Campaign Collectibles and Curiosities
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
1947 Hand Painted Premier British Royal Airforce Drum with Royal Coat of Arms
Located in Morristown, NJ
1947 England, a hand painted Premier Percussion British Royal Air Force drum. The drum has been painted with a black main body, a richly colored royal coat of arms and the motto of t...
Category
1940s English Vintage Campaign Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Animal Skin, Paint, Rope, Leather
Early 20th Century Brass Mounted Mahogany Benson & Hedges Campaign Style Humidor
By Benson x Hedges, London
Located in Chapel Hill, NC
Early 20th century Benson and Hedges mahogany humidor with brass detail in the style of 19th century English campaign furniture. The large mahogany box...
Category
Early 20th Century English Campaign Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Brass, Zinc
BRITISH CAMPAIGN & GALLANTRY MEDALS DiSPLAY PICTURE VERY DECORATIVE EXAMPLE
Located in GB
Royal House Antiques
Royal House Antiques is delighted to offer for sale this very decorative display case housing multiple medals for Britich Campaign & Gallantry
Please note the...
Category
20th Century English Campaign Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Brass
Mid 20th Century British Royal Navy Brass Bound Oak Grog Barrel w/Brass Letters
Located in Chapel Hill, NC
British Naval oak grog barrel or tub, used aboard British ships. The tapered barrel of staved oak with three brass bands. The ‘Royal Toast’, in large brass...
Category
Mid-20th Century English Campaign Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Brass
Vintage Military Campaign Used Ammunition Box from Ww2 Stunning Period Patina
Located in GB
We are delighted to offer for sale this period Military Campaign used, WW2 Ammo box with all the original patina
I have two of these for sale, the second piece is listed under my ...
Category
20th Century European Campaign Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Metal
African Campaign Military Metal Chest Luggage J Willis Fleming Esq Deputy Lieut
Located in GB
We are delighted to offer for sale this very nice and collectable antique field used Jones Brothers & Co of Wolverhampton LTD Steel boots case with an original engraved plaque for J ...
Category
1880s English Antique Campaign Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Steel
Vintage Gulf War Military Campaign Used Ammunition Bomb Box Period Patiia
Located in GB
We are delighted to offer for sale this period Military Campaign used, Gulf War Bomb Ammo box with all the original patina.
I have two of these for sale, the second piece is liste...
Category
20th Century European Campaign Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Metal
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 Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Brass
Marching Military Soldiers Mechanical Toy
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Antique mechanical toy ambitiously crafted with a metal mechanism moved by a crank in the back, sending civil war union soldiers, carved in pine...
Category
Early 20th Century American Campaign Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Metal
Vintage Monumental WWII American Wood Light Aircraft Carrier Made by Sailors
Located in GB
We are delighted to offer for sale this huge, Vintage WWII American wooden deck light Aircraft carrier, reputedly made by Sailors moored in the Solent...
Category
20th Century English Campaign Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Wood
WW2 1939-1945 8th Battalion the Durham Hd Hq Wing Military Campaign Chest Trunk
Located in GB
We are delighted to this stunning small Military Campaign Chest with the original label that states 8th Battalion The Durham HD GR wing
The label has the privates name on which is...
Category
1930s English Vintage Campaign Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Wood
Vintage World Map Mirror Based on the Original by Johnson 1882 Military Campaign
Located in GB
We are delighted to offer for sale this lovely Antique style pictorial plan map of the globe based on the original by Johnson in 1882
This is a very interesting and decorative pie...
Category
20th Century English Campaign Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Mirror
World Map Silver Leaf Print Based on Original Willem Blaeu Wall Map 1571-1638
Located in GB
We are delighted to offer for sale this lovely Antique style pictorial plan map of the globe based on the original Willem Blaeu 1571-1638 engraved in silver leaf foil
This is a v...
Category
20th Century English Campaign Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Silver Leaf
English Campaign Trunk of Brass-Bound Leather and Camphor Wood, circa 1820
Located in Austin, TX
A handsome small-sized British officer's military Campaign camphor trunk or chest of brass-bound and studded leather over camphor wood, circa 1820.
Manufactured by the British East India...
Category
Early 19th Century English Antique Campaign Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Brass, Metal
Rare African Campaign Military Metal Chest Luggage the Owomeji Jones Brothers
Located in GB
We are delighted to offer for sale this very nice and collectable antique field used Jones Brothers & Co of Wolverhampton LTD Steel Unform case “The Owom...
Category
19th Century English Antique Campaign Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Steel
English Campaign Trunk of Brass-Bound Leather and Camphor Wood, circa 1820
Located in Austin, TX
A handsome medium-sized British officer's military Campaign camphor trunk or chest of brass-bound and studded leather over camphor wood, circa 1820.
Manufactured by the British East India...
Category
Early 19th Century English Antique Campaign Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Metal, Brass
Late 19th Century British Officer's Campaign Bed with Original Storage Chest
Located in Stamford, CT
Late 19th century British Army officer's painted pine campaign chest containing original steel & brass campaign bed. Stand is modern as is bed canva...
Category
Late 19th Century English Antique Campaign Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Steel
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 Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Brass
Symbolic Turkish Sivas Carpet
Located in New York, NY
A highly inspiring directional Turkish sivas carpet woven for the Turkish government. Inscribed is the name of the regime at the time, "OSMANI". You also see the same elements seen in the Turkish flag...
Category
Early 20th Century Turkish Campaign Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Wool
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Vintage WW2 Era Genco "Four Aces" Military Pilot Pinball Machine Back Glass
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This vintage back glass was made by Genco of the United States for their 'Four Aces" military inspired pinball arcade game. The back glass is presumably silk screened in multiple col...
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Star Wars Film-Used Props from Original 1977 Film
Located in Jersey, GB
- Three fibreglass pieces of Krayt Dragon bone that appear in the original 1977 film Star Wars
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Mid-20th Century Israeli Mezuzah
Located in New York, NY
Early Israeli Mezuzah on velvet mounting with ornate silvered body, and with gilded top and base. Decorated with colored glass and with gilded bell hangin...
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19th Century Gilt and Painted Cast Iron English Victorian Royal Coat of Arms
Located in Stamford, CT
Finely cast armorial of the Royal Coat of Arms after Queen Victoria ascended to the thrown, cold painted with gilt and silver gilding. Very fine detailing showing the gold lion and s...
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Antique Jewelry Box Art Deco Period
Located in New York, NY
A beautiful antique Art Deco period jewelry box, styled by Jacques Kreisler, circa early-20th Century, New York, New York. Box is an aubergine ...
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British 19th Century Drum Table
Located in New York, NY
This charming 19th-century English regimental drum was fitted with a glass top to serve as a table. It bears the painted arms of the Royal Dublin Fusil...
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Antique Austrian Table Cigar Cutter, 1900s with Knightly Coat of Arms Emblem
Located in Nuernberg, DE
A beautiful cigar cutter to stand on your table. It is in very good condition to its age, original state, with nice patina. It is fully functional. At the front side a large Knights ...
Category
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H 3.5 in W 2.88 in D 4.38 in
Large British Military Officer's Campaign Trunk of Brass-Bound Camphor
Located in Austin, TX
A large handsome rectangular British military officer's Campaign trunk of camphorwood featuring hand-cut brass binding and hardware, with interior compartments, and resting on bracke...
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19th Century English Antique Campaign Collectibles and Curiosities
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H 16.75 in W 37.5 in D 17.75 in
Munchener Painted Coat of Arms with Giant Schnauzer
Located in New York, NY
Vintage (20th Century) coat of arms/family crest depicting a black dog atop a red and gold shield of sheep flanked on either side by bulls above a banner reading "Munchener," which c...
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Vintage Metal Steamer Trunk with Luggage Label, Small
Located in Stockton, NJ
A vintage metal steamer trunk with various period luggage labels. Manufactured by Bassett.
Category
1940s American Vintage Campaign Collectibles and Curiosities
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Metal
Large Teak British Campaign Blanket Chest Trunk
Located in Nantucket, MA
A handsome British Campaign teak blanket chest or trunk which could also be used as a coffee table. Brass straps on corners, bun feet and iron latches an...
Category
Mid-20th Century European Campaign Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Teak
Previously Available Items
British Campaign Furniture Elegance under Canvas 1740-1914 - Brawer, 2001 Abrams
Located in Rochester, NY
British Campaign Furniture - Elegance under Canvas 1740-1914, Nicholoas A. Brawer - 2001 Harry N. Abrams Inc., Publishers. Gilt decorated hard cover brown cloth w/ dustjacket. A grou...
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Early 2000s American Campaign Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Paper
H 11.25 in W 9 in D 1 in
19th Century Military Telescope In Leather And Brass
Located in Brussels, Brussels
telescope from the English army of the 19th century engraved Military in brass and leather
telescope with 3 draws of 63cm deployed
The handle is in leather and of good quality and ...
Category
19th Century British Antique Campaign Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Leather
British Military Officer's Campaign Chest of Brass-Bound Teak
Located in Austin, TX
A fine English military officer’s Campaign Ware chest, from the 19th century, featuring a handsome teak exterior, showing two short drawers over three long drawers. The brass-bound c...
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19th Century English Antique Campaign Collectibles and Curiosities
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Metal, Brass
Davidoff Humidor Mahogany and Brass Case Rosewood Interior No 4. Campaign Style
By Davidoff 1
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Davidoff Humidor mahogany and brass case rosewood interior no 4. Campaign Style. Item features a removable tray, cigar cutter, rosewood interior, adju...
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Late 20th Century Campaign Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Brass
H 5.5 in W 14 in D 9 in
19th Century Mahogany Campaign Chair
Located in Sherborne, GB
Unusual mid-19th century campaign chair which completely disassembled into seven parts. The legs unscrew, the back can then be removed leaving the seat frame and pad in two parts. Th...
Category
Mid-19th Century English Antique Campaign Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Mahogany
Field Surgeons Post Mortem Instruments Cased Set Civil War, Mid-19th Century
Located in London, GB
Post-mortem surgical set, c.1860. Most likely used in the civil war, complete includes all original instruments.
Category
Mid-19th Century American Antique Campaign Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Steel
H 1.78 in W 9.45 in D 3.55 in
WWI Vintage Medical Dentist Outfit
Located in Chillerton, Isle of Wight
WWI vintage medical dentist outfit
A rare piece, the outer is in strong canvas on a wicker body with a wooden lid
The case is marked with a red cross and labeled "Fd. Dental Out...
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Early 20th Century Campaign Collectibles and Curiosities
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Canvas
19th Century English Mahogany Campaign Travel Lap Desk
Located in Bridgeport, CT
19th century English campaign travel lap desk. Rectangular form constructed out of mahogany with corner and banded brass accenting. Central inlaid b...
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19th Century English Antique Campaign Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Brass
British Military Officer's Brass-Bound Campaign Chest of Mahogany
Located in Austin, TX
A fine English military officer’s Campaign Ware chest, featuring a handsome mahogany exterior, showing two short drawers over three long drawers.
The brass-bound chest, in two parts...
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19th Century English Antique Campaign Collectibles and Curiosities
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World Map Silver Leaf Print Based on the Original Johnson 1882 Military Campaign
Located in GB
We are delighted to offer for sale this lovely antique style pictorial plan map of the globe based on the original by Johnson in 1882 engraved in silver leaf foil
I have a few va...
Category
20th Century English Campaign Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Silver Leaf
H 21.66 in W 25.2 in D 0.79 in
Georgian Campaign Settee
Located in Greenwich, CT
Rare George III period mahogany Campaign settle, the tightly upholstered seat flanked by shaped arms and supported by turned and fluted front legs and sweeping back legs, all on bras...
Category
Early 19th Century English Antique Campaign Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Wrought Iron
Brass & Bamboo Telescope & Stand, Working
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Brass and bamboo telescope and stand, the brass mounted shingled telescope fitted raised on adjustable tripod base. Two pieces
As shown ass...
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Late 20th Century Campaign Collectibles and Curiosities
Materials
Brass
Campaign collectibles and curiosities for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a broad range of unique Campaign collectibles and curiosities 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 collectibles and curiosities created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include more furniture and collectibles, case pieces and storage cabinets, wall decorations and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with metal, wood and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Campaign collectibles and curiosities made in a specific country, there are Europe, England, and United Kingdom pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original collectibles and curiosities, popular names associated with this style include Jones Brothers & Co., Benson & Hedges, and Harry N. Abrams. 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 collectibles and curiosities differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $125 and tops out at $11,887 while the average work can sell for $1,278.
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