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Campaign Furniture

CAMPAIGN STYLE

Sometimes called “knock-down” furniture, campaign furniture was designed to be folded, collapsed, taken apart and packed flat to load onto a ship or a camel’s back. Although mobile furniture for military campaigns dates back to the Romans, the British Army in its global conquests in the 18th and 19th centuries defined the style with sturdy and elegant pieces. Even in a tent thousands of miles from London, a four-poster bed, dining table and seating could simulate the comforts of home.

Antique and vintage campaign-style furniture was also initially designed as propaganda. The mahogany and teak structures were part of a purposeful demonstration of power in these campaigns, with the colonizing military officers imposing their culture and view of what they considered “civilized” on a given land and its peoples. Designers and manufacturers including Thomas Butler, Ross Co. of Dublin, and Morgan Sanders contributed to the rapid production of this furniture as the British Empire expanded through Africa, Asia and Australia.

Campaign furniture was utilitarian as well as refined, fitted with recessed brass handles and brass angles on stackable chests and other case pieces to protect vulnerable corners. The Wellington chest was one of the most famous pieces to come out of this style, named for the Duke of Wellington, who slept in his campaign bed long after his battles were over.

The flexibility of campaign-style furniture would influence 20th-century Scandinavian modernists such as Kaare Klint, Mogens Koch and Arne Norell. For his 1930s Safari chair, Klint drew on the simple Roorkhee chair, named for a town in northern India. The lightweight and adaptable campaign-style seat was created in the late 19th century and had no fixed joinery. The Roorkhee’s influence can also be seen in the Wassily chair, a pared-down work of tubular metal and durable canvas conceived by legendary Bauhaus instructor Marcel Breuer.

Now, 21st-century designers like Jomo Tariku and Dokter and Misses are creating pieces that recognize the contributions of African artisans to campaign furniture in order to reframe this style without overlooking its difficult past.

Find a collection of authentic antique and vintage campaign bedroom furniture, chairs, decorative objects and other pieces on 1stDibs.

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Style: Campaign
Place of Origin: European
Antique Brass Mounted Walnut Writing Box With Secret Drawers. English C.1860
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Wonderful walnut writing box or slope Fabulous colour and figure in the wood Good condition Working secret drawers* Replaced leather With a key Free UK shipping *The drawers a...
Category

1860s English Antique Campaign Furniture

Materials

Brass

Antique Brass Mounted Campaign Box. English, C.1850
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Superb campaign box Brass mounted tropical hardwood Not sure of its function. Possibly originally a gun case or for ammunition. Green baize interior. Free UK shipping
Category

1850s English Antique Campaign Furniture

Materials

Brass

Large Antique Campaign Walnut Writing Box With Secret Drawers. English C.1860
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Wonderful walnut writing box or slope Fabulous colour and figure in the wood Good condition Working secret drawers* Replaced leather With a key Free UK shipping *The drawers a...
Category

1860s English Antique Campaign Furniture

Materials

Brass

Mid-Century Modern Teak and Brass Campaign Chest with Eight Drawers, England
Located in San Francisco, CA
This is a handsome campaign-style chest of drawers, crafted in richly grained teak with brass corner mounts and recessed pull handles. The chest features a practical arrangement of 5...
Category

Mid-20th Century English Campaign Furniture

Materials

Brass

Rosewood Trinket Jewelry Box with Brass Inlay and Key
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Large Dome Shaped Rosewood Jewelry Box. This elegant box, lined in royal blue velvet with an interior mirror, can be used to store your favorite pieces of jewelry and features remova...
Category

Mid-20th Century European Campaign Furniture

Materials

Brass

Military Campaign style Mahogany Davenport Desk. England
Located in Den Haag, NL
Military Campaign Writing Davenport Desk . Solid Mahogany 5 Drawers .1 dummy for the folding out desk ,comes with storage underneath. Brown Leather tops ,embossed with Gold . . 2 ...
Category

1960s English Vintage Campaign Furniture

Materials

Mahogany

French Antique Confit Yellow Redware Faience Yellowware Art Pottery Pot France
Located in Lège Cap Ferret, FR
A rustic French confit pot from the late nineteenth / early twentieth-century. Originally used for storing preserves. This would make a lovely addition to a collection of antique p...
Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Campaign Furniture

Materials

Pottery

Sarried Brass Trunk
Located in Winnetka, IL
This is a two drawer brass chest with copper nailheads on bun wood feet in good vintage condition. The brass could use some brasso cream but would lighten the brass
Category

1960s Spanish Vintage Campaign Furniture

Materials

Brass

Small 19th Century Camphor Wood Campaign Trunk
Located in Bedfordshire, GB
A Delightful Mid 19th Century Camphor Wood Military Campaign Trunk, Of Rare Small Proportions, Having Well Figured Lift Up Lid Enclosing Storage Space, Original Brass Bound Decoration And Original Brass Handles. Its widely accepted that trunks like this were normally purposed for army use, often given into the ownership of high ranking officers to use for their travels around the various battlegrounds and territories of the empire around the world, hence the carrying handles and the brass banded decoration, which also serves the functional purpose of protecting the item from bumps and bashes during the numerous times it would have been transported. In modern day living this trunk would make a perfect coffee table boasting signifcant storage, or could also be used as a storage chest in many locations around the home including the hallway, living room or bedroom. The trunk is also a little smaller than a large amount which yuou will find on the market, which of course allows for it to be used in an even wider variety of spaces. The trunk has also been inspected in our workshops by our expert antique...
Category

Mid-19th Century English Antique Campaign Furniture

Materials

Other

French Antique Confit Pot Yellow Redware Faience Yellowware Art Pottery France
Located in Lège Cap Ferret, FR
A rustic French confit pot from the late nineteenth / early twentieth-century. Originally used for storing preserves. This would make a lovely addition to a collection of antique p...
Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Campaign Furniture

Materials

Pottery

19th Century Camphor Wood Campaign Chest
Located in New York, NY
Hand-crafted in the 19th Century, this English campaign chest is made of sturdy camphor wood with brass mounts and hardware. The wood has aged beautifully over the years. It has a ri...
Category

19th Century English Antique Campaign Furniture

Materials

Brass

Vintage Campaign Folding Oak 4 Seater Bench. English C.1920
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Fabulous folding bench Original patina. Nice colour of oak I particularly like the side profile. It reminds me of the Jeanneret Chandigarh chair...
Category

Early 20th Century English Campaign Furniture

Materials

Oak

19th C English Brass Bound Campaign Style Chest on Chest
Located in New York, NY
Classic two section Campaign style chest on chest, constructed of solid wood, with brass bound corners, pulls, and eschews, and heavy iron handles. The chest features an upper secti...
Category

Late 19th Century British Antique Campaign Furniture

Materials

Brass, Iron

Victorian Military Campaign Burr Walnut, Brass Writing Slope Leather Interior
Located in Reading, Berkshire
Antique British Military Campaign 19th Century Burr Walnut Brass Bound Writing Slope With Ebonized Trim. The Interior Features a tooled Blue Leather Scriver, A Single Glass Ink...
Category

19th Century British Antique Campaign Furniture

Materials

Brass

Vintage English Leather Top Campaign Style Low Console or Coffee Table
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Dapper mid century English campaign style console or table crafted in mahogany with a tooled leather top on a case with three drawers, campaign brass hardware and straight legs with ...
Category

20th Century English Campaign Furniture

Materials

Brass

19th Century Brass Bound Rosewood Campaign Type Jewelry Box
Located in Chapel Hill, NC
Mid 19th Century campaign type jewelry box in rosewood with inlaid brass bands and inset flush-mount handle on the center of the lid, opening to a relined interior with a fitted tray...
Category

Mid-19th Century English Antique Campaign Furniture

Materials

Brass

British Military Officer s Campaign Chest or Dresser of Brass-Bound Mahogany
Located in Austin, TX
A handsome British military officer’s Campaign Ware chest of drawers or dresser, from the 19th century, featuring a patinated mahogany exterior over four drawers with brass escutcheo...
Category

19th Century English Antique Campaign Furniture

Materials

Metal, Brass

Reprodux Bevan Funnel Beautiful Military Campaign Style Nightstands
Located in Crawley, GB
We delight to offer for sale this lovely set of two military campaign style nightstands , this has been made by Bevan Funnel and they are in good condition ! Don't hesitate to contac...
Category

Mid-20th Century British Campaign Furniture

Materials

Brass

19th Century English Campaign Chest
Located in High Point, NC
19th century mahogany campaign chest from England. This style of chest is so wonderful in its simplicity. It can be blended with many different styles and in that way is very versa...
Category

19th Century English Antique Campaign Furniture

Materials

Brass

Antique English Campaign Leather Top Partners Desk
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Handsome antique British Colonial partners desk crafted in mahogany in three piece double pedestal construction featuring three tooled leather panels on top, brass campaign hardware ...
Category

Early 20th Century English Campaign Furniture

Materials

Brass

Early Authentic Antique British Roorkhee Campaign “Safari” Arm Chair
Located in Shippensburg, PA
AUTHENTIC BRITISH ROORKHEE CAMPAIGN "SAFARI" ARM CHAIR England, ca. early 20th century 35 1/4" H x 21 7/8" D x 22 3/8" W; 15 1/8" H to seat A rare early example of the Roorkhee Ca...
Category

20th Century English Campaign Furniture

Materials

Leather, Canvas, Wood

English Camphor Wood Military Campaign Chest with Fitted Interior Desk, C. 1810
Located in Charleston, SC
English camphor wood and mahogany military campaign chest with an upper case central fitted hinged fall front secretary desk revealing a leather writing surface, flanking pigeon hole...
Category

1810s English Antique Campaign Furniture

Materials

Brass

Military Campaign Chest, England
Located in Kastrup, DK
English Military Campaign Chest crafted from solid Cuban mahogany with a beautiful grain pattern and warm patina. The piece is made in two separate sections — the upper part with th...
Category

Mid-19th Century English Antique Campaign Furniture

Materials

Brass

19th Century Campaign Iron with Leather Rocking Chair R.W. Winfield
Located in Port Jervis, NY
Early Modernism. Created out of Strap Iron and Leather, in complete original condition. Beautiful sculpted hand forged iron which completely breaks dow...
Category

1850s English Antique Campaign Furniture

Materials

Iron

Maison Jansen World Map Coffee Table 1970s France
Located in Den Haag, NL
Stunning Campaign style Coffee table or side Table . Solid Mahogany ,comes with Brass rim . And on top a World Map picture and a Glass top. Good condition .
Category

1970s French Vintage Campaign Furniture

Materials

Glass

Antique English Leather Top Campaign Desk
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Handsome antique English desk crafted in mahogany featuring three tooled leather panels on a case with three drawers sitting on two pedestals with three drawers each having campaign ...
Category

20th Century English Campaign Furniture

Materials

Brass

World War II Military Campaign Steamer Trunk Owner Major McGregor Medical Corps
Located in Reading, Berkshire
A Well Preserved British World War II Military Campaign Steamer Trunk. Owner Major RM McGregor. Medical Corps 27 Bridge Street Hawick At No 27 is the long-established Deans Chartere...
Category

Early 20th Century English Campaign Furniture

Materials

Brass

Large British Military Officer s Campaign Trunk of Brass-Bound Camphor
Located in Austin, TX
A large handsome rectangular British military officer's Campaign trunk of camphorwood featuring hand-cut brass binding and hardware, with interior compartments, and resting on bracke...
Category

19th Century English Antique Campaign Furniture

Materials

Metal, Brass

19th Century Period English Brass Bound Mahogany Campaign Chest
Located in Richmond, VA
19th Century Period English Brass Bound Mahogany Campaign Chest
Category

19th Century English Antique Campaign Furniture

Materials

Brass

Antique Coromandel and Brass Bound Campaign Humidor
Located in Reading, Berkshire
Antique Coromandel and Brass Bound Campaign Humidor. The cigars depicted are for illustrative purposes only.
Category

20th Century British Campaign Furniture

Materials

Brass

English Campaign Style Rosewood Brass Inlaid Lap Desk, circa 1850
Located in San Francisco, CA
A fine quality brass inlaid Campaign style traveling desk with a recessed brass handle engraved with the name of its owner, Anne Orten. The piece opens to reveal a velvet lined writi...
Category

Mid-19th Century English Antique Campaign Furniture

Materials

Brass

Set of 7 English Hand-Colored Botanical Auriculas Prints Gold Leaf Frames
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
These seven Antique Late 19th Century collection was one of many years of finding the right combination of Auriculas, all purchased at English markets and later framed in gold-leaf c...
Category

Late 19th Century English Antique Campaign Furniture

Materials

Gold Leaf

19th Century Camphor Wood Marine / Campaign Chest
Located in Brussels, Brussels
Superb small navy chest or called campaign chest from the 19 century in camphor wood English navy chest with its typical fittings of this style of furniture and its carrying handles...
Category

19th Century British Antique Campaign Furniture

Materials

Wood

Captains Campaign Military Writing Box Compendium
Located in Northampton, GB
Multiple Secret Compartments From our Writing Boxes collection, we are delighted to introduce this extensive Captains Campaign Military Writing Box Compendium. The Writing Box comp...
Category

Early 1800s English Antique Campaign Furniture

Materials

Brass

English Military Campaign Style Chest of Drawers Exotic Wood Early 19th Century
Located in Labrit, Landes
Commode or chest of drawers in the English military campaign style. 19th century Good condition age with minor marks of use.
Category

Early 19th Century British Antique Campaign Furniture

Materials

Brass

Lovely Harrods London R.E.H Kennedy Military Campaign Console Table
Located in Crawley, GB
We delight to offer for sale this large Harrods London Kennedy military campaign two drawer console table with brass plaque corner protectors and brass handles , in lovely condition ...
Category

Late 20th Century British Campaign Furniture

Materials

Brass

Early 20th Century Antique English Oak Folding Campaign or Camp Table
Located in Peabody, MA
An early 20th century English oak folding campaign or camp table. Folded size 37.5" high, 15" wide, 4" thick.
Category

Early 20th Century British Campaign Furniture

Materials

Oak

English Grand Library Cabinet Bookcase
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Large and luxurious 19th century English cabinet, wall unit crafted in mahogany with an architecturally significant design, featuring cornices, paneled doors, campaign brass hardware...
Category

Mid-19th Century English Antique Campaign Furniture

Materials

Mahogany

Beautiful Harrods London R.E.H Kennedy Military Campaign Console Table
Located in Crawley, GB
We delight to offer for sale this lovely Vintage Harrods London Retailed, REH Kennedy made Mahogany & Brass Military Campaign two drawer console table , brass can be repolish under r...
Category

Mid-20th Century British Campaign Furniture

Materials

Brass

Victorian Military Campaign Chest in Solid Mahogany with Original Brass Fittings
Located in Kastrup, DK
Military Campaign Chest crafted from solid mahogany, featuring a beautifully aged patina, original brass fittings, and locks (later key). The chest includes two upper drawers, a cent...
Category

Mid-19th Century English Antique Campaign Furniture

Materials

Brass

English 19th Century Coaching Table
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
A handsome English circa 1880 coaching table. Hand-crafted in 19th century England of solid mahogany, this table stands on shaped X-form legs that feature three turned baluster stret...
Category

19th Century English Antique Campaign Furniture

Materials

Wood, Mahogany

British Campaign Royalty Leather Traveling Trunk, Circa 1820
Located in Charleston, SC
British Campaign water proof leather traveling trunk with leather fitted interior compartment, brass banding mounts, Royal coat of arms brass plate, brass side handles, and retains t...
Category

1820s English Antique Campaign Furniture

Mid 19th century mahogany brass bound campaign writing slope
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
Mid 19th century mahogany brass bound campaign writing slope circa 1860. Good quality military-campaign writing slope, with secret compartments. Rectangular shaped box with brass s...
Category

Mid-19th Century English Antique Campaign Furniture

Materials

Brass

19th Century British Military Campaign Camphor Wood Chest With Brass Hardware
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
Rare British Military Campaign chest in authentic condition with original hardware present. Beautiful old patina intact with an amazing grain and aroma of Camphor wood. Some age and ...
Category

1870s English Antique Campaign Furniture

Materials

Other

Vintage Kaare Klint Style Canvas, Leather and Wood Safari Chair and Ottoman
Located in Morristown, NJ
Vintage 20th c., Kaare Klint style wood, canvas, and leather safari style campaign chair and ottoman, unmarked. A practical, organic, comfortable, stylish and practical chair and ott...
Category

1980s Scandinavian Vintage Campaign Furniture

Materials

Metal

Mahogany Brass Military Campaign Chest of Drawer
Located in Crawley, GB
We delight to offer for sale this stunning antique Victorian mahogany campaign chest of drawers , with brass corner fittings & inset brass military drawer handles. This chest is of f...
Category

Late 19th Century British Antique Campaign Furniture

Materials

Brass

Vintage Rectangular Bronze Metal Rosewood Trunk Box, Europe
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Sturdy decorative rectangular hinged trinket box for display or functional for jewelry. The interior features veneered rosewood lining. Wonderful piece for a vanity or table.
Category

Mid-20th Century English Campaign Furniture

Materials

Bronze

English 19th Century Walnut Campaign Butler s Desk with Three Drawers
Located in Atlanta, GA
An English walnut Campaign butler's desk from the 19th century with writing area, three drawers, bracket feet and brass hardware. This 19th-century English walnut Campaign butler's d...
Category

19th Century English Antique Campaign Furniture

Materials

Brass

Pair of Faux Drum Tables
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Pair of realistic faux drum stands crafted in wood and rope raised on drum stick legs and turned feet. Painted with historical accuracy depicting the crest of James I 1603, uniting the English lion with the Irish harp...
Category

20th Century English Campaign Furniture

Materials

Rope

Pair of French Campaign Style Tall Chests Circa 1970s
Located in Peabody, MA
A pair of vintage campaign (cabinet de voyages) chests in amber toned solid pine with brass hardware, made in France, ca. 1970s. The taller chest measures 54 3/8" high, 19 7/8" wide...
Category

1970s French Vintage Campaign Furniture

Materials

Brass

A Fine Campaign Style Cherrywood Console Table
Located in Dublin, IE
A fine cherrywood, brass mounted campaign style console table of fabulous quality and with a rich patination to the wood. The moulded top of rectangular form fitted with brass corne...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary French Campaign Furniture

Materials

Brass

Reprodux Bevan Funnell Beautiful Campaign Style Chest Of Drawers
Located in Crawley, GB
We delight to offer this lovely campaign style chest of five drawers made by Bevan Funnel Reprodux , the brass mounted top inset with brown leather , circa 1960 . Don't hesitate to c...
Category

Mid-20th Century British Campaign Furniture

Materials

Brass

19th Century English Gentleman s Mahogany and Brass Campaign Jewelry Box
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
High quality English mahogany and brass fine jewelry box that was likely used for stationary as well. Attention to detail, originality and surviving k...
Category

1870s English Antique Campaign Furniture

Materials

Brass

Italian Military Campaign Style Wood and Brass Desk with Red Leather Top, 1960s
Located in Roma, IT
Stunning Mid-Century military campaign desk. This fantastic piece was made in Italy in the 1960s. This trestle desk is made from a beautiful wood with exceptional grain, the top is ...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Campaign Furniture

Materials

Metal, Brass

A Folding Safari Chair With Stitched Tan Leather Straps Seat Faux Bamboo Legs
Located in Reading, Berkshire
A Faux Bamboo Stitched Tan Leather Folding Campaign Safari Chair With Sling Arms Brass Mounts Havana Teak and Faux Bamboo Brass Folding Chair in the style of Maiso...
Category

Mid-20th Century British Campaign Furniture

Materials

Brass

English Campaign Style Desk with Two Drawers
Located in Dallas, TX
We are delighted to offer for sale this high quality desk crafted in the Campaign taste is such a striking element for the tasteful study. This handsome campaign desk follows the design tradition of the master cabinetmakers of the 18th and 19th century who were commissioned by Officers in the British Army to create heirloom quality pieces that were not only exquisitely hand-crafted but also practical to set up when on the campaign trail. It features a rectangular top provides a convenient writing surface with French dovetail...
Category

Mid-20th Century English Campaign Furniture

Materials

Brass

Lovely Yew Wood Military Campaign Style Chest Of Drawers
Located in Crawley, GB
We delight to offer for sale this lovely yew wood and brass mounted military style chest of two short and two long drawers , in good condition . Don't hesitate to contact me if you h...
Category

Mid-20th Century British Campaign Furniture

Materials

Brass

Vintage Parisian Leather Clad Luggage Trunk Chest of Drawers
Located in LOS ANGELES, CA
Vintage Parisian Leather Clad Campaign Luggage Trunk Chest of Drawers
Category

1990s French Campaign Furniture

Materials

Leather

Fine Quality Solid Mahogany Brass Bound Campaign Style Wine Cellarette
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
This fine quality solid mahogany brass bound campaign style wine cellarette is a striking example of timeless craftsmanship combined with practical elegance. Constructed from richly ...
Category

Early 1900s English Antique Campaign Furniture

Materials

Brass

Dudouyt - Inspired - Buffet - Oak - 1940s - France - Brutalist
Located in Split, Splitsko-dalmatinska županija
Rustic mass and rhythmic carving — a sculptural fragment of French néo-rustique modernism. This striking buffet channels the powerful vocabulary of Charles Dudouyt, where furniture ...
Category

1940s French Vintage Campaign Furniture

Materials

Oak

Campaign furniture for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique Campaign furniture for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the 21st Century and Contemporary, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage furniture created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include case pieces and storage cabinets, tables, more furniture and collectibles and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with wood, metal and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Campaign furniture made in a specific country, there are Europe, United Kingdom, and England pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original furniture, popular names associated with this style include Kennedy Furniture For Harrods London, Harrods, Henredon, and Drexel. It’s true that these talented designers have at times inspired knockoffs, but our experienced specialists have partnered with only top vetted sellers to offer authentic pieces that come with a buyer protection guarantee. Prices for furniture differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $50 and tops out at $95,000 while the average work can sell for $2,458.

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