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Campaign Armchairs

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
Pair of McGuire Campaign Style Oak Directors Chairs
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Rare pair of campaign style folding directors chairs made by McGuire. The chairs feature an oak frame instead of the more common rattan pole construction McGuire is known for. The oa...
Category

20th Century American Campaign Armchairs

Materials

Brass

Pair of Mid-Century Savonarola Campaign Chairs with Leather Seats & Backs
Located in Buffalo, NY
Pair of 20th century Italian iron ,bronze and leather Savonarola chairs,, Retain original tooled leather seats and backs,, minor tear to one chair (see photo). also a few missing gro...
Category

1950s European Vintage Campaign Armchairs

Materials

Brass, Wrought Iron

Pair of Bespoke Charlotte Horstmann Rosewood and Brass Campaign Chairs, C. 1950s
By Charlotte Horstmann
Located in Peabody, MA
A bespoke pair of campaign chairs in rosewood and brass by the renowned Hong Kong antiques dealer Charlotte Horstmann, circa 1950s.
Category

1950s Hong Kong Vintage Campaign Armchairs

Materials

Brass

Pair of Mid-Century Peruvian Painted Wrought Iron and Leather Campaign Chairs
Located in Dallas, TX
These elegant vintage campaign armchairs were created in Peru, circa 1970. This striking set of two brutalist dining chairs, made in the manner of Israeli artist Ilana Goor, is built...
Category

Mid-20th Century Peruvian Campaign Armchairs

Materials

Wrought Iron

Safari chair in canvas by Kaare Klint for Rud Rasmussen, Denmark, model KK47000
Located in Amstelveen, NL
The KK47000 Safari Chair is an iconic example of Kaare Klint’s design ideology. Klint effortlessly transformed an historical archetype into a modern, collapsible chair...
Category

Mid-20th Century Danish Campaign Armchairs

Materials

Leather, Canvas, Softwood

Faux Bamboo Armchair by Schoonbeck
By Schoonbeck of Grand Rapids, Henredon
Located in New York, NY
Chic and sophisticated faux bamboo armchair made by noted furniture manufacturer The Schoonbeck Company, later known as Schonbeck Henredon. The chair has a solid wood frame, with uph...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Campaign Armchairs

Materials

Upholstery, Cane, Wood

Faux Bamboo Directors Chair by Telescope Chair Company
Located in New York, NY
Stylish folding directors chair, by Telescope Furniture. This example has a turned wood faux bamboo frame, and stenciled bamboo motif canvass backrest sling...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Campaign Armchairs

Materials

Upholstery, Wood

British Campaign Mahogany “Knock-Down" Antique Armchair Johnstone & Jeanes
Located in Shippensburg, PA
A RARE VICTORIAN CAMPAIGN MAHOGANY AND LEATHER METAMORPHIC ARMCHAIR England, circa 1840-60; seat stamped "JOHNSTONE & JEANES / 67 NEW BOND ST / LONDON / 6572" Item # C103901 An extraordinary metamorphic armchair by the firm of Johnstone & Jeanes of London, this quality Campaign seating piece would almost certainly have been accompanied by a carrying case to ensure its safe transit, as most of these break-down chairs were designed to be brought out when needed and safely stored thereafter. By depressing small tabs...
Category

19th Century English Antique Campaign Armchairs

Materials

Brass

Leather Upholstered Campaign Armchair
Located in Westwood, NJ
A Campaign-style armchair, the padded rectangular back with a pierced carrying handle above an upholstered seat on square tapering legs joined by stretchers. Inspired by a 19th centu...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese Campaign Armchairs

Materials

Leather, Wood

Chrome & Black Vinyl Faux Leather Sling Director’s Chairs Straight Legs, a Pair
Located in Topeka, KS
Handsome pair of chrome and black vinyl faux leather Campaign style sling director’s chairs with straight legs. They are in wonderful vintage condition. They wear their original blac...
Category

Late 20th Century American Campaign Armchairs

Materials

Chrome

Pair of Old Walnut Veneered Wing Chairs
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Pair of old walnut veneered wing chairs lack of veneer, old restorations.          
Category

Late 19th Century European Antique Campaign Armchairs

Materials

Walnut

Exceptional Pair of Campaign Style Folding Chairs
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Handsome pair of Mid-Century mahogany folding chairs. The seats are soft, brown leather sling style with the backs being adjustable to four posi...
Category

Mid-20th Century English Campaign Armchairs

Materials

Leather

Early 20th Century Armchairs in Walnut with original Yellow Velvet upholstery
Located in Vigonza, Padua
Pair armchairs in massive turned and carved walnut. Yellow velvet capitonnè in good condition still usable. Sanitized and wax polished. Measures cm: H 85 x W 74 x D 80.
Category

Early 20th Century Italian Campaign Armchairs

Materials

Velvet, Walnut

Hammered Metal and Leather Campaign Style Armchair
Located in Lake Worth, FL
For FULL item description click on CONTINUE READING at the bottom of this page. Offering One Of Our Recent Palm Beach Estate Fine Furniture Acquisitions Of A Vintage Italian Ham...
Category

1970s American Vintage Campaign Armchairs

Materials

Metal

Pair of Turned Wood Fireplace Chairs from the 60s Popular French Design
Located in Lyon, FR
Pair of small rustic French chairs from the 60's in solid stained and turned oak, nice craftsmanship. Very nice vintage condition of the chairs with a nice patina on the wood. Origin...
Category

1960s French Vintage Campaign Armchairs

Materials

Straw, Oak

Related Items
Pair of Mid-Century Modern Barrel Back Lounge Chairs
Located in Port Jervis, NY
Simple and elegant pair of barrel back lounge armchairs with chrome tube frames. Great size and shape, seat height is 18.75, very comfy with chrome in tip top shape. Upholstery is a ...
Category

1960s American Vintage Campaign Armchairs

Materials

Chrome

Canvas Safari Easy Chair by Kaare Klint for Rud Rasmussen
Located in Belmont, MA
Canvas safari easy chair by Kaare Klint for Rud Rasmussen with loose cushion.
Category

Mid-20th Century Danish Campaign Armchairs

Materials

Canvas, Wood

Kaare Klint Armchair Model 3758a in Leather and Mahogany Rud Rasmussen Denmark
Located in WIJCKEL, NL
Armchair model 3758 A in original red indian leather and mahogany base. Model designed in 1927 for the Danish Museum of Decorative Art, produced by Rud Rasmussen in the 1940’s. Signed with manufacturer’s label to underside: (Rud. Rasmussens Snedkerier). Kaare Klint is widely recognized as the father of Danish modern design. It is hard to overstate his influence. He developed an entirely new analytical approach to furniture design that his students at the Danish Academy of Art would emulate for years to come, yet was also inspired by historic designs from various cultures, modernizing and re-interpreting classic pieces for new generations. Literature: Kaare Klint, Harkær, pg. 28-30. Dansk Møbelkunst Gennem 40 Aar: 1927-1936, Jalk, pg. 169. Danish Chairs, Oda, pg. 22-23. Kaare Klint (1888-1954) is regarded as the founding father of Danish Modernim. As an architect, furniture designer and leading professor at the Department of Furniture Design at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts, Copenhagen, Klint established the principles of modern Danish furniture by combining a profound appreciation of traditional construction techniques with a modernist emphasis on function and a rejection of ornaments. Klint’s design was always based on relentless research; he never compromised. Every piece had to fulfill its purpose, be completely clear in its construction with dimensions and proportions corresponding to the human body and display materials and craftsmanship of the highest quality. Logic, often using a mathematical system of measures, and a constructive way of thinking were the foundation of Klint’s philosophy of furniture design. Like many of his contemporaries, counting Le Corbusier and Walter Gropius, he advocated standardization and functional requirements and dismissed the use of all ornamentation. But Klint realized his vision in wood and leather, using traditional craftsmen and working methods and often finding inspiration in historical models. In this way, he charted the course for an alternative Nordic Functionalism that idealized the workshop and the collaboration between furniture architects and cabinetmakers as opposed to the factory. Kaare Klint’s first major work was a collaboration with his mentor, the architect Carl Petersen. In 1914 they were commissioned to design furniture and fixtures for Faaborg Art Museum. One of the highlights to emerge from this commission was the Faaborg chair, a light and elegant chair with clear references to classical furniture. The construction and proportions of an 18th century English Chippendale...
Category

1950s Danish Vintage Campaign Armchairs

Materials

Leather, Mahogany

Vintage Faux Bamboo Armchair
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Vintage faux bamboo armchair with newly upholstered seat cushion.
Category

20th Century American Campaign Armchairs

Materials

Walnut

Vintage Faux Bamboo Armchair
Vintage Faux Bamboo Armchair
H 34 in W 22.5 in D 22.25 in
Elinor McGuire M-71 Occasional Chair
Located in Highland, IN
Elinor McGuire designed this model M-71 occasional chair for McGuire of San Fransisco, the company she started with her husband John. McGuire furniture is made to last for generation...
Category

1960s American Vintage Campaign Armchairs

Materials

Leather, Rattan

Elinor McGuire M-71 Occasional Chair
Elinor McGuire M-71 Occasional Chair
H 35.5 in W 24.5 in D 23 in
Caned Lounge Chair by Barbara Barry for McGuire
Located in San Diego, CA
A very nice caned lounge chair by Barbara Barry for McGuire Furniture of San Francisco, circa 2006. The chair features a field of the caning ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Campaign Armchairs

Materials

Rattan

Set of 2 Chairs, I.S.A. Bergamo, 1950s
Located in Wolfurt, AT
his pair of Italian armchairs was made in the 1950s by the company I.S.A. Bergamo. The upholstery of both pieces should be renewed, and are happy to help you with this. We are happ...
Category

1950s Italian Vintage Campaign Armchairs

Materials

Fabric, Wood

Set of 2 Chairs, I.S.A. Bergamo, 1950s
Set of 2 Chairs, I.S.A. Bergamo, 1950s
H 31.11 in W 26.78 in D 25.6 in
Safari Chair by Kaare Klint for Rud, Rasmussen
Located in Portland, OR
Iconic original safari chair by professor Kaare Klint. Designed 1927. This version dates to the 1960s and is executed in solid ash. Nice patina to the wood, and left unrestored. The ...
Category

Mid-20th Century Danish Campaign Armchairs

Materials

Leather, Canvas, Ash

Pair of Armchairs by Jindrich Halabala, 1950s
Located in Lucenec, SK
Professionally restored and re-upholstered rmchairss, model No. 2, designed by Jindrich Halabala and produced in Czechoslovakia from the 1930s by UP Zavody Brno ( the same as the fam...
Category

Mid-20th Century Czech Campaign Armchairs

Materials

Upholstery, Bentwood

Pair of Armchairs by Jindrich Halabala, 1950s
Pair of Armchairs by Jindrich Halabala, 1950s
H 33.08 in W 26.78 in D 33.86 in
Set of Four McGuire Style Caned Armchairs
Located in Locust Valley, NY
A vintage set of four caned McGuire style armchairs with oval-shaped caned back, caned seat and black floral seat cushions. Rattan frame with curved arm...
Category

20th Century American Campaign Armchairs

Materials

Cane, Rattan

Pair Vintage McGuire Director Style Organic Modern Caned Rattan Dining Chairs
Located in Decatur, GA
Pair of vintage McGuire rattan dining chairs made in the California coastal organic modern style. The set features stout rattan frames in a dire...
Category

1970s American Vintage Campaign Armchairs

Materials

Leather, Bamboo, Wicker, Cane, Rattan

Kaare Klint Pair of Red Chairs for Rud. Rasmussen
Located in Copenhagen, DK
Kaare Klint pair of red chairs in mahogany, black horsehair and brass nails. Version of the chair with upholstered arms. Executed by Rud. Rasmussen,...
Category

1930s Danish Vintage Campaign Armchairs

Materials

Brass

Previously Available Items
Antique Carved Mahogany Savonarola Folding X Figural Dragon Throne Arm Chair Sea
Located in Dayton, OH
Antique Savonarola mahogany Campaign arm chair. Features a serpentine X frame with dragon / lion head arms featuring a figural female bust by the sh...
Category

Late 19th Century Antique Campaign Armchairs

Materials

Mahogany

Hammered Metal and Leather Campaign Style Armchair
Located in Lake Worth, FL
For FULL item description click on CONTINUE READING at the bottom of this page. Offering One Of Our Recent Palm Beach Estate Fine Furniture Acquisitions Of A Vintage Italian Ham...
Category

1970s American Vintage Campaign Armchairs

Materials

Metal

English Early 20th Century Pair Black Leather Folding Campaign or Deck Chairs
Located in Wells, ME
English pair of walnut campaign or deck chairs upholstered in black leather with adjustable backs. These folding chairs are adjustable so they can be as pictured or in increments can...
Category

Early 20th Century English Campaign Armchairs

Materials

Cowhide, Walnut

Vintage Folding Directors Chairs 2 Available
Located in New York, NY
2 canvas and wood folding director chairs, each with canvas sling seat and back rests. Both chairs are in very good, original condition, clean ...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Campaign Armchairs

Materials

Canvas, Wood

Italian Faux Bamboo and Cane Campaign Style Chair Circa 1960s
Located in Peabody, MA
A faux bamboo campaign style arm chair with cane back, made in Italy, ca. 1960s.
Category

1960s Italian Vintage Campaign Armchairs

Materials

Brass

Pair of perforated metal garden armchairs France
Located in Lège Cap Ferret, FR
Two vintage green armchairs in perforated metal for the garden. Very nice manufacture.
Category

1990s French Campaign Armchairs

Materials

Metal

Maitland Smith Campaign Style Accent Chair
Located in Lake Worth, FL
Offering One of our recent palm beach estate fine furniture acquisitions of a champagne/silver finish campaign style accent chair attributed to Maitland Smith Featuring leather bac...
Category

1980s Vintage Campaign Armchairs

Materials

Leather, Wool, Wood

Pair of Maison Jansen Style Wrought Iron Campaign Chairs, Circa 1950s
Located in Peabody, MA
Pair of campaign style chairs in wrought iron with painted finial accents and original velvet upholstery.    
Category

1950s Unknown Vintage Campaign Armchairs

Materials

Wrought Iron

English Campaign Carved Wood Bamboo Folding Sling Arm Chairs with Cane - a Pair
Located in Philadelphia, PA
English Campaign Style Carved Wood Bamboo Folding Sling Arm Chairs with cane - a Pair. Item features cane back and seat, leather sling arms, folding d...
Category

Late 20th Century Campaign Armchairs

Materials

Cane, Wood

Set of Eight Ralph Lauren Hollywood Modern Leather Directors Chairs
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Amazing set of eight rare Ralph Lauren directors chairs known as his Hollywood modern or desert modern collection. The chairs feature a che...
Category

20th Century American Campaign Armchairs

Materials

Metal

Pair of Vintage Ralph Lauren Leather Oak Campaign Arm Chairs
Located in North York, ON
Pair of Vintage Ralph Lauren leather oak campaign arm chairs. Early original Ralph Lauren furniture design. Natural oak frames with distressed s...
Category

1980s American Vintage Campaign Armchairs

Materials

Metal

Handsome Campaign Style Mahogany & Leather Armchair
Located in Hopewell, NJ
Spectacular English campaign style armchair having ornately turned wood with fantastic arms that terminate in the heads of dogs. New black leather and brass nailhead details. Arm 26...
Category

Late 19th Century English Antique Campaign Armchairs

Materials

Leather, Mahogany

Campaign armchairs for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique Campaign armchairs 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 armchairs created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include seating and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with wood, animal skin and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Campaign armchairs made in a specific country, there are North America, Europe, and United States pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original armchairs, popular names associated with this style include McGuire Furniture Company, Charlotte Horstmann, Herbert MacNair, and Kaare Klint. 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 armchairs differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $375 and tops out at $9,427 while the average work can sell for $2,157.

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