle
and never made his delivery run to Canada T-Man. They said forget it
too damn far....no inflatable tires, send one of these instead.
http://66.media.tumblr.com/776f5ec82ba4f17ee5e62e06124fbe58/tumblr_mk01y5fqxT1rk667go1_500.jpg
A measly postcard are you kidding me?The French are just this way, deal with it.
Next thing you know there is a support group involved!
Scott this is T-mans Trunking Map.
https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRHQEW1g8gKBlAya3syLRqre61iG2IqUSdH34d7ar0_Chf141JOMA
holy cow that's some freakin range.Ok now picture him driving this thing:
http://images.indianahistory.org/utils/ajaxhelper/?CISOROOT=Guedelhoefe&CISOPTR=51&action=2&DMSCALE=5&DMWIDTH=300&DMHEIGHT=244&DMX=0&DMY=0&DMTEXT=&DMROTATE=0
That red ascot blowing in the breeze,headed to his new place of work.
http://apps.sandiego.gov/gallery/digitalarchives/images/downtown/dt12_file14241.jpg
It's so scary!
Drill,
You too funny man!!!
Thanks for the loves and appreciations
kivatinitz
myoldkyhome
and
SEAN
And thank you all for dropping in. Very much appreciated!!!
https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/564x/49/8c/f2/498cf2730d13441ef4c7e7ea8b46c877.jpg
An image I recently found, thought you would enjoy
Drill,
That's an AWESOME pic!! I actually have a copy of a Saingermier Fils & Villemur trunk label that has a picture of this very exact trunk on it. I saw a few pics of a Lavolaille, or La Volaille to some folks, trunk that was nearly the identical twin to my Saingermier Aines trunk.
Must have had a connection between the two companies,or at least in the approach of the malletier. Apprentice/Master
surely a craft handed down, generational passing of the torch, regional styles would develop along these lines in much simpler times.The tendency to copy what works
rules many times.
Drill,
Yep, that must have been the case with the French malletiers especially.
https://pinth.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/IMG_1419-500x375.jpg
French Automobile trunks, Buck list for sure for me!
http://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/ow8AAOSwx2dYGhJa/s-l1600.jpg
https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/9a/50/6e/9a506e87287657fdc019dd0ac7e79269.jpg
Moynat advertising
http://www.soblacktie.com/media/01/02/1585868795.jpg
http://www.moynat.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/moynat_paris_1912.jpg
http://www.moynat.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/moynat_paris_1899.jpg
http://www.brandarex.fr/public/images/edito/Moynat%205.png
Fun to share! Enjoy!
https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/e5/fb/cd/e5fbcdba804c2dbe284eb0e1f0b0e99a.jpg
Drill,
The Moynat automobile trunks were so amazing looking. I've only seen a couple, and they were on the web. They were also priced between $5K and 10K.
I'd love to have the rooms full of Moynat trunks!!! Would that be grand!
myoldkyhome
Anna
JlMam
prinvin
and
Jenni
Thank you all very much for the loves and for stopping in!!!