The Gaekwads of Baroda are just as famous for their luxurious extravagance as they are for their social reforms. And one of the things that represent this richness is the custom made Louis Vuitton Tea Case. This Case was commissioned by the erstwhile Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad III in 1926. It was made from Grained Leather & contained all necessary accouterments for making tea.
The Tea Case:
Sayajirao, by the 1920s, had become an important and faithful client of Louis Vuitton. And one of his most memorable commissions was a tea case, a unique piece made to his requirements. It is believed that the Maharaja may have spotted a concept piece in a 1926 issue of Harper’s Bazaar magazine. The piece appeared in a sketch for the magazine by French artist Bernard Boutet de Monvel.
In 1930, Louis Vuitton delivered its version of this tea case, an elegant and practical piece designed to be compact and yet easy to remove and use. The case contains cups, pots and all the other paraphernalia for a proper cup of tea on the road. While path-breaking at the time, today the piece is easy to identify with. It has the economy of space and packaging that is often seen in modern luggage, consumer electronics, and even architecture.
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