MEET THE COLLECTOR DAWN DIGGINES

What I collect: Steamer trunks and early travel cases. I sell them through my business Retrovation but I also keep some for my own house. My personal collection is from the time of luxury travel, via steamer ship and train, from the Victorian period up until the 1930s. After this time car and air travel drove the change to cheaper, lighter and, in my opinion, less attractive luggage.

Why I collect: I love their rich history in terms of how they are made and the stories they have to tell of past adventures, plus they are very useful for storage. Trunks have a wonderful decorative appeal and are beautifully made from high-quality materials. Although an early-20th-century steamer trunk is constructed from lighter wood than the early-victorian steamer trunks, they still feature half-round bent wood oak strips for strength and a covering of waterproof leather. Shipping company labels add another layer of historic interest, such as those of Cunard Line, P&O and Orient Line.

How I collect: I typically buy at auction, antiques shops and markets. Popularity varies with trends so it’s possible to find lovely examples at reasonable prices. I have around 20 pieces in my personal collection worth from £100 to £1,000. Highly collectable pieces by top makers can cost into the thousands.

My collection highlight: My favourite piece is a John Pound & Co vellum travel wardrobe from the 1870s. John Pound was one of the biggest UK makers of luxury luggage along with Finnigans Ltd. This coincided with the time that large-scale transatlantic voyages became economically viable and first-class cabins were introduced on steamer ships for luxurious travel.