Campaign Commodes and Chests of Drawers
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
Walnut Campaign Chest of Drawers, Colonial Commode
Located in Potters Bar, GB
- Cracking campaign chest of drawers in walnut.
- Classic campaign look with the brass handles and corner protectors.
- Campaign furniture was designed to be moved around easily.
- Five drawers so ample storage on this gorgeous chest...
Category
1990s Campaign Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Walnut
19th Century Oak Military Chest with Writing Interior
Located in Dublin 8, IE
19th Century large oak military chest. The top lifting to reveal four shelves and centred by a mirror over two top short drawers and four long drawers with brass pulls. The centre dr...
Category
Late 19th Century Irish Antique Campaign Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Brass
Military Campaign Style Vintage Burr Walnut Side Table Sized Chest of Drawers
Located in GB
We are delighted to offer for sale this lovely vintage Burr Walnut Military Campaign style, side table sized chest of drawers.
A v...
Category
20th Century English Campaign Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Brass
Custom Mahogany Campaign Style Dresser with Brass Hardware, Circa, 1950s
Located in Peabody, MA
English yew wood and mahogany custom made dresser of nine drawers, six with exterior pulls and three behind the right side cabinet door. The top ed...
Category
1950s North American Vintage Campaign Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Brass
English 19th Century Teak Campaign Chest with Five Drawers and Brass Hardware
Located in Atlanta, GA
An English Campaign teak wood chest from the 19th century, with brass hardware and bracket feet. Created in England during the 19th century, this teak wo...
Category
19th Century English Antique Campaign Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Brass
Stunning Burr Elm Chest of Drawers with Oversized Military Campaign Handles
Located in GB
We are delighted to offer for sale this stunning military campaign style burr elm Theodore Alexander chest of drawers
A very good looking a...
Category
20th Century English Campaign Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Brass
Campaign Style Chest of Drawers by John Stuart
By John Stuart
Located in Dorchester, MA
This large, campaign-style chest of drawers was manufactured in the 1950s by John Stuart, a company known for their high-quality pieces that referenced earlier centuries. It comprise...
Category
1950s American Vintage Campaign Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Brass
English Campaign Style Filing Cabinet
Located in Westwood, NJ
An English Campaign style and brass filing chest of drawers, with nine drawers, on bun feet. Suitable for A4 and Letter Hanging Folders.
Dimensions: 51" ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese Campaign Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Wood
Theodore Alexander Military Campaign Chest of Drawers on Stand Brown Leather
Located in GB
We are delighted to offer this extremely well made Regency style chest on stand by Theodore Alexander with slip brown leather serving tray and bronzed gallery rail
Where to begin...
Category
20th Century English Campaign Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Leather, Hardwood
Good Quality 3 Drawer Mahogany Campaign Chest, from HMS Renown
Located in Chillerton, Isle of Wight
Good Quality 3 Drawer Mahogany campaign chest, from HMS Renown
This is a delightful and interesting piece, it is made in Mahogany, a Campaign Chest with inset brass handles and 3 ...
Category
Mid-19th Century Antique Campaign Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Mahogany
Anglo-Chinese Hardwood Naval Officer’s Campaign Chest
Located in Lymington, Hampshire
An Anglo-Chinese hardwood naval officer’s campaign chest. This chest (probably padouk) is of typical rectangular form, in two brass-bound secti...
Category
1820s Chinese Antique Campaign Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Hardwood
Vintage Italian Burl Campaign Style Eight-Drawer Tall Chest with Brass Hardware
Located in Atlanta, GA
An Italian vintage burl wood Campaign style tall chest from the mid-20th century, with eight drawers and brass hardware. Born in France during the midcentury period, this elegant Cam...
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Campaign Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Brass
Sublime Victorian Pine Military Campaign Chest of Drawers Original Brass Fitting
Located in GB
We are delighted to offer for sale this lovely original circa 1880 Victorian pine military campaign chest of drawers with original fittings
A very well made and functional chest o...
Category
1880s English Antique Campaign Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Brass
Two Campaign Style Black Lacquered and Brass Tall Chest of Drawers
Located in Dallas, TX
Two matching professionally lacquered in black Campaign tower chests. Expertly crafted and well made. Each conforming case features seven equal sized dovetail joinery drawers; five d...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Campaign Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Brass
English Military Campaign Style Chest of Drawers Exotic Wood Early 20th Century
Located in Labrit, Landes
Commode or chest of drawers in the English military campaign style.
20th century
Good condition age with minor marks of use.
Category
Early 20th Century British Campaign Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Brass
Antique Victorian Pitch Pine Military Campaign Used Chest of Drawers +Name Plate
Located in GB
We are delighted to offer for sale this stunning original late Victorian Military Campaign used chest of drawers in pitch pine with wrought iron ...
Category
19th Century English Antique Campaign Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Brass
Exceptionally Rare circa 1860 Walnut Military Officers Campaign Chest of Drawers
Located in GB
We are delighted to offer for sale this exceptionally rare and very fine solid walnut Military Officers Campaign chest of drawers
If you’re in the market for the absolute finest campaign drawers ever to come to market then look no further, these are sublime. I’ve only ever seen one other chest made with this formation, I’ve bought maybe 1000 campaign chests over the many years I’ve been in the trade, the other one I saw I kept for myself which is exactly what I would be doing with this one had I not kept the other
This is all walnut, you will never see another walnut campaign chest...
Category
1860s English Antique Campaign Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Walnut
Circa 1880 Solid Oak & Brass Military Campaign Chest of Drawers Secrataire Desk
Located in GB
We are delighted to offer for sale this very fine, highly collectable solid oak with over sized brass fittings Military Campaign chest of drawers with mahogany lined & brown leather ...
Category
1880s English Antique Campaign Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Brass
Bevan Funnell Military Campaign Chest of Drawers Leather Top TV Stand
Located in GB
We are delighted to offer for sale this lovely RRP £4500 Bevan Funnell Military Campaign desk of drawers with brass fittings and leather top designed to seat a TV
A very good look...
Category
20th Century English Campaign Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Leather, Hardwood
19th Century Mahogany Campaign Chest
Located in Montreal, QC
English solid mahogany campaign chest, in two parts, all fitted with brass hardware, the top drawer fitted with a secretaire featuring a multitude of compartments.
Category
1860s English Antique Campaign Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Mahogany
Antique Tall Hardwood Military Campaign Chest of Drawers, circa 1860
Located in GB
Wimbledon-Furniture
Wimbledon-Furniture is delighted to offer for sale this lovely original circa 1860 solid mahogany Military Campaign chest of drawers
Please note the deliver...
Category
1860s English Antique Campaign Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Hardwood
Harrods Military Campaign Faux Book Chest of Drawers Brown Leather Writing Slope
By Harrods
Located in GB
We are delighted to offer for sale this lovely handmade in England Harrods London Military Campaign chest of drawers with brown leather writing slope...
Category
20th Century English Campaign Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Leather
19th Century Two-Piece Camphor Wood Campaign Chest with Folding Writing Desk
Located in Madrid, ES
This 19th century camphor wood British military Campaign two-piece chest of drawers features a hidden fold-out writing desk. The attractive "blonde" camphor wood is contrasted with d...
Category
19th Century English Antique Campaign Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Brass
Bevan Funnell Reprodux Campaign Chest of Drawers Leather Top TV Stand
Located in GB
We are delighted to offer for sale this lovely RRP £4500 Bevan Funnell Reprodux Military campaign desk of drawers with brass fittings and leather top designed to seat a TV.
A very...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary English Campaign Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Leather, Hardwood
British Campaign Rosewood Chest of Drawers, Early 1900s
Located in Nantucket, MA
British campaign chest of drawers in rosewood from the early 1900s. In classic campaign style, the chest is in two parts to allow for easier transportation complete with flush brass ...
Category
Early 20th Century Campaign Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Rosewood
Campaign Style Gold Leafed Chest of Drawers by Baker
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Campaign style gold leafed chest of drawers by Baker Furniture Company.
Category
1960s American Vintage Campaign Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Gold Leaf
Baker Milling Road Banded Front Campaign Style Tall Chest of Drawers - Dresser
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Vintage Mid Century Modern Milling Road Tall Dresser by Baker. The dresser features a very nice Hollywood Regency / campaign style design with striking, figured wood grain, 5 dovetai...
Category
20th Century American Campaign Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Brass
English 19th Century Campaign Chest with Fitted Drawer
Located in Montreal, QC
This particular campaign chest is remarkable in several ways. Unlike most such chests, it has a wonderfully complete and well- appointed secretary drawer with birds-eye maple veneer...
Category
19th Century British Antique Campaign Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Brass
Vintage Modern Campaign-Style Lingerie Chest
Located in Southampton, NJ
Beautiful chest of drawers featuring brass accents and pulls, solid wood construction finished on all sides with chamfered panels surround. A wonderful representation of campaign-sty...
Category
20th Century American Campaign Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Brass
Pair of Antique Military Campaign Style Chests
Located in London, GB
A smart and very well made pair of antique military campaign style chests. They were made in England, they date from around the 1950’s.
The quality is outstanding, one of these is a...
Category
1950s British Vintage Campaign Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Brass
Antique teak military chest
Located in Salisbury, GB
Antique teak campaign chest
This Antique teak campaign chest was made circa 1870.
The top section has the pair of drawers along the top and the deeper full width drawer below.
The bo...
Category
1870s English Antique Campaign Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Teak
British Military Officer's Campaign Chest or Dresser of Brass-Bound Mahogany
Located in Austin, TX
A handsome British military officer’s Campaign Ware chest of drawers or dresser, from the 19th century, featuring a patinated mahogany exterior over four drawers with brass escutcheo...
Category
19th Century English Antique Campaign Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Metal, Brass
19th Century Camphor Wood Campaign Chest with Desk Drawer
Located in Nantucket, MA
Antique Camphor wood campaign chest with fitted desk drawer, most likely British, Mid 19th Century, a high quality campaign piece made in two pieces from beautiful camphor wood, ligh...
Category
Mid-19th Century English Antique Campaign Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Wood
Campaign commodes and chests of drawers for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a broad range of unique Campaign commodes and chests of drawers 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 commodes and chests of drawers created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include case pieces and storage cabinets, more furniture and collectibles, tables and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with wood, metal and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Campaign commodes and chests of drawers 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 commodes and chests of drawers, popular names associated with this style include Kennedy Furniture For Harrods London, Harrods, Baker Furniture Company, and Sarreid Ltd.. 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 commodes and chests of drawers differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $883 and tops out at $22,500 while the average work can sell for $3,306.
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