[1][2][3][4] The company was established in 1839 by sole-proprietor Harriet Jane Cave creating railway baskets and leather trunks.

Over the years, the company changed hands several times, and was formally reintroduced in the early 2000s and subsequently sold to foreign owners.

Cave's handbags were sold alongside other accessories for men and women, which was uncommon at the time as companies typically focused on one gender.

Cave's success, and after the death of her husband Benjamin,[12] Harriet moved premises to 74, 76, and 78 Wigmore street in 1856.

This gained the attention of Queen Victoria who would sponsor the company to compete in the World Exhibition Paris in 1867, where they would win gold.

[8] Cave would win gold, silver and bronze once again in World Exhibition Paris 1878 for "articles de voyage," and an honorable mention in London 1874.

Cave was awarded the Royal Warrant of Appointment, and became the official supplier of luggages and railway baskets to Queen Alexandra and eventually Princess Victoria.

[7] Their tote bag was large enough to hold a baby, thus conferring one of theatre's all-time classic lines on Lady Bracknell in The Importance of Being Earnest.

[16][2] They would continue to manufacture for the British Royal family and gained a number of famous customers including Ruth Vincent,[17] Katherine Mansfield,[18] T. E. Lawrence, William Gladstone,[19] and Winston Churchill.

[7] At the turn of the 20th century, the company would undergo structural changes including an increased focus on participation at World Fairs and new product developments.

[9][24] Benjamin Cave would advertise heavily towards Americans in London and began reintroducing the Osilite trunk as a core product offering.

Cave was resurrected by Bluff Family Holding Group, the former owners of Parkinson's Butterscotch and Spanish firm Eurona as H.J.

Cave & Sons Ltd,[25] and was focused on maintaining their vintage collections, archival studies, and bespoke items.