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Campaign Desk Accessories

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
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...
Category

19th Century Antique Campaign Desk Accessories

Materials

Brass

Victorian Military Campaign Brass Bound Mahogany Writing Slope with Accessories
Located in High Wycombe, GB
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 Antique lap desks...
Category

19th Century British Antique Campaign Desk Accessories

Materials

Brass

Georgian Military Campaign Brass Bound Rosewood Writing Slope
Located in High Wycombe, GB
A stunning georgian military campaign rosewood & brass bound hand crafted writing slope. With Red Tooled Leather Interior, Befit with the original glass inkwells. Made by Esteemed Maker with Royal Warrant "Tompson" circa 1830s A rare Thompson lock with attractive stamped escutcheon with coat of arms. The top and front have been decorated with brass inlay and brass reinforcing edges and corners. Inside there are secret drawers concealed beneath the writing surface. The glass ink bottles are original to the item with red leather tooled interior. This writing slope comes with original "Tompson" lock. Will sent with a vintage writing pen...
Category

19th Century British Antique Campaign Desk Accessories

Materials

Brass

Military Campaign Burr Walnut & Brass Bound Writing Slope With Leather Interior
Located in High Wycombe, GB
Military Campaign 19th Century Burr Walnut & Brass Bound Writing Slope With Ebonized Trim. Interior Features a tooled Blue Leather Liner A Single Glass Inkwell, A Handcrafted Exquisite Gift For The Writing Enthusiast. Antique lap...
Category

19th Century British Antique Campaign Desk Accessories

Materials

Brass

19th Century Mahogany Writing Slope Befit with a Pair of Inkwells by J J Mechi
Located in High Wycombe, GB
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...
Category

19th Century British Antique Campaign Desk Accessories

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 Desk Accessories

Materials

Brass

19th Century Burr Walnut Handcrafted Exquisite Writing Slope with Brass Inlay
Located in High Wycombe, GB
19th Century Burr Walnut Handcrafted Exquisite Writing Slope With Brass Inlay A handcrafted exquisite writing slope with tooled leather fitted interior befit with a glass inkwell Would make an ideal gift for the writing enthusiast. Item will include pad, quill (modern) and stand and inkwell. Antique lap desks...
Category

19th Century British Antique Campaign Desk Accessories

Materials

Brass

Antique Victorian Walnut Purple Velvet Campaign Writing Desk Slope
Located in Dayton, OH
Antique Victorian campaign writing desk slope. Made of walnut featuring purple velvet writing surface with multiple compartments and functional l...
Category

19th Century Antique Campaign Desk Accessories

Materials

Velvet, Walnut

19th C. Rosewood Brass Bound
Located in Bridgeport, CT
A Handsome Campaign Style Box with nice deep color and decorative brass mounts, top medallion and escutcheon (lacking a key). The inside lid and sides lined in dark green velvet, the bottom with vintage printed paper...
Category

19th Century Antique Campaign Desk Accessories

Materials

Brass

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 Desk Accessories

Materials

Metal, Brass

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 Desk Accessories

Materials

Mahogany

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. Tactile feel. Base label is h...
Category

1960s German Vintage Campaign Desk Accessories

Materials

Leather

Related Items
19th Century English Victorian Campaign Style Travel Desk Writing Box
Located in Forney, TX
A antique Victorian era English campaign style brass bound mahogany portable lap desk / writing slope with nicely aged patina. circa 1850 Commonly used by military officers in the f...
Category

Mid-19th Century English Antique Campaign Desk Accessories

Materials

Brass

Antique English Mahogany Campaign Style Lap Desk Writing Box
Located in Forney, TX
A lovely antique English mahogany campaign style travel desk / writing slope box with beautifully aged warm rich patina. circa 1825 Commonly used by military officers in the field, ...
Category

19th Century English Antique Campaign Desk Accessories

Materials

Brass

Marble Case with Inkwell, Italy 2nd Half 19th Century
Located in Greding, DE
Red marble casket with pyramidal lid and fitted brass vessels. Light bumps.
Category

Mid-19th Century Italian Antique Campaign Desk Accessories

Materials

Marble

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...
Category

19th Century English Antique Campaign Desk Accessories

Materials

Brass

19th Century Mahogany Writing Box
Located in Casteren, NL
19th century mahogany writing box with green leather desk top, original key and several (secret) storage compartments. Originates England, dating circa...
Category

19th Century English Antique Campaign Desk Accessories

Materials

Mahogany

19th Century Mahogany Writing Box
19th Century Mahogany Writing Box
H 5.91 in W 14.97 in D 10.24 in
Tunbridge Ware Correspondence Box by Edmund Nye 19th Century
Located in Cheltenham, GB
Mid 19th century Tunbridge ware stationery box by Edmund Nye, manufacturer. The dome-shaped top is inlaid with a specimen parquetry panel, crossbanded with boxwood and stringing and...
Category

19th Century English Antique Campaign Desk Accessories

Materials

Walnut, Satinwood, Ash, Boxwood

Antique Victorian Quality Burr Walnut Brass Bound Writing Box
Located in Suffolk, GB
Antique Victorian quality burr walnut writing box with brass bound corners and straps opening to reveal a fitted writing slope, pen tray, original ink bottle, two lift up lids openin...
Category

1860s English Antique Campaign Desk Accessories

Materials

Brass

English Regency Walnut Traveling Lap Desk Box with Secret Compartment
Located in Savannah, GA
19th century English Regency traveling lap writing desk with original brass corner mounts and hardware, including lock and key. Outstanding sti...
Category

1810s English Antique Campaign Desk Accessories

Materials

Brass

Antique Victorian Walnut Purple Velvet Campaign Writing Desk Slope
Located in Dayton, OH
Antique Victorian campaign writing desk slope. Made of walnut featuring purple velvet writing surface with multiple compartments and functional l...
Category

19th Century Antique Campaign Desk Accessories

Materials

Velvet, Walnut

Rare Antique English Regency Rosewood & Brass Writing Slope Box Lap Desk
Located in Shippensburg, PA
A RARE AND FINE REGENCY ROSEWOOD WRITING SLOPE England, circa 1815; includes a circa 1849 quill by Isaac Parkes Item # 801EZX27 An inordinately fine box, the exterior is dressed wit...
Category

1810s English Antique Campaign Desk Accessories

Materials

Brass

Antique Regency Campaign Writing Slope Brass Mounts, 19th Century
Located in London, GB
An elegant Regency brass mounted Gonçalo Alves campaign writing slope, circa 1820 in date. The beautifully polished goncalo alves case has a ...
Category

1820s Antique Campaign Desk Accessories

Materials

Wood

Antique 19th Century Victorian Birdseye Maple Traveling Writing Slope Box
Located in Dayton, OH
Antique dark birds eye maple writing slope with brass M monogram plate on top with green felt lining and multiple interior storage compartments finishe...
Category

19th Century Antique Campaign Desk Accessories

Materials

Felt, Birdseye Maple, Ebony

Previously Available Items
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. Tactile feel. Base label is h...
Category

1960s German Vintage Campaign Desk Accessories

Materials

Leather

Royal American Regiment 1756–1763 Brass Bound Military Campaign Writing Slope
Located in High Wycombe, GB
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...
Category

19th Century British Antique Campaign Desk Accessories

Materials

Brass

Mid 19th Century Rosewood Brass Bound Hand Crafted Exquisite Writing Slope
Located in High Wycombe, GB
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...
Category

19th Century British Antique Campaign Desk Accessories

Materials

Brass

Exquisite Victorian Rosewood & Leather Tooled Writing Slope, Inkwell and Pen
Located in High Wycombe, GB
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...
Category

19th Century British Antique Campaign Desk Accessories

Materials

Brass

Victorian Burr Walnut Writing Slope With Oxblood Leather & Ebonised Interior.
Located in High Wycombe, GB
A Beautiful 19th Century, Victorian Burr Walnut Writing Slope With Oxblood Leather Tooled, and Ebonised Interior & Writing Accessories, With a secret compartment for letters etc. - 1800s Included in the sale. A notepad A Vintage fountain pen...
Category

19th Century British Antique Campaign Desk Accessories

Materials

Brass

19th Century Rosewood English Campaign Lap Desk
Located in Nashville, TN
19th century rosewood English Campaign lap desk. Gorgeous highly polished rosewood and brass. Two hidden drawers fitted inside. Flip lid to open for ...
Category

1850s English Antique Campaign Desk Accessories

Materials

Rosewood

19th Century English Campaign Mahogany Writing Slope Lap Desk Box Brass
Located in Shreveport, LA
~Direct from England~ ~Lovely antique English Campaign mahogany portable writing slope desk~ ~Wide brass binding on top and sides with center brass plate (not monogramed) on the de...
Category

19th Century British Antique Campaign Desk Accessories

Materials

Brass

19th Century English Campaign Mahogany Writing Slope Lap Desk Box Brass
Located in Shreveport, LA
~Direct from England~ ~Lovely antique English Campaign mahogany portable writing slope desk~ ~Wide brass binding on top and sides with center brass plate (not monogramed) on the desk...
Category

19th Century British Antique Campaign Desk Accessories

Materials

Brass

Mechanical Campaign Style Lap Desk and Letter Box
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A truly rare, substantial, and ingenious form. The letter box opens to reveal compartments: 2 inkwells and a changeable calendar. There is a spring mechanism at its top which relea...
Category

19th Century English Antique Campaign Desk Accessories

Materials

Brass

Small Brass and Copper Plated Wooden Jewelry Casket
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Small brass and copper plated wooden jewelry casket.
Category

Early 20th Century English Campaign Desk Accessories

Materials

Brass, Copper

George III Period Brass-Bound Campaign Writing Slope "Captain's Box", circa 1790
Located in Shippensburg, PA
A gorgeous Georgian period Campaign triple-slope writing desk, it is often coined a “Captain’s Box” for its’ common use by ship officers for storage of va...
Category

1790s English Antique Campaign Desk Accessories

Materials

Leather, Fabric, Mahogany, Oak

British Colonial Style Zebra Hide Note Pad Cover
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Swank, Mid-Century note pad cover crafted with zebra hide and soft tan leather. Cover can hold a cell phone in its pouch.  
Category

20th Century Italian Campaign Desk Accessories

Campaign desk accessories for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique Campaign desk accessories for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the 19th Century, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage desk accessories created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include decorative objects, case pieces and storage cabinets and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with wood, brass and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Campaign desk accessories made in a specific country, there are Europe, United Kingdom, and England pieces for sale on 1stDibs. 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 desk accessories differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $350 and tops out at $5,400 while the average work can sell for $1,732.

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