French Louvre trunk, with its beige striped canvas

Origin & History

The Grands Magasins du Louvre (originally "Galeries du Louvre") were founded in 1855 by Chauchard & Cie, and renamed two years later. They were among the very first Parisian department stores, along with Le Bon Marché.

These iconic establishments closed in 1974, making way for the "Louvre des Antiquaires".

⚖️ The Louvre Lion: A Logo at the Heart of a Famous Lawsuit

The Malles du Louvre logo, depicting a lion lying at the foot of a capital "L," was much more than just a decoration: it was a registered trademark, the distinctive sign of the Grands Magasins du Louvre, used on the hardware, locks, and corners of their luxury trunks. This powerful symbol, synonymous with prestige and quality, was the source of one of the first major counterfeiting lawsuits in the luggage industry. A competitor, in a thinly veiled attempt at imitation, had chosen a tiger lying at the foot of a column for its own trunks—a visual that clearly evoked the Louvre's emblematic lion and "L." The Grands Magasins du Louvre filed a complaint, arguing that this depiction infringed on their visual identity. The court ruled in their favor, recognizing the obvious intent to confuse and affirming the need to protect trademarks and emblems against any imitation, however subtle. This trial was a landmark in the history of industrial property in France.