The Gladstone bag

The Gladstone bag is a hard-sided travel bag of English origin, created in the second half of the 19th century.
It takes its name from William Ewart Gladstone, a British politician and prime minister, although he didn't invent it: the name became synonymous with elegance and gentlemanly practicality.

Here are its typical characteristics:
• Structure: rigid, with a metal frame and a wide opening (like a "doctor's bag").
• Closure: snap closure, with central or side locks.
• Material: usually thick leather or hide, sometimes canvas or reinforced with metal.
• Interior: roomy, often fabric-lined with pockets or dividers.
• Original use: travel or doctor's bag, later a symbol of bourgeois and professional style.

Today, it is considered an iconic vintage object: an emblem of elegant travel from times gone by, often collected or used as a refined work bag.