Campaign Decorative Objects
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 Campaign Decanter Box, Coromandel With Brass Fittings, 19th Century
Located in Bristol, GB
ANTIQUE CAMPAIGN DECANTER BOX
Made from coromandel with brass strap work fittings and flush handles typical of campaign furniture of the time.
A working Bramah lock with its orig...
Category
19th Century British Antique Campaign Decorative Objects
Materials
Brass
10 Blown Glass Bottles Grape Chamber Thomery Moissac France
Located in Lège Cap Ferret, FR
Lot of 10 blown glass bottles from a 19th century grape chamber Thomery Moissac
Lot of 10 blown glass bottles from the 19th century from Moissac Tarn et Garonne.
Height 5.11 ...
Category
1860s French Antique Campaign Decorative Objects
Materials
Blown Glass
Antique Treen Traveling Candlestick and Match Holder, 19th Century
Located in Spencertown, NY
A rare and ingenious olivewood travelling candlestick holder with a compartment for the striker. The cover holds the candle in place, when unscrewed it acts as the handle. Beneath th...
Category
Mid-19th Century British Antique Campaign Decorative Objects
Materials
Olive
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 Decorative Objects
Materials
Brass
Austrian Bombe Form Dinanderie Tobacco Box, 19th Century or Earlier
Located in Atlanta, GA
Austrian, 19th century or earlier.
A fine quality antiqued tobacco box of bombe form with a hinged lid.
Category
19th Century Austrian Antique Campaign Decorative Objects
Materials
Brass, Tin
Vintage Campaign Style Wood and Brass Box
Located in Farmington Hills, MI
We are very pleased to offer a timeless campaign-style wood box, gracefully adorned with brass inlays, circa the 1950s. The exterior of the box reveals the natural beauty of the woo...
Category
Early 20th Century English Campaign Decorative Objects
Materials
Brass
Fine Antique Regency Rosewood Inlaid Brass Campaign Writing Box Desk Slope 1830
Located in Portland, OR
A very fine quality Rosewood & inlaid brass Campaign writing desk box, circa 1830.
The box made from the finest figured rosewood and inlaid with brass...
Category
1830s English Antique Campaign Decorative Objects
Materials
Brass
Massive french earthenware bottle, late 19th century - terracotta bottle
Located in Camblanes et Meynac, FR
Massive french earthenware bottle, late 19th century - terracotta bottle
Superb old terracotta bottle.
Its circular shape and rough texture make it a beautiful and original piece.
I...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Campaign Decorative Objects
Materials
Ceramic, Terracotta, Earthenware
Antique Coromandel and Brass Bound Campaign Humidor
Located in High Wycombe, GB
Antique Coromandel and Brass Bound Campaign Humidor.
The cigars depicted are for illustrative purposes only.
Category
20th Century British Campaign Decorative Objects
Materials
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...
Category
19th Century Antique Campaign Decorative Objects
Materials
Brass
Anglo Indian Amboyna Campaign Writing Box
Located in Northampton, GB
Brass Bounded
From our Writing Box collection, we are pleased to offer this Anglo Indian Amboyna Campaign Writing Box. The Writing Box of slim re...
Category
Early 19th Century Indian Antique Campaign Decorative Objects
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 Decorative Objects
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 Decorative Objects
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 Decorative Objects
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 Decorative Objects
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 Decorative Objects
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 Decorative Objects
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 Decorative Objects
Materials
Brass
Mid-19th Century Campaign Camphor Metamorphic Lap Desk
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
Rare and good quality camphor wood writing desk, circa 1860.
Brass bound around the outer edges and carrying handles to each side. These desk were made for sea captains and office...
Category
Mid-19th Century Indonesian Antique Campaign Decorative Objects
Materials
Hardwood
Campaign Style Box on Stand in Brass and Burl Walnut
Located in Lambertville, NJ
A 1970's burl walnut campaign style box on attached stand. The burl walnut box with recessed brass handle at the front with a parson style solid mahoga...
Category
1970s American Vintage Campaign Decorative Objects
Materials
Brass
Antique Campaign Correspondence Box, Indian, Colonial Writing Case, Victorian
Located in Hele, Devon, GB
This is an antique Campaign correspondence box. An Anglo-Indian, teak and brass bound Colonial traveller's writing case, dating to the late Victorian period, circa 1880.
Captivati...
Category
Late 19th Century Indian Antique Campaign Decorative Objects
Materials
Brass
English Mid-19th Century Military Munitions Box with Royal Mottos, Coat of Arms
Located in Wells, ME
English military munitions box of thick full cowhide leather over cork with painted royal coat of arms and mottos on the top: " Honi Soi (qui) Mal y Pense" and "Dieu et Mon Droit" su...
Category
Mid-19th Century English Antique Campaign Decorative Objects
Materials
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 Decorative Objects
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 Decorative Objects
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 Decorative Objects
Materials
Brass
19C Irish Coromandel Wood Campaign Decanter Box
Located in Dallas, TX
PRESENTING A STUNNING 19C Irish Coromandel Wood Campaign Decanter Box.
STUNNING mid-Victorian Decanter box from circa 1860-1880.
Made in Dublin...
Category
19th Century Irish Antique Campaign Decorative Objects
Materials
Crystal, Silver, Brass
British Campaign Officer's Chest in Rosewood on Custom Stand, Early 1900's
Located in Nantucket, MA
A handsome, rosewood British Campaign officer's chest on a custom made stand. It features the brass strap corners are typical of the the Campa...
Category
Early 20th Century Campaign Decorative Objects
Materials
Rosewood
Leather Box on Stand
Located in Westwood, NJ
A leather box on stand. The box is wrapped in elegant antiqued leather with a brass drop handle, when opened the box is lined with decorative paper. It si...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Asian Campaign Decorative Objects
Materials
Leather, Wood
Rare, Reeded Ebony British Campaign Box or Chest on Stand, Early 1900's
Located in Nantucket, MA
A rare British Campaign officer's chest or box on a custom made stand. The top and all four sides are reeded--not an easy feat as ebony is one of the most exotic, dense hardwoods in ...
Category
Early 20th Century Campaign Decorative Objects
Materials
Ebony
Storage Chest or Jewelry Box by Designer Rae Kasian
By Roe Kasian
Located in New York, NY
A relatively large rich dark red burgundy lacquer storage chest box with metal detail by designer Rae Kasian, circa late-20th century, 1980s, 1990s. Box is ...
Category
Late 20th Century Korean Campaign Decorative Objects
Materials
Metal
19th Century Walnut and Brass Campaign Table Top Chest
Located in Lambertville, NJ
A diminutive table top campaign chest, cigar box. The walnut box with brass trim and handles with two doors that open to reveal two drawers with compartments. Working lock with key, ...
Category
19th Century English Antique Campaign Decorative Objects
Materials
Brass
English Mid 19th Century Brass Bound Mahogany Gun Box on Custom Made Stand
Located in Wells, ME
English mid 19th century brass bound mahogany gun box, now on custom made stand. This mahogany gun box has an inlaid brass central plate (not engraved) of ...
Category
Mid-19th Century English Antique Campaign Decorative Objects
Materials
Brass
Indian Bronze Elephant Bell
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Elephant bell and clapper that rings with a deep rich tone and cast in bronze. Having acquired a verdigris patina and presented on a rustic wood and hide...
Category
Early 20th Century Indian Campaign Decorative Objects
Materials
Bronze
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 Decorative Objects
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 Decorative Objects
Materials
Metal, Brass
French Miniature Rosewood Campaign Clock
Located in Norwich, GB
French Miniature rosewood Campaign clock
French miniature Campaign clock in a Rosewood case standing on a raised moulded plinth and inlaid with satinwood line stringing and floral decoration. Rising glass front with top glazed viewing aperture surmounted by an ornate carrying handle.
Enamel dial with Roman numerals and original ‘blued’ steel hands signed ‘Joseph Dixon...
Category
19th Century French Antique Campaign Decorative Objects
Materials
Rosewood
Pair of Bayonet Polished Steel and Copper Candelabra
Located in Dallas, TX
A pair of polished steel and copper candelabra made from old bayonets.
Category
Early 20th Century French Campaign Decorative Objects
Table Lamps with Wood Sculpture for a Mountain Home
Located in Alessandria, Piemonte
Nice pair of lamps ( from Borneo), complete with iron hats , perfect in a mountain home -
It is not necessary to change the power supply, but also use Your lamps with 110 W -
12 V....
Category
Late 20th Century Malaysian Campaign Decorative Objects
Materials
Hardwood
19th Century Campaign Vanity Dressing or Jewelry Box with Boule Inlay
Located in Stamford, CT
19th century Campaign vanity dressing box with boule inlay.
Lia.
Category
1890s Antique Campaign Decorative Objects
Materials
Brass
English Zebra Wood Military Campaign Writing Desk, Circa 1820
Located in Hollywood, 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...
Category
1820s American Antique Campaign Decorative Objects
Materials
Crystal, 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 Decorative Objects
Materials
Mahogany
British Campaign Royalty Leather Traveling Trunk, Circa 1820
Located in Hollywood, 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 Decorative Objects
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 Decorative Objects
Materials
Leather
Brass Bound Wooden Planter
Located in Chillerton, Isle of Wight
A brass bound wooden planter.
This lovely old piece is made in dark pine and brass banding
A very attractive planter or a very superior waste paper...
Category
19th Century Antique Campaign Decorative Objects
Materials
Pine
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 Decorative Objects
Materials
Brass
Campaign decorative objects for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a broad range of unique Campaign decorative objects 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 decorative objects created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include decorative objects, tables, case pieces and storage cabinets and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with wood, metal and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Campaign decorative objects 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 decorative objects, popular names associated with this style include and Roe Kasian. 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 decorative objects differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $160 and tops out at $6,800 while the average work can sell for $2,030.
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