Campaign Desks
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
Baker Vintage Campaign Style Leather Top Partners Desk
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Handsome Mid Century partners desk crafted in mahogany with ebony trim and brass hardware featuring three tooled leather panels on the top over a campaign style twin pedestal form ha...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Campaign Desks
Materials
Mahogany
British Colonial Campaign Leather Top Sawhorse Desk
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Handsome vintage British Colonial campaign desk with a tooled leather top bound in brass on a five drawer case with brass campaign hardware on two folding sawhorse bases.
Kneehole: ...
Category
Mid-20th Century English Campaign Desks
Materials
Brass
Mid 19th century burr campaign lap writing desk
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
Mid 19th century burr campaign lap desk circa 1860.
Good quality burr writing box.
Beautifully brass bound outside and inside edging. Stunning burr wood exterior. Original dark blu...
Category
Mid-19th Century Burmese Antique Campaign Desks
Materials
Brass
19th C Antique Military Campaign English Traveling Writing Desk Tompson Patent
Located in Atlanta, GA
An antique, circa mid 19th Century English Military Campaign traveling writing or lap desk with brass details, a fitted leather and gilt interior, two ink bottles, pen tray and compa...
Category
Mid-19th Century English Antique Campaign Desks
Materials
Brass, Gold Leaf
Antique English Mahogany Campaign Desk Inset Pulls Tooled Leather Top Circa 1860
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Circa 1860 English Mahogany Campaign Desk with inset brass pulls and inset tooled gilt black leather top constructed in three sections - the top section with three drawers; each of ...
Category
Mid-19th Century British Antique Campaign Desks
Materials
Brass
Trunk Mobile Office Bureau Leather Black Restoration Hardware Timothy Oulton
Located in BUNGAY, SUFFOLK
Travel and take your work anywhere, anytime
Funky, fun, ergonomic, mobile office, compact bureau or bookcase for the home or travel to exhibitions or sites
Vintage trunk stylish and ...
Category
2010s Central American Campaign Desks
Materials
Chrome
British Colonial Antique Campaign Leather Top Three Person Desk or Workspace
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Rare and remarkable 19th century English three person desk or workspace handcrafted in mahogany, featuring a green tooled leather top over three knee holes and three pedestals with t...
Category
19th Century English Antique Campaign Desks
Materials
Leather, Mahogany
HARRODS KENNEDY DOUBLE SIDED TWO PERSON MILITARY CAMPAIGN TWiN PEDESTAL DESK
Located in GB
Royal House Antiques
Royal House Antiques is delighted to offer for sale this lovely hand made in England Harrods Kennedy Military Campaign twin pedestal double sided partner desk g...
Category
20th Century English Campaign Desks
Materials
Brass
1970s National Mt. Airy Military Campaign Style Executive Desk
Located in Dallas, TX
Another good looking campaign style piece for your collection! We are delighted to offer for sale this vintage executive desk hand crafted in the Military Campaign style by Mt. Airy, which is one of the higher quality campaign manufacturers. This well-made desk executed out of oakwood which has a lovely warm patina to it, the cuts of timber are lovely with great proportions from any angle. Supporting a rectangular top with a central drawer flanked on either side by a column cabinet with four drawers each having a top and bottom drawer, two of which are double as a filing drawer in the middle offering plenty of storage space. Solid finished back all standing on a plinth base to make it more stable. The brass inset military handles & brass corner brackets are all original and in brass. Signed "National Mt...
Category
Late 20th Century American Campaign Desks
Materials
Oak
Bernhardt Vintage Campaign Oak Partners Desk
By Bernhardt
Located in Germantown, MD
Bernhardt Vintage Campaign oak partners desk with pleaty of storage and filing cabinets.
Measures 54'W X 24"D X 29.75"H
Knee Clearance 23.75"
Filing cabinet Drawer...
Category
Late 20th Century American Campaign Desks
Materials
Brass
1950s Restored Pedestal Executive Desk: Bamboo Inlay & Mahogany Elegance
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Discover the elegance of the 1950s with our beautifully restored pedestal executive desk, a testament to the era's craftsmanship and a perfect blend of functionality and aesthetic ap...
Category
1960s British Vintage Campaign Desks
Materials
Brass
ViNTAGE HAND MADE IN ENGLAND PINE MILITARY CAMPAIGN TWIN PEDESTAL DESK
Located in GB
Royal House Antiques
Royal House Antiques is delighted to offer for sale this lovely hand made in England Military Campaign style twin pedestal desk in pine with brass fittings
Pl...
Category
20th Century English Campaign Desks
Materials
Brass
19th Century brass bound mahogany writing slope
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
19th century brass bound mahogany writing slope circa 1890.
Good quality brass bound box slope made in mahogany. Inscribed brass plaque shows that this was presented to a mr james ...
Category
Late 19th Century English Antique Campaign Desks
Materials
Brass
Antique Anglo Indian Military Campaign Camphor Wood & Brass Bureau Desk Drawers
Located in GB
We are delighted to offer for sale this lovely late Victorian Anglo Indian campaign Camphor wood with brass inlay Military bureau desk
This piece really is exquisite. It’s a genui...
Category
Late 19th Century Indian Antique Campaign Desks
Materials
Brass
Drexel Campaign Style Oak Double Pedestal Desk
By Drexel
Located in New York, NY
Drexel Campaign style oak desk raised on double pedestal with drawers, gilt metal handles, brown leather embossed writing desk top, "Drexel" maker marks to inside. Measures: 30" H x ...
Category
Mid-20th Century Campaign Desks
Materials
Leather, Oak
English Leather Top Campaign Desk
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Handsome 19th century English campaign desk featuring the original tooled green leather top, campaign brass hardware, two pedestals and a case with nine paneled drawers and block fee...
Category
19th Century English Antique Campaign Desks
Materials
Brass
ViNTAGE RESTORED HARRODS KENNEDY GREEN LEATHER MILITARY CAMPAIGN PEDESTAL DESK
Located in GB
Royal House Antiques
Royal House Antiques is delighted to offer for sale this lovely vintage, Harrods London retailed, REH Kennedy made, Military Campaign twin pedestal partners des...
Category
20th Century English Campaign Desks
Materials
Brass
Fully Restored Harrods Kennedy Brown Leather Military Campaign Pedestal Desk
Located in GB
We are delighted to offer for sale this lovely vintage, Harrods London retailed, REH Kennedy made, Military Campaign twin pedestal partners desk with hand dyed, cigar brown leather w...
Category
20th Century English Campaign Desks
Materials
Brass
1970s Sheik Brass, Mahogany & Mulberry Leather Campaign Style Desk
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
1970s Sheik Brass, Mahogany & Mulberry Leather Campaign Style Desk
Of typical form, the rectangular brass mounted top with inset gilt -tooled mulberry leather top resting on a lower case fitted with brass mounted drawers, raised on two folding brass mounted mahogany saw horse pedestals...
Category
20th Century American Campaign Desks
Materials
Brass
Antique Victorian Hardwood & Green Leather Military Campaign Davenport Desk
Located in GB
We are delighted to offer for sale this Victorian Military Campaign writing slope in the form of a Davenport desk circa 1880 in mahogany with a green leather writing slope
A very ...
Category
1880s English Antique Campaign Desks
Materials
Leather, Hardwood
Vintage Restored Harrods Kennedy Brown Leather Military Campaign Pedestal Desk
Located in GB
We are delighted to offer for sale this lovely vintage, Harrods London retailed, REH Kennedy made, Military Campaign twin pedestal partners desk with brown leather writing surface
...
Category
20th Century English Campaign Desks
Materials
Brass
Vintage Campaign Style Writing Desk with Shelving
Located in Freehold, NJ
This midcentury campaign style writing desk with bookcase features pressed wood construction, oak veneer with original finish, durable viny...
Category
1970s American Vintage Campaign Desks
Materials
Oak
Campaign Style Desk or Credenza
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Standout vintage desk or credenza crafted in mahogany and satinwood with multiple components having a wide profile with four drawers on one side and a cabinet with two shelves on the...
Category
20th Century American Campaign Desks
Materials
Satinwood
English Campaign Era Writing Box of Brass-Bound Mahogany
Located in Austin, TX
A fine English military officer's writing slope (or Captain's box) of brass-bound mahogany, from the Campaign Era, featuring a two-section hinged interior that opens to become a writing desk, with compartments for inkwells, writing pens...
Category
19th Century English Antique Campaign Desks
Materials
Metal, Brass
19th C. English Campaign Style Mahogany Travel Desk by G. Riddle, London
Located in Bridgeport, CT
A finely crafted travel desk by a noted British maker of boxes. The campaign style box has shaped brass corners, tabs, a lid plaque, center front escutcheon, and classic encased side...
Category
19th Century English Antique Campaign Desks
Materials
Brass
British Colonial Military Officer's Campaign Metal Field Desk
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Rare British colonial officer's campaign field desk on stand. Constructed from metal and brass featuring a royal blue painted finish with gilt high...
Category
19th Century English Antique Campaign Desks
Materials
Brass, Metal
Campaign Style Teak Wood Fliptop Writing Desk with Side Chair, 2pc Set
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Campaign style teak wood flip top writing desk with side chair - 2pc set. Item features a flip top, cast iron accents, stretched base, solid wood...
Category
Late 20th Century Campaign Desks
Materials
Teak
Campaign Style Desk
Located in Westwood, NJ
A 19th-century style Campaign desk, the flip-top revealing a fitted interior, slide-out tooled leather writing surface, raised on splayed legs with a stretcher.
Dimensions: 29.25"...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese Campaign Desks
Materials
Leather, Wood
Lovely Small Harrods London Reh Kennedy Military Campaign Writing Bureau Desk
Located in GB
We are delighted to offer this lovely small R.E.H Kennedy made, Harrods London retailed military campaign bureau desk in mahogany with brass fittings
...
Category
20th Century English Campaign Desks
Materials
Brass
Fine Antique British Lift-Top Architect's Desk
Located in Wilton, CT
Offering an excellent condition antique British Architects desk dating from the Mid 19th Century. Fine proportions and workmanship throughout. Executed in Mahogany with Campaign style drawer pulls in brass. The table features ten plan/drawing tool drawers and two lift panel front pull-out blueprint...
Category
19th Century British Antique Campaign Desks
Materials
Brass
Restored Hand Dyed Brown Leather Military Campaign Partners Pedestal Desk
Located in GB
We are delighted to offer for sale this lovely vintage Military Campaign twin pedestal partners desk with hand dyed, cigar brown leather writing surface
This is a wonderful find, ...
Category
20th Century English Campaign Desks
Materials
Brass
Stunning All Military Campaign Side Table with Single Drawer Part of Suite
Located in GB
We are delighted to offer for sale this nicely made military campaign style tall side table with single drawer which is part of a suite
This piece is part of an office suite, I ha...
Category
20th Century English Campaign Desks
Materials
Brass
Sublime Andrew Martin Polished Chrome Luggage Campaign Dest Leather Boarders
Located in GB
We are delighted to offer for sale this lovely Andrew Martin chrome and leather luggage Military Campaign style desk
A very good looking well made and...
Category
20th Century English Campaign Desks
Materials
Chrome
Hardwood & Brass Military Campaign Workstation Desk for Home Computer Part Suite
Located in GB
We are delighted to offer for sale this lovely Military Campaign style home office desk / workstation which is part of a suite
This piece is part of an office suite, I have in tot...
Category
20th Century English Campaign Desks
Materials
Brass
Small Campaign Desk
Located in Westwood, NJ
A Campaign style mahogany campaign desk, the circular crossbanded molded edge top hinged and folding open to reveal an interior with pigeon holes and a ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese Campaign Desks
Materials
Wood
Vintage Campaign Style Writing Table/Desk Lacquered in Red
Located in Dallas, TX
Classic Campaign style desk manufactured by Sligh of Holland/Grand Rapids, Michigan. Restored, consist of five drawers with recessed brass pulls. Inlaid leather top with elegant embossed gold design and brass legs. Brass bound corners and Campaign pulls...
Category
1950s American Vintage Campaign Desks
Materials
Brass
Campaign Desk In Mahogany-19 ° Century
Located in Brussels, Brussels
Elegant mahogany campaign desk or marine desk from the 19th century from England
Indeed this furniture called "campaign furniture" or navy furniture was...
Category
Late 19th Century British Antique Campaign Desks
Materials
Mahogany
Campaign Roll Top Desk on Stand
Located in Palm Beach, FL
A 19th century diminutive, antique, mahogany campaign roll top desk on stand with brass plaque, brass lined case, string inlay, intriguing pop up hidden compartments, brass recessed ...
Category
19th Century English Antique Campaign Desks
Materials
Mahogany
Exquisite Antique Hardwood Military Campaign Writing Slope Desk & Later Stand
Located in GB
We are delighted to offer for sale this absolutely stunning original Antique Victorian Mahogany & Brass Military Campaign writing slope.
I actually have a pair of these, the other has slightly different dimensions and is listed under my other items.
What a find, if you are in the market for this type of luxury antique militaria...
Category
19th Century English Antique Campaign Desks
Materials
Brass
Stunning Hardwood & Brass Military Campaign Workstation Desk for Home Computer
Located in GB
We are delighted to offer for sale this lovely Military Campaign style home office desk / workstation
This piece was specially designed to house a tower PC, you have the space on ...
Category
20th Century English Campaign Desks
Materials
Brass
Original circa 1900 Graves & Sons Naval Military Campaign Parter Desk Map Drawer
Located in GB
We are delighted to offer this very rare original Graves & Son’s stamped Naval Military Campaign officers desk
Graves and Sons were listed at Fore Stree...
Category
Early 1900s English Antique Campaign Desks
Materials
Leather, Hardwood
Handcrafted Colonial Teak Campaign Table with Folding Legs
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
Circa 1890's
Solid teak hand crafted Campaign folding table from the days of the British Raj. Has flaps that pivot outwards and tuck away ben...
Category
Late 19th Century British Indian Ocean Territory Antique Campaign Desks
Materials
Teak
Vintage Distressed Burr Yew Wood Military Campaign Twin Pedestal Partners Desk
Located in GB
We are delighted to offer for sale this vintage Flamed & Burr Yew wood twin pedestal partner desk made in the Military Campaign style
This is a good looking and well made piece, ...
Category
20th Century English Campaign Desks
Materials
Yew
Exquisite Victorian Hardwood Military Campaign Writing Slope Desk & Later Stand
Located in GB
We are delighted to offer for sale this absolutely stunning original Antique Victorian Mahogany & Brass Military Campaign writing slope with later stand
What a find, if you are in the market for this type of luxury antique militaria then look no further, this is the finest example I have personally seen. The timber patina is glorious, it’s a very old type of mahogany, most likely Cuban. The brass fixtures and fittings all operate perfectly and are flawlessly mounted
The stand has been made at a later date to showcase and protect the piece, it is now the size of a normal side table. The writing slope itself has some interesting features, the top can be sat at a 45 degree angle for reading, there is a piece of beaded wood that slots into the two front holes, this holds and seats whatever literature you wish to rest there. The large side drawer is locked in place by a long metal rod, this rod also stops the drawer from coming all the way out. You have two internal document storage sections and various stationary cubby’s.
The writing slope is baize lined and on the underside of the base you have a crosshatched silk ripped design which has been studded in place. This is exactly the same as antique LV steamer...
Category
19th Century English Antique Campaign Desks
Materials
Hardwood
Medium Dark Walnut Architect Adjustable Desk with Black or Brown Leather Insets
Located in Ballard, CA
The Iconic Jean Pierre desk named after the famous actor Jean Pierre Aumont is an handcrafted desk in solid walnut with black or brown leather insets,...
Category
2010s North American Campaign Desks
Materials
Leather, Wood, Walnut
Harrods Military Campaign Faux Book Chest of Drawers Brown Leather Writing Slope
By Harrods
Located in GB
We are delighted to offer for sale this lovely handmade in England Harrods London Military Campaign chest of drawers with brown leather writing slope...
Category
20th Century English Campaign Desks
Materials
Leather
Architect Adjustable Desk with Black or Brown Leather Insets
Located in Ballard, CA
The Iconic Jean Pierre desk named after the famous actor Jean Pierre Aumont is an handcrafted desk in solid walnut with black or brown leather insets,...
Category
2010s North American Campaign Desks
Materials
Leather, Wood, Walnut
Vintage Brass and White Lacquered Campaign Style Writing Table/Desk
Located in Dallas, TX
Classic Campaign style desk manufactured by Sligh of Holland/Grand Rapids, Michigan. Consist of five drawers with recessed brass pulls and brass legs. Brass bound corners and Campaign pulls...
Category
1950s American Vintage Campaign Desks
Materials
Brass
Stunning Late 19th Century Campaign or Travelers Desk Attr. to Thomas Potter
By Thomas Potter
Located in Lisse, NL
Unique quarter-sawn, two piece oak campaign desk.
This may very well be the most beautiful and interesting campaign desk you will ever be able to acquire. The architectural design, the quality of the materials AND of the make, the combination of the striking colors and its overall look and feel is, in one word, awesome. We cannot think of a single company in existence in the world today who would put such an effort into creating one single and unique piece of furniture. We could have posted 30 images (which is not possible) and you still would not have seen all the fine details and 'gadgets' that make this desk the interesting and marvelous piece that it is.
Especially when displayed in the way it is in image one, it will make everyone want to stop and look at this desk. It simply is difficult not to want to. Used by a high ranked officer, this top of the line desk would have cost a small fortune and it would have been taken from one campaign posting to the next. The chest on top can be fully closed and it has a perfect working lock and key (all original). The perfect brass handles on either side makes the chest easier to carry. Never easy though, because it has got some significant weight to it. Apart from minor bending of the desktop (best seen when closed. . .see image7), an incomplete leather inside in the lid (see image 15) and a cracked, but glued white tile (for which we do not know the purpose. . .image 3), this piece is of museum quality.
The solid, tiger oak bottom half too is as stabile as the day it was made and it is in amazing condition. It comes with a mint drawer (both inside and out) and it too has a perfect working lock with the original key. The extra tier with the gallery of hand turned pillars makes this fine design open and spacious and it too is of wonderful quality and condition.
Some of the finest details are on the inside of the stationary box-like chest. It is the quality in the design, the workmanship, the expensive materials, the attention to detail, the completeness, the execution and, finally, the timeless beauty, that makes us believe that this desk could only have been made by Thomas Potter...
Category
Late 19th Century English Antique Campaign Desks
Materials
Brass
Fine Antique British Mahogany Campaign Style Server Chest
Located in Bridgeport, CT
Fine antique English mahogany Campaign style server chest, with a step back two tiered hinged top with walnut turned spindle supports for the two shaped a...
Category
19th Century Irish Antique Campaign Desks
Materials
Mahogany
American Sheraton Mahogany Campaign Desk, Circa 1820
Located in Hollywood, SC
American Sheraton mahogany Campaign slant front desk with two upper case flanking doors concealing pigeon holes, sliding lower case writing surface concealing fitted interior over si...
Category
1820s American Antique Campaign Desks
English Mahogany Campaign Slant Bureau / Bedstead with Original Brasses, C. 1790
Located in Hollywood, SC
English mahogany campaign hinged slant front bureau / bedstead with removable faux drawer front panel with the original brasses and escutcheons, fitted interior with a folding bedste...
Category
1790s English Antique Campaign Desks
Materials
Brass
1970's Campaign Style Leather Top Desk
Located in Southampton, NJ
A limited edition walnut desk by Alex Stuart Designs in the Campaign style with tooled leather top, generous writing surface & a single felt lined drawer...
Category
20th Century American Campaign Desks
Materials
Gold, Brass
Antique English Campaign Leather Top Desk
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Handsome antique English British Colonial campaign desk crafted in mahogany, in three pieces, with a lush tooled brown leather top, nine drawers, brass campaign hardware and arched f...
Category
Early 20th Century English Campaign Desks
Materials
Brass
19th Century Camphor Wood Campaign Chest with Desk Drawer
Located in Nantucket, MA
Antique Camphor wood campaign chest with fitted desk drawer, most likely British, Mid 19th Century, a high quality campaign piece made in two pieces from beautiful camphor wood, ligh...
Category
Mid-19th Century English Antique Campaign Desks
Materials
Wood
Campaign desks for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a broad range of unique Campaign desks 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 desks created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include case pieces and storage cabinets, tables, decorative objects and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with wood, metal and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Campaign desks 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 desks, popular names associated with this style include Harrods, Kennedy Furniture For Harrods London, Sligh Furniture, and Andrew Martin. 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 desks differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $895 and tops out at $22,500 while the average work can sell for $3,636.
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