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.
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...
Brass
$1,573Sale Price / set|60% Off
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...
Brass
Antique 19th Century English Georgian Rosewood Campaign Writing Slope Desk 14"
Located in Dayton, OH
Antique 19th Century English Georgian campaign writing slope, box or travel desk. Made of walnut feautring rectangular form with brass banding. Opens to purple velvet interior with...
Brass
Mid 19th Century campaign camphor metamorphic lap desk
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
Rare and good quality Chinese export camphor wood writing desk, circa 1860. Brass bound around the outer edges and carrying handles to each side. These desk were made for sea captai...
Brass
Large Antique Campaign Brass Mounted Writing Box. English C.1840
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Wonderful solid tropical hardwood writing box or slope Fabulous colour and figure in the wood Fine brass hardware 3 secret drawers shown in the last image* Replaced leather The ...
Brass
$2,091Sale Price / set|40% Off
Victorian Military Campaign Burr Walnut Brass Bound Writing Slope With Key
Located in Reading, Berkshire
19th Century Victorian Military Campaign Burr Walnut Brass Bound Writing Slope With A Tooled Black Leather Scriver Slope will include A Single Glass Inkwell A vintage pen S moder...
Brass
Large Antique Campaign Burr Walnut Writing Box. English. Dated 1871
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Wonderful burr walnut writing box or slope Fabulous colour and figure in the wood Fine brass hardware Expertly restored Original brass topped inkwells Working secret drawers* R...
Brass
Military Campaign Burr Walnut & Brass Bound Writing Slope With 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 Inkwell, A Handcrafted Exquisite Gift For The Writing Enthusiast. Item will include new notepad pad, Quill pen (modern), and one single glass inkwell and Ink Pen and Lockable Key Antique lap...
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 ...
Brass
$2,441
H 6.11 in W 11.82 in D 8.86 in
Military Campaign Burr Walnut & Brass Bound Writing Slope With 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 Inkwell, A Handcrafted Exquisite Gift For The Writing Enthusiast. Item will include new notepad pad, Quill pen (modern), and one single glass inkwell and Ink Pen and Lockable Key Antique lap...
Brass
$892Sale Price|49% Off
H 6.7 in W 17.72 in D 9.06 in
19th Century French Walnut and Brass Writing Boxe
Located in LEGNY, FR
Beautiful walnut desktop box which opens into a writing slope. Decorated on the outside with 2 decorative inlaid tunbridge ware bands. Box opens out to a beige fabric writing slo...
Brass
$3,284Sale Price|20% Off
H 6.25 in W 10 in D 6 in
Antique English Burr Walnut & Hand Painted Porcelain Stationery Box, circa 1850
Located in Bath, GB
A quite wonderful and romantic stationery box, ready to grace the finest of desk-tops. Made from burr walnut the wedge shaped box is smothered in fine quality polished brass mount...
Brass
$1,525
H 6.7 in W 5.71 in D 9.65 in
Superb Quality Antique Victorian Burr Walnut Brass Bound Writing Box
Located in Suffolk, GB
Superb quality antique Victorian burr walnut brass bound writing box having brass bounded corners and edges around a superior quality burr walnut writing box opening to reveal a writ...
Brass
$1,771Sale Price|29% Off
H 7 in W 18 in D 10 in
English Regency Mahogany Travelling Lap Desk Box with Secret Compartment
Located in Savannah, GA
Large size English Regency mahogany travelling sloped lap desk/ box with original brass corner mounts, hinges, pin, top mount and retractable handles. Features include a side drawer,...
Brass
$2,290
H 4.73 in W 16.15 in D 10.63 in
19th Century Italian Writing Box with Macassar Veneer and Silver Mounts
Located in Casteren, Noord-Brabant
Beautiful antique writing slope case. The chest is veneered with Macassar wood. Decorated with silver mounts. The interior is made of birdseed maple...
Sterling Silver
Italian Gold-Mounted Micromosaic Snuff Box
Located in New York, NY
Italian micro mosaic plaque mounted within snuff box, depicting white and brown hound seated on grass. Circle of Giacomo Raffaelli (1753-1836). R...
Glass
$2,450
H 6.69 in W 17.91 in D 10.63 in
19th Century Victorian Writing Slope/ Travel Desk Box, Brass Bound, UK ca. 1815
Located in Lichtenberg, AT
Impressive Victorian writing slope or travel desk - attributed to the famous company of Thompson - from the period around 1800 - 1815 in the United Kingdom. This fantastic Captain’s campaign writing slope dates back to the Napoleonic wars. Well constructed out of solid mahogany with screwed down mount re-enforcements, brass banding, and inset carrying handles at each end, this outstanding travel desk box was designed to withstand the harsh maritime life at sea. The exterior of this Victorian travel box shows an attractive mahogany grain, beautiful colour, and a lovely pleasing patina. There are a couple of old indented scars to the lid along with the usual minor surface scratching, but these imperfections confer it an absolutely unique charme. The box has a tri-fold operation, opening to reveal a secondary smaller writing surface for quick use, then opening again to reveal the main slope fitted with a green felt writing surface which is in reasonable condition and compliments the original interior. When it is completely opened you have two storage compartments underneath. The original lock works smoothly with the original key. The original interior is nicely fitted out with a dark green leather drop-down section in the lid which features four memoire pockets. This section can additionally be lowered to reveal a document wallet...
Brass
$2,831Sale Price / set|40% Off
H 5.12 in W 14.97 in D 11.42 in
Victorian Campaign Writing Slope, Brass Trim, Green Leather, UK, 1800s
Located in Reading, Berkshire
A Stunning Victorian Campaign Writing Slope With A Decorative Brass Trim, Brass Carry Handles Finished With A Gilt Tooled Racing Green Leather Interior Item will include new notepa...
Brass
English Zebra Wood Military Campaign Writing Desk, Circa 1820
Located in Charleston, SC
English zebra wood military campaign writing desk with brass bound molded edges, original recessed side handles, fitted leather interior with tooling and retains the original crystal ink wells...
Crystal, Brass
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...
Brass
$3,390
H 8.51 in W 18.51 in D 11.62 in
Antique Regency Mahogany & Rosewood Brass Inlaid Campaign Writing Slope Box
Located in King's Lynn, GB
Here we have an impressive antique Regency (1811-1820) Mahogany & Rosewood Brass inlaid campaign writing slope box with a side drawer and multiple hidden internal compartments and dr...
Brass
Large Antique Campaign Brass Mounted Writing Box. English C.1840
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Wonderful solid tropical hardwood writing box or slope Fabulous colour and figure in the wood Fine brass hardware 2 side drawers and one secret drawer* Replaced leather With Key...
Brass
Sold
H 7 in W 15.75 in D 9.75 in
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...
Brass
Large Antique Campaign Burr Walnut Writing Box. English C.1860
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Wonderful burr 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 draw...
Brass
19th Century campaign metamorphic camphor writing slope
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
19th century metamorphic camphor writing slope circa 1890. Here we have a fine quality campaign tambour table top desk made in camphor wood. Many features to this brass bound desk....
Brass
Sold
H 7.88 in W 19.69 in D 10.83 in
19th Century J J Mechi Mahogany Writing Slope Befit with a Pair of Inkwells
By John Joseph Mechi
Located in Reading, Berkshire
Exquisite English craftsmanship from the early 19th century a mahogany writing slope befit with A black velvet interior & A pair of glass inkwells by J J Mechi of No 4, Leadenhall St...
Brass
Sold
H 5.52 in W 16.15 in D 9.65 in
Exquisite Victorian Rosewood & Leather Tooled Writing Slope, Inkwell and Pen
Located in Reading, Berkshire
19th Century Rosewood handcrafted exquisite writing slope with tooled leather, fitted interior befit with original glass inkwells and secret compartment. Would make an ideal gift for the writing enthusiast. Item will include pad, Quill pen (modern) and antique propelling pencil...
Brass
German Leather Dice Cup - Desk Accessory or Pencil Jar
Located in Grand Rapids, MI
Germany Leather dice cup- could also be used as a desk accessory for holding pencils, pens, or other accessories. Great saddle leather and topstitching. T...
Leather
Sold
H 6.19 in W 15.56 in D 9.34 in
Royal American Regiment 1756–1763 Brass Bound Military Campaign Writing Slope
Located in Reading, Berkshire
19th Century The Kings Royal Rifle Corps Oak Brass Bound Military Campaign Writing Slope The King's Royal Rifle Corps was an infantry rifle regiment of the British Army that was originally raised in British North America as the Royal American Regiment during the phase of the Seven Years' War in North America known in the United States as 'The French and Indian War...
Brass
Sold
H 4.73 in W 11.82 in D 8.86 in
Mid 19th Century Rosewood Brass Bound Hand Crafted Exquisite Writing Slope
Located in Reading, Berkshire
Mid 19th Century Rosewood Brass Bound Hand Crafted Exquisite Writing Slope With Red Velvet Fitted Interior Befit With A Glass Inkwell, Pad, & Pen #21 Would make an ideal gift for...
Brass
Sold
H 5.52 in W 16.15 in D 9.65 in
Exquisite Victorian Rosewood & Leather Tooled Writing Slope, Inkwell and Pen
Located in Reading, Berkshire
19th Century Rosewood handcrafted exquisite writing slope with tooled leather, fitted interior befit with original glass inkwells and secret compartment. Would make an ideal gift for the writing enthusiast. Item will include pad, Quill pen (modern) and antique propelling pencil...
Brass
Sold
H 6.11 in W 15.75 in D 9.26 in
Victorian Military Campaign Brass Bound Mahogany Writing Slope with Accessories
Located in Reading, Berkshire
A Victorian Military Campaign brass bound mahogany and brass writing slope with black leather tooled Interior and secret compartment. Made in 1800s #11 Features a blank brass front shield ideal for engraving This writing slope comes befit with various accessories: Two Glass inkwells One vintage Ink Pen One modern notebook Items might slightly differ from what's depicted in the images Antique lap desks...
Brass
Sold
H 7.88 in W 19.69 in D 10.83 in
19th Century Mahogany Writing Slope Befit with a Pair of Inkwells by J J Mechi
Located in Reading, Berkshire
Exquisite craftsmanship from the early 19th century a Mahogany writing slope befit with A black velvet interior & A pair of glass inkwells by J J Mechi of No 4, Leadenhall Street, City of London, circa 1830s Would make an ideal gift for the writing enthusiast or London historian. Item has lever action hidden compartment. Has an oval front brass plaque ideal for engraving a message if the item is a gift. Comes with the original heavy metal topped inkwells and notepad, modern quill and stand.Other items are shown for illustrative purposes. Alderman John Joseph Mechi (1802–1880) was a silversmith, banker, inventor and Alderman of the City of London. He experimented with new farming methods on his estate at Tiptree in Essex. Mechi was born in London 22 May 1802, the third son of Giacomo Mechi, a citizen of Bologna, who had settled in England early in life, was naturalised, and obtained a post at Kensington Palace in the household of George III. His mother was Elizabeth, daughter of J. Beyer of Poland Street, London. John at the age of sixteen was placed as a clerk in a house in Walbrook, trading with Newfoundland, a job he had for ten years. In 1828 he set up on his own account as a cutler in a small workshop at 130 Leadenhall Street, from where he removed to No. 4 in the same street in 1830. Between 1830 and 1840 he made his fortune through the 'magic razor strop' which bears his name After the Crimean war and a fashion for beards, sales declined. On 10 November 1840 he took out a patent for 'improvements in apparatus to be applied to lamps in order to carry off heat and the products of consumption'. This was for the external shop-window lamps...
Brass