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.
French Antique Confit Yellow Redware Faience Yellowware Art Pottery Pot France
Located in Lège Cap Ferret, FR
A rustic French confit pot from the late nineteenth / early twentieth-century. Originally used for storing preserves. This would make a lovely addition to a collection of antique p...
Pottery
French Antique Confit Pot Yellow Redware Faience Yellowware Art Pottery France
Located in Lège Cap Ferret, FR
A rustic French confit pot from the late nineteenth / early twentieth-century. Originally used for storing preserves. This would make a lovely addition to a collection of antique p...
Pottery
Large Late 19th Century English Blue Willow Deep Platter
By Allertons
Located in Port Jervis, NY
Fabulous deep and large blue willow platter from England. Late 19th century in excellent condition with no damage, chips or cracks. Excellent color retention. The best serving platte...
Porcelain, Ironstone
$100Sale Price|20% Off
Vintage Red Lacquered Campaign Style Coasters- Set of 8
Located in Cordova, SC
Lovely set of campaign style coasters that are painted in a gloss red lacquer. The holder has brass accents on the corners of the face reminiscent of campaign style furniture. There ...
Wood, Cork, Lacquer
English Campaign Style Mahogany & Brass Oval 3 Tier Rolling Bar Cart Side Table
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Please message us with your zip code to request a more reasonable domestic U.S. shipping quote. Antique English Campaign Style Mahogany & Brass Oval 3 Tier Rolling Bar Cart Side Tab...
Brass
Regency Mahogany and Brass Campaign Double Wine Cooler
Located in Essex, MA
Purchased at Sothebys in New York twenty years ago for 10,000 this unusual piece with two bottle compartments with removable cover. Brass strapped mahogany case with rounded corners....
Brass
$4,250 / set
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...
Crystal, Silver, Brass
French Antique Confit Pot Yellow Redware Faience Yellowware Art Pottery France
Located in Lège Cap Ferret, FR
A rustic French confit pot from the late nineteenth / early twentieth-century. Originally used for storing preserves. This would make a lovely addition to a collection of antique p...
Pottery
$3,150Sale Price|30% Off
19th Century Anglo-Indian Brass Mount Campaign Style Cellarette on Stand
Located in Germantown, MD
Beautiful hardwoods and cast brass fittings. Holds 12 bottles. Top is removable from base. Recently refinished. Measures 18" in width, 14" in depth, stands 31" tall. Bottle slots are...
Brass
$257Sale Price|20% Off
A Pair of Collapsable Travelling Treen Egg Cups What fun, an “egg”
Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight
A Pair of Collapsable Travelling Treen Egg Cups What fun, an “egg” and when broken apart the turned bases are inside. Beautifully and skilfully turned from sycamore in the 19th cent...
Sycamore
English Mahogany Wine Cooler, circa 1890
Located in Evergreen, CO
The perfect way to display and serve the wine of the day or night, this open wine cooler is both convenient and stylish. Made in England from imported mahogany during the late-19th c...
Mahogany
Brass Bar Cart with Aged Mirror and Leather
By Loyzaga
Located in Mexico, Ciudad de México
The Vendôme Bar Cart is perfect to style any room. That's why it remains one of our bestselling pieces. It is made by our craftsmen in brass, with age mirror and leather making it ...
Brass
$265Sale Price|20% Off
H 9.06 in W 8.67 in D 7.49 in
French, Terracotta Confit Pot Yellow Glaze, Late 19th Century
Located in Labrit, Landes
French terracotta confit pot. Traditional large earthenware pottery confit pot from South West France with yellow glaze. This vessel was used from the 19th to the mid-20th century to...
Terracotta
Italian Large Pines Decorated Terracotta Vase, 1940s
Located in Milan, IT
Italian large pines decorated terracotta vase, 1940s.
Terracotta
$800 / set
H 9 in W 7.25 in D 9.5 in
Memphasis Sunburst Pattern Post Modern Lacquer Ice Bucket with Coaster Set
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A Georges Briard Memphasis plastic-lacquer ice bucket in the Sunburst pattern, along with the corresponding coaster set, inspired by the Memphis Art Movement, produced in Japan, 1985...
Plastic
Vintage mid century modern Italian pink coasters and matching set
Located in Houston, TX
Italian marble coasters, in good condition. The coasters measure approximately 3" in diameter. The base is approximately 3.75" wide x almost 2" thick x slightly over 1.5" high
Marble
$600Sale Price / set|59% Off
H 14.57 in Dm 13.78 in
Pair of 19th Century French Terracotta Confit Pots
Located in LA CIOTAT, FR
A very attractive pair of provencial French Confit Pots, each with two side handles, and glazed internally. Light in colour, their exterior surfaces are beautifully aged, and full of...
Terracotta
French Faience Cache Pot, 19th Century
Located in Doylestown, PA
A white glazed French Faience “Cache Pot” with handles, circa 1870.
Faience
19th Century "Blue Willow" Platter
Located in High Point, NC
19th century English platter in the highly collectible "Blue Willow" pattern. The platter is in vibrant hues of blue and the transfer is ...
Ceramic
Set of Three English Pewter Plates or Platters, 19th Century
Located in Savannah, GA
Set of three English Pewter plates or platters, 19th century. Different sizes. Small 9.75" diameter Medium 10.5" diameter Large 11.25" diameter
Pewter
$2,013
H 5.91 in W 7.49 in D 5.12 in
Italy Late 18th Century Doccia Richard Ginori Porcelain Tea Pot Floral Drawings
Located in Brescia, IT
Doccia, Richard Ginori 1750 porcelain tea pot with multi-color floral drawings, Italy. This porcelain tea pot with multicolors floral drawing is an elegant piece, useful to enrich ...
Porcelain
Terracotta "Indian Pot" by Bauer Pottery
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Terracotta "Indian Pot" by Bauer Pottery, c. 1920's, USA H 11" x D 19" FDV-J016 *Wear consistent with age and use. One drainage hole.
Terracotta
Sold
H 8.67 in Dm 10.63 in
Soup Tureen Atelier Yvon Roy Mongolfier Durtal Blue Bronze Ceramic Bird, F149
By Yvon Roy
Located in Ternay, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
Ceramic tureen from the Yvon Roy Montgolfier workshop in Durtal. Glazed ceramic in blue, bronze and green colours, decorated with a beautiful bird design and geometrical motifs of tr...
Ceramic
Sold
H 9.85 in W 9.85 in D 9.85 in
French Antique Confit Yellow Redware Faience Yellowware Art Pottery Pot France
Located in Lège Cap Ferret, FR
A rustic French confit pot from the late nineteenth / early twentieth-century. Originally used for storing preserves. This would make a lovely addition to a collection of antique p...
Pottery
Sold
H 7.49 in W 6.7 in D 9.06 in
XL French Antique Confit Green Redware Faience Yellowware Art Pottery Pot France
Located in Lège Cap Ferret, FR
A rustic French confit pot from the late nineteenth / early twentieth-century. Originally used for storing preserves. This would make a lovely addition to a collection of antique p...
Pottery
Sold
H 7.48 in W 7.87 in D 7.87 in
French Antique Confit Green Redware Faience Yellowware Art Pottery Pot France
Located in Lège Cap Ferret, FR
A rustic French confit pot from the late nineteenth / early twentieth-century. Originally used for storing preserves. This would make a lovely addition to a collection of antique p...
Pottery
Sold
H 9.05 in W 9.84 in D 9.84 in
XL French Antique Confit Pot Green Redware Faience Yellowware Art Pottery France
Located in Lège Cap Ferret, FR
A rustic French confit pot from the late nineteenth / early twentieth-century. Originally used for storing preserves. This would make a lovely addition to a collection of antique p...
Pottery
Sold
H 8.66 in W 9.05 in D 9.05 in
XL French Antique Confit Green Redware Faience Yellowware Art Pottery Pot France
Located in Lège Cap Ferret, FR
A rustic French confit pot from the late nineteenth / early twentieth-century. Originally used for storing preserves. This would make a lovely addition to a collection of antique p...
Pottery
Sold
H 12.2 in W 11.02 in D 9.48 in
XL French Antique Confit Redware Faience Yellowware Art Pottery Pot
Located in Lège Cap Ferret, FR
A rustic French confit pot from the late nineteenth / early twentieth-century. Originally used for storing preserves. This would make a lovely addition to a collection of antiq...
Pottery
Sold
H 12.2 in W 11.02 in D 9.48 in
XL French Antique Confit Redware Faience Yellowware Art Pottery Pot
Located in Lège Cap Ferret, FR
A rustic French confit pot from the late nineteenth / early twentieth-century. Originally used for storing preserves. This would make a lovely addition to a collection of antiq...
Pottery
Sold
H 13.78 in W 11.81 in D 8.26 in
XXL French Antique Confit Redware Faience Yellowware Art Pottery Pot
Located in Lège Cap Ferret, FR
A rustic French confit pot from the late nineteenth / early twentieth-century. Originally used for storing preserves. This would make a lovely addition to a collection of antiq...
Pottery
Sold
H 13.39 in W 12.6 in D 11.02 in
XXL French Antique Confit Redware Faience Yellowware Art Pottery Pot
Located in Lège Cap Ferret, FR
A rustic French confit pot from the late nineteenth / early twentieth-century. Originally used for storing preserves. This would make a lovely addition to a collection of antiq...
Pottery
XL French Antique Confit Pot Redware Faience Yellowware Art Pottery
Located in Lège Cap Ferret, FR
A rustic French confit pot from the late nineteenth / early twentieth-century. Originally used for storing preserves. This would make a lovely addition to a collection of antiq...
Pottery
XS French Antique Confit Redware Faience Yellowware Art Pottery Pot
Located in Lège Cap Ferret, FR
A rustic French confit pot from the late nineteenth / early twentieth-century. Originally used for storing preserves. This would make a lovely addition to a collection of antiq...
Pottery