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.
$700Sale Price|30% Off
Drexel Heritage Mid Century Modern Distressed Walnut Campaign Style Arm Chair
By Drexel
Located in Dayton, OH
Drexel Heritage Campaign Style Arm Chair, circa 1970s. Features a distressed walnut finish with a curved back and 'x' frame with round brass medallion. Tag along underside. Dimens...
Suede, Walnut
$1,950 / set
Handsome Mahogany and Leather Director’s Chairs
Located in Hopewell, NJ
Handsome set of 4 director’s style leather and mahogany arm chairs. Chairs 36” H x 22” D x 25” W Seat: 16” H x 18” D Arm: 26” H
Leather, Mahogany
Faux Bamboo Directors Chair by Telescope Chair Company
Located in New York, NY
Stylish folding directors chair, by Telescope Furniture. This example has a turned wood faux bamboo frame, and stenciled bamboo motif canvass backrest sling...
Upholstery, Wood
Pair of Leather Slung and Mixed Metal Campaign Chairs Ca. 1960s
Located in Peabody, MA
Pair of saddle leather campaign chairs with brushed steel frames and bronze finials in the French style, ca. 1960s.
Bronze, Steel
Faux Bamboo Armchair by Schoonbeck
By Henredon, Schoonbeck of Grand Rapids
Located in New York, NY
Chic and sophisticated faux bamboo armchair made by noted furniture manufacturer The Schoonbeck Company, later known as Schonbeck Henredon. The chair has a solid wood frame, with uph...
Upholstery, Cane, Wood
British Campaign Mahogany “Knock-Down" Antique Armchair Johnstone & Jeanes
Located in Shippensburg, PA
A RARE VICTORIAN CAMPAIGN MAHOGANY AND LEATHER METAMORPHIC ARMCHAIR England, circa 1840-60; seat stamped "JOHNSTONE & JEANES / 67 NEW BOND ST / LONDON / 6572" Item # C103901 An extraordinary metamorphic armchair by the firm of Johnstone & Jeanes of London, this quality Campaign seating piece would almost certainly have been accompanied by a carrying case to ensure its safe transit, as most of these break-down chairs were designed to be brought out when needed and safely stored thereafter. By depressing small tabs...
Brass
Campaign Style Pair Of Baker Mahogany Caned Back Armchairs
Located in Bridgeport, CT
A distinguished pair of Baker armchairs featuring refined and colorful floral upholstered seat cushions on well carved and finished mahogany frames with double wall caned seat backs....
Fabric, Cane, Mahogany
Brass Bound Campaign/Deck Chair
Located in Greenwich, CT
Remarkable 19th century brass fitted exotic hardwood folding deck/campaign chair, possibly Chinese export, having scalloped crest with fitted brass plate, the upholstered back with s...
Brass
Pair of Bespoke Charlotte Horstmann Rosewood and Brass Campaign Chairs, C. 1950s
By Charlotte Horstmann
Located in Peabody, MA
A bespoke pair of campaign chairs in rosewood and brass by the renowned Hong Kong antiques dealer Charlotte Horstmann, circa 1950s.
Brass
Exceptional Pair of Campaign Style Folding Chairs
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Handsome pair of Mid-Century mahogany folding chairs. The seats are soft, brown leather sling style with the backs being adjustable to four posi...
Leather
Early 20th Century Armchairs in Walnut with original Yellow Velvet upholstery
Located in Vigonza, Padua
Pair armchairs in massive turned and carved walnut. Yellow velvet capitonnè in good condition still usable. Sanitized and wax polished. Measures cm: H 85 x W 74 x D 80.
Velvet, Walnut
$2,169 / item
Pair of Old Walnut Veneered Wing Chairs
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Pair of old walnut veneered wing chairs lack of veneer, old restorations. price is for one two are available
Walnut
Armchair Safari Teak and Black Suede from Northern Europe, 1950's
By Kaare Klint
Located in New York, NY
Teak and black suede Safari chair with contrast piping and beautiful details, Northern Europe 1950's. This chair in the style of Kaare Klint "Safari...
Suede, Teak
George III Mahogany Lattice Back Armchair
Located in Huntington, NY
George III Mahogany Lattice back armchair. Seat with new top fabric. The rectangular lattice back above an upholstered tight seat with mahogany arms on sq...
Mahogany, Oak
Cognac Leather Director's Chair
Located in Milan, IT
Dark hues of vegetable-tanned leather and a beechwood frame finished with an ash wood varnish. Hand-sewn and assembled in Rome by Dario Alfonsi, this iconic collapsible chair...
Leather, Beech
Black Leather Director's Chair
Located in Milan, IT
Natural hues of vegetable-tanned black leather and a beechwood frame finished with an ashwood varnish. Hand-sewn and assembled in Rome by Dario Alfonsi, this high version of the iconic collapsible...
Leather, Beech
$5,800 / set
H 28.35 in W 26.78 in D 25.99 in
Arne Norell, Pair of "Sirocco" Safari Chairs in Ash & Green Leather, 1960s
Located in Odense, DK
Presenting a beautiful pair of “Sirocco” armchairs designed by Arne Norell and produced by Arne Norell AB in Aneby, Sweden, during the 1960s. Crafted with stained ash wood frames and...
Leather, Ash
Pair of Two Armchairs, 1960s
Located in Praha, CZ
- Made of oak, original upholstery - Made in Czechoslovakia - Suitable for renovation upholstery - Good, original condition.
Fabric, Oak
A pair of Mid-Century Modern Drexel “dateline” Arm Chairs
By Drexel
Located in Charleston, SC
Set of 2 genuine 1950s Drexel Dateline dining chairs feature solid mahogany wood with fabric upholstery. They were produced for a short amount of tim...
Upholstery, Mahogany
$6,400 / set
H 31.5 in W 22.84 in D 22.84 in
Kaare Klint, a Pair of Safari Chairs in Ash & Leather, Rud. Rasmussen, 1960s
By Kaare Klint
Located in Odense, DK
A gorgeous pair of vintage Safari chairs in a lovely patinated cognac leather and solid ash. Designed in 1933 by Kaare Klint and manufactured by Rud. Rasmussen, Copenhagen, Denmark. ...
Leather, Wood, Ash
$3,438
H 37.8 in W 25.6 in D 26.78 in
Popular Restored Chesterfield Vintage Brown Leather Directors Captains Chair
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
We are delighted to offer for sale this lovely restored vintage Chesterfield fully buttoned aged brown leather captains chair This piece was fully restored around a year ago, it ha...
Leather, Wood
1960s Pair of Italian Armchairs
Located in Praha, CZ
- good original condition - cleaning.
Fabric, Wood
Pair of Mid-Century Modern Open Arm Walnut Lounge Chairs
Located in Wilmington, DE
Pair of Mid-Century Modern walnut open arm lounge chairs Offered is a beautifully pair of original lounge chairs by Cintique. They are all original and feature the original green ...
Walnut
$5,800 / set
H 37 in W 26 in D 21 in
Pair Faux Bamboo New Virgin Wool Upholstery Lounge Arm Fire Side Chairs MINT!
By Baker Furniture Company, Drexel
Located in Rockaway, NJ
Pair of Decorative Faux Bamboo New Virgin Wool Upholstery Lounge Arm Fire Side Chairs MINT!
Upholstery, Bamboo
$4,000Sale Price|20% Off
H 34.65 in W 23.23 in D 22.84 in
Art Deco Armchair, Mahogany & Leather, France, 1940
By Art Decor
Located in Ciudad Autónoma Buenos Aires, C
Art Deco armchair made of mahogany wood and leather upholstery. France, circa 1940.
Leather
Campaign Armchair in Green Ticking
Located in Greenwich, CT
A campaign armchair with raking slatted back and sides having cushions and armrests newly upholstered in tufted green ticking over stud edged linings, and featuring heavy bevelled br...
Mahogany
Sold
H 40.95 in W 28.75 in D 36.23 in
HERBERT MACNAIR ATTRIBUTED ANTIQUE HARDWOOD & BRASS FOLDING CAMPAIGN ARMCHAiR
By Herbert MacNair
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
Royal House Antiques Royal House Antiques is delighted to offer for sale this absolutely stunning, antique Herbert Macnair attributed Brass & Mahogany folding, reclining Campaign ar...
Brass
Pair of McGuire Campaign Style Directors Chairs
By McGuire
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Handsome pair of mid-century modern campaign or safari style directors chairs designed by Lyda Levi for McGuire. The chairs feature thick oak pole construction lashed together on the...
Brass
Sold
H 35.25 in W 22.38 in D 21.88 in
Early Authentic Antique British Roorkhee Campaign “Safari” Arm Chair
Located in Shippensburg, PA
AUTHENTIC BRITISH ROORKHEE CAMPAIGN "SAFARI" ARM CHAIR England, ca. early 20th century 35 1/4" H x 21 7/8" D x 22 3/8" W; 15 1/8" H to seat A rare early example of the Roorkhee Ca...
Leather, Canvas, Wood
Authentic British Antique Roorkhee “Safari” Campaign Chair
Located in Shippensburg, PA
AUTHENTIC BRITISH ROORKHEE CAMPAIGN CHAIR Marked "M & S 47", in early canvas covering with leather strap arms and fore-aft belting England, circa late 19th to early 20th century 35...
Leather, Canvas, Wood
Set of 4 Campaign Style Director's Armchairs
Located in Petworth,West Sussex, GB
A set of four colonial campaign X-form base director's armchairs dating from the turn of the century. Featuring a campaign or safari style wooden frame garnished with brass accents, ...
Brass
Pair of Italian Savonarola Chairs with Bronze Mace Finials
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Decadent pair of Italian Savonarola campaign style armchairs featuring large whimsical patinated bronze mace finials. The iron frames have thick faux bamboo arms measuring 26 inches ...
Bronze, Iron
Pair of McGuire Campaign Style Oak Directors Chairs
By McGuire
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Rare pair of campaign style folding directors chairs made by McGuire. The chairs feature an oak frame instead of the more common rattan pole construction McGuire is known for. The oa...
Brass
Sold
H 31 in W 23 in D 17 in
Pair of Mid-Century Savonarola Campaign Chairs with Leather Seats & Backs
Located in Buffalo, NY
Pair of 20th century Italian iron ,bronze and leather Savonarola chairs,, Retain original tooled leather seats and backs,, minor tear to one chair (see photo). also a few missing gro...
Brass, Wrought Iron
Sold
H 34.5 in W 26 in D 21.5 in
Antique Carved Mahogany Savonarola Folding X Figural Dragon Throne Arm Chair Sea
Located in Dayton, OH
Antique Savonarola mahogany Campaign arm chair. Features a serpentine X frame with dragon / lion head arms featuring a figural female bust by the sh...
Mahogany
Hammered Metal and Leather Campaign Style Armchair
Located in Lake Worth, FL
For FULL item description click on CONTINUE READING at the bottom of this page. Offering One Of Our Recent Palm Beach Estate Fine Furniture Acquisitions Of A Vintage Italian Ham...
Metal
Vintage Folding Directors Chairs 2 Available
Located in New York, NY
2 canvas and wood folding director chairs, each with canvas sling seat and back rests. Both chairs are in very good, original condition, clean ...
Canvas, Wood