Goyard Bags: What Are They Worth?

Apparently, they’re worth loads. One couple unknowingly bought a treasure from a garage sale, paying $20 for a charming old trunk which they thought might be of use to them. It turned out to be pretty useful and very valuable: it was a circa-1900 Goyard steamer trunk. The trunk measures 32 inches wide by 22 inches high and 19 inches deep. The couple had not realized how priceless the Goyard trunk was until they brought it to an auction house called the Clars Auction Gallery after deciding it was one possession they had to sell.

The auction house first inspected the steamer trunk to assess its possible value. They later identified it as a circa-1900 Goyard trunk, and it was still decked out with decals from the past including Pullman Golden Arrow and Cunard White Star. The Goyard trunk also had labels which indicated the trunk had been to Italy, France and England, including Victoria Station in London. According to the couple, the steamer trunk supposedly belonged to an opera star who traveled the world. However, the auction house was not able to confirm this. The exterior was painted with “G.N.F., S.F. No 4” and its latches were signed with “Goyard Aine, Monte Carlo, Biarritz, Paris”.

Aside from being obviously priceless because of its age, the Goyard trunk is very valuable because of the brand. Goyard is a popular French designer brand making luxury handbags and luggage, and has been around as early as 1853. The Goyard family started in wood transporting before they began their business of making trunks and luggage. They catered to the French aristocratic families and only offered made to order trunks and luggage.

Goyard trunks and bags are considered very valuable but the brand is not as well-known as other French brands like Hermes, Chanel and Louis Vuitton. Back in the late 1800s, the brand created handbags made from a material which is a combination of hemp, cotton and linen. A chevron pattern was also featured on this waterproof material. The Signoles family took over the company in the 1990s and has since made Goyard handbags that featured different colors and personalized, hand-painted monograms. The brand still accepts special orders to make customized Goyard trunks and luggage.

Currently, Goyard handbags are still popular partly because of its long history and partly due to celebrities toting the bags almost everywhere they go. Many people look up to celebrities to dictate what’s fashionable, what isn’t and what products or brands are only meant for use – and can be afforded – by a select few. This, and the fact that the old Goyard trunk the couple found in a garage sale has so much history dictate whether the trunk is actually worth the winning auction bid of more than $5,600.