A kitchen trunk born from a story of transmission
Going against the grain of gadget-filled kitchens, the W. Trousseau Trunk champions an almost radical idea of luxury: owning fewer objects, but choosing those that will truly be used. Conceived in collaboration with Isabelle Mathez, it comprises 43 kitchen utensils arranged on three trays dedicated to cutting, cooking, and containers.
This high-end kitchen trunk doesn't aim to impress with decorative excess. Rather, it comprises a durable culinary set, made up of knives, cast iron pieces, and utensils crafted from wood, copper, glass, stainless steel, and stoneware. Tools designed for preparing meals, entertaining, and, ideally, for lasting for years to come.
The origin of the W. Trousseau trunk is less commercial than familial. When Dalva, the daughter of Isabelle Mathez and Frédéric Winkler, left home, she wanted to take with her several objects that had always been used in the family kitchen: a Corsican knife, a cast iron casserole dish, and some cutting boards.
This ordinary scene revives an old tradition: that of the trousseau prepared upon leaving home. Once composed of linen, dishes, and household items, it here becomes a contemporary kitchen kit.
The "W" evokes the initials that travelers used to mark their luggage. The trunk thus presents itself as the container of a departure and a new life. It is not conceived merely as a household item, but as a gift of legacy, intended for a wedding, a move, a housewarming, or a birthday.
The official dossier from September 2015 links the project launch to Isabelle Mathez, Juliette Thévenin, and Frédéric Winkler. It also confirms the selection of 43 objects and the organization of the trunk around three main culinary functions
The luxury of use rather than the luxury of appearance
The W. Trousseau trunk is based on an unusual hierarchy: function precedes decoration. The object must first and foremost be efficient, pleasant to hold, easy to maintain, and capable of withstanding regular use.
This doesn't mean that aesthetics are absent. They simply stem from the correct proportions, the materials, and the craftsmanship. A well-balanced knife, a cast-iron casserole dish, a solid wood board, or a copper ladle can be beautiful precisely because they are well-made.
The brand summarizes this requirement with three qualities: well thought out, well designed, well made. This vocabulary places the trunk at the crossroads of functional design, craftsmanship, and home cooking.
This approach aligns with the new essentialism of luxury : a search for lasting value, authenticity and coherence, as opposed to the proliferation of ephemeral objects.
Three trays to organize all the kitchen tasks
The trunk's structure replicates the natural progression of a culinary preparation. It begins by working the product, before cooking it, then mixing it, washing it, serving it, or storing it.
The cutting board: prepare with precision
The first tray is devoted to preparation techniques: cutting, slicing, mincing, chopping, mincing, deboning, peeling, crushing, grinding and sharpening.
The official selection includes: Shun kitchen knives, a sharpening stone, a Corsican knife, a meat fork, a spice mortar, a chopping board, several peelers, a copper ladle and skimmer, a maple spatula, a stainless steel soap, and a leather apron.
The inclusion of a sharpening stone is indicative of the overall philosophy. The trunk doesn't just provide a knife; it also gives the means to maintain it. The owner is therefore not simply invited to consume an object, but to learn how to make it last.
The solid walnut board presented by the brand is also designed for extended use. The official website describes it as a glue-free piece, made in France by a specialist in professional butcher blocks
The cooking platform: mastering fire and time
The second floor brings together the necessary instruments for cooking, simmering, braising, pan-frying, deep-frying, sautéing and browning.
It includes, among other things:
- a cast iron casserole dish;
- a cast iron frying pan;
- a flared sauté pan;
- a round pan;
- a pallet;
- a magnetic trivet;
- oven mitts;
- dishcloths;
- a glass jar.
Cast iron naturally occupies an important place. Its ability to accumulate and gradually release heat makes it particularly suitable for long cooking times, simmered dishes, and family recipes.
This tray tells the story of a cuisine of just the right amount of time. It moves away from specialized appliances that promise to speed everything up, putting the fundamentals back at the center: a heat source, a reliable container, raw materials, and careful monitoring.
The tray of containers: prepare, mix and receive
The third tray covers a wider range. It allows you to wash, drain, whisk, mix, press, marinate, gratin, roast and serve.
The brand's documentation mentions, among other things: cutting boards, a casserole dish with pasta insert, a colander, gratin dishes, a spaghetti spoon, a potato masher, a balloon whisk, bowls, a stoneware chicken cooker, tea towels and an apron.
The chicken roaster is one of the most unique pieces in the selection. Inspired by an ancient utensil, it allows the poultry to be placed vertically on a skewer. The heat then circulates in the center while the juices drip down towards the vegetables arranged in the dish.
Redesigned by Guillaume Bardet, this chicken roaster was made in France from hand-shaped and glazed stoneware. The press release specifies that each piece is unique due to this artisanal production method
Utensils selected from France, Europe and Japan
The W. Trousseau trunk is not a single-brand collection. It functions as an editorial selection applied to the kitchen.
Isabelle Mathez and her partners have brought together items from renowned culinary houses, objects from small manufacturers, and pieces created specifically for the project. The collection thus blends Japanese knives, Swiss peelers, French pieces in wood or stoneware, and various classics of European design.
This geographical diversity does not contradict the coherence of the trunk. The main criterion is not national origin, but the quality of the response to a specific action.
A peeler should peel cleanly. A cutting board should remain stable and not crack prematurely. A dishcloth should be absorbent. A frying pan should distribute heat evenly. This basic functionality becomes a veritable manifesto against attractive but ineffective objects.
A contemporary vision of the French art of living
The W. Trousseau trunk is not limited to equipment. It defends a certain idea of the meal: choosing the products, preparing them oneself, letting them cook, setting the table and sharing.
This social dimension resonates particularly strongly in France. The gastronomic meal of the French has been inscribed on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity since 2010. The Ministry of Culture presents it as a cultural practice that goes beyond the contents of the plate to encompass the choice of ingredients, the gestures involved, the table setting, and the convivial atmosphere.
The trunk comes into play precisely before this ritual. It brings together the tools that allow ingredients to be transformed into a meal and a meal into a moment of reception.
In both fine dining and luxury hospitality, this attention to detail is essential. A professional kitchen is rarely defined by the number of its accessories. It is distinguished by the reliability of its equipment, the organization of the workstation, and the precision of its movements.
The same logic can be found in the tableware of chefs in Paris : the object is not a simple decoration, but the extension of a culinary intention.
A trunk designed to help you "buy less, but better"
Long before sustainability became a ubiquitous argument in luxury, the W. Trousseau trunk emphasized longevity, maintenance, and transmission.
Its principle is to select the main tools needed once, rather than regularly replacing fragile or unnecessarily specialized accessories. This approach alone does not guarantee the absence of environmental impact, but it offers a different relationship with consumption.
True luxury no longer resides solely in rarity or price. It can also be measured by lifespan, repairability, the quality of materials, and the pleasure an object provides after several years.
The casserole dish develops a patina. The leather apron bears the marks of meals prepared there. The cutting board gets marked without losing its function. The objects then cease to be perfectly new and become truly personal.
This concept aligns with a more understated and sensitive modern lifestyle, in which value comes less from accumulation than from the quality of daily experience.
What is the price of the W. Trousseau trunk?
The official purchase page, accessible in July 2026, displays the following prices:
| Composition | Price displayed |
|---|---|
| Complete trunk | 3 200 € |
| Cutting board | 1 100 € |
| baking tray | 1 100 € |
| Container tray | 1 000 € |
| Trio of peelers | 29 €excluding delivery |
The brand also indicates that it is possible to purchase the trunk jointly using a group gift fund. This option naturally aligns with its positioning as a high-end wedding gift, housewarming present, or group gift.
These prices are those displayed on an official website that is still accessible. However, the site contains few recently updated sales information. It is therefore advisable to check with the brand regarding the actual availability of the trunk, its exact contents, and current pricing.
Is the W. Trousseau trunk worth €3,200?
The answer depends on how you are considering the purchase.
Compared to a standard cookware set, the price is considerable. But the trunk is not simply a collection of accessories. It combines a selection of 43 pieces, items from specialist manufacturers, some exclusive creations, a unique container, and a comprehensive approach to kitchen equipment.
Its appeal lies in four dimensions:
- The selection processavoids having to search for each utensil separately.
- Quality of useis prioritized over fashion trends.
- The transmission, since the whole thing is designed as a durable keychain.
- The symbolic value, close to that of a family gift.
The investment seems more appropriate for someone passionate about cooking, a couple moving in together, or a fan of functional design than for someone who already owns a complete set of cookware.
A manifesto object at the intersection of gastronomy, design and craftsmanship
More than a decade after its introduction, the W. Trousseau trunk retains a surprising conceptual relevance. It anticipated several aspirations that are central today: returning to the essentials, choosing durable objects, valuing craftsmanship, and giving more meaning to the act of purchasing.
Its strength also lies in its refusal to separate beauty from utility. As in the finest restaurant or hotel kitchens, aesthetics do not obscure function. They arise from the precision of a handle, the thickness of a board, the texture of stoneware, or the patina of metal.
This relationship between matter, cuisine and reception also nourishes the revival of theart of botanical tableware, where objects fully participate in the gastronomic experience.
The W. Trousseau trunk is therefore not just a box containing utensils. It offers a philosophy: to equip oneself well in order to cook better, entertain better and preserve for a long time the objects that accompany daily life.
Frequently Asked Questions about the W. Trousseau Trunk
How many utensils does the W. Trousseau trunk contain?
The official documentation presents a selection of 43 kitchen objects and utensils.
What are the three trays of the trunk?
The trunk is organized around the cutting board, the cooking board , and the containers board. They cover the main stages of food preparation.
Who created the W. Trousseau trunk?
The official press kit from September 2015 quotes Isabelle Mathez, Juliette Thévenin, and Frédéric Winkler. The brand's website primarily presents the story told by Isabelle Mathez and Frédéric Winkler.
Can the utensils be purchased separately?
The official page provides for the purchase of the complete trunk, each of the three trays and certain items or small collections individually.
What is the price of the W. Trousseau trunk?
The official purchase page, accessible in July 2026, displays a price of €3,200. This amount and availability must be verified directly with the brand before placing any order.
Is the W. Trousseau trunk still being sold in 2026?
The official website and its purchase page remain accessible, but no recent public information definitively confirms stock levels or delivery times. Prior contact is recommended.
Official French sources
- W. Trousseau Trunk – History and Official Presentation
- W. Trousseau Trunk – Official Press Kit, September 2015
- Ministry of Culture – National Inventory of Intangible Cultural Heritage
