Vintage 1940s Train Case

Vintage 1940s tooled leather train case

Hello Friends! It’s been a minute since I have posted. This is something a little different for me to share. Did you ever find yourself a bit smitten with something, like a vintage 1940s train case, and then come across it in a pile at a friend’s house destined for the thrift store? If not, this is a story of one such thing.

One such find happened to be a vintage 1940s train case. It was on its way to the thrift store, but as I always say, one man’s junk is another man’s treasure—and her junk turned out to be mine. I’ve adored these leather-tooled train cases for as long as I can remember.

It’s no secret that I have a slight obsession with leather; especially leather of the tooled fashion. Vintage train cases made in Mexico are highly sought after for their unique designs and exceptional craftmanship of leather tooling. Vintage train cases often feature intricate designs and are made from high quality materials (leather). You can find these cases in various styles. This particular case is made by Artmex brand which offers beautiful, tooled leather designs.

Where Can You Find One?

You can often find the circa 1940s Artmex train cases made in Mexico available for sale on Etsy for $89.99 – $200.00, featuring hand tooled leather such as the one I have that is adorned with rose flowers and traditional Mexican stamping.

They don’t always come in the greatest of shape because of the prior use and age. The outer leather of this particular case is a bit on the brittle side. I have used leather cleaner, and conditioner to help preserve its condition. The interior is in excellent shape, just missing its mirror.

A Perfect Display Case

My vintage train case has become the perfect display case for a silver concho belt, strands of heirloom pearls, my mother’s crocheted lace, and a favorite squash blossom necklace.

I love using my train case; it’s perfect for displaying favorite jewelry, perfume bottles, or staging on a shelf. This beautiful case deserves to be cherished for years to come.

Vintage tooled leather travel train case from Mexico

This case was handmade and tooled with beautiful flowers and traditional Mexican stamping along with the Mayan calendar on the front center. It still proudly displays its original beautiful gold label tag. However, it is slightly less travel worthy these days due to its worn vintage condition.

This vintage 1940s train case is all decked out with silver jewelry, a concho belt, and roses and not afraid to show off the elegant side.

A vintage jewelry/travel case made in Mexico – hand stamped, antique leather luggage now used as a jewelry display case. It doesn’t get much more western than this. Let me know what you think of my rustic and refound treasure.