Travel in Style: Costume, Accessories & Textiles Sale Preview

From an era when international travel was a serious undertaking, comes a sturdy but stylish late 19^th century trunk by Louis Vuitton, due to be sold in Tennants Auctioneer’s Costume, Accessories and Textiles Sale on 17^th August in their North Yorkshire salerooms. Louis Vuitton established his eponymous brand in 1854, having served his apprenticeship as a trunk maker. He spotted an opportunity to make flat-topped trunks, which were easily stacked compared with the traditional dome-topped variety. The rectangular design, along with durable canvas coating, soon became a firm favourite with the wealthy traveller in both London and Paris, and the international fashion house was born. The trunk, which is estimated to sell between £2,500-3,500 (plus buyer’s premium), is covered in Vuitton’s distinctive checkerboard ‘damier’ canvas that was introduced in 1888 and is still being used today.

Samplers are seeing strong results at the moment, and further good examples in the sale include a late 17^th century band sampler, worked by Mary Squire  aged 7 who rather charmingly embroidered her letters ‘s’ and ‘q’ backwards (estimate: £400-600), and an early 19^th century sampler by Mary Gascoigne aged 8 depicting ‘Noseley Hall, Seat of Sir Arthor Heazelrigs’ (estimate: £200-300). In addition, there are several 19^th century schoolgirl sewing samplers.

Antique quilts are well represented, with a beautifully preserved example dating to 1800-1820 on offer with an estimate of £600-800. The patchwork quilt has a central chinoiserie panel surrounded by colourful glazed chintz; it appears never to have been used. From the same vendor comes an early 19^th century patchwork quilt featuring an intricate 32-point mariner’s compass design (estimate: £600-800) and a early 19^th century quilt featuring quartered circles known as a ‘jockey hat’ design (estimate: £500-800). The auction will also see the sale of the second part of the Jan Hassard Heritage Quilt Collection, which include examples from America, Canada, France and the UK.

Also of note in the sale are a collection of knitting sheaths, many with provenance from the Yorkshire Dales, two lots of pretty 19^th century children’s and dolls’ shoes and a collection of Charles Horner and other hat pins. A quantity of good lace including Irish tambour, Brussels, Honiton and Irish crochet sits alongside an array of costume from Victorian dress and buckskin breeches to 1920s and contemporary fashion by the likes of Alexander McQueen and Christian Lacroix. Luxury accessories will conclude the sale, with the likes of Gucci belts, bags by Burberry, Mulberry and Prada and Hermes scarves.

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