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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
Period: 1960s
Burl Wood Bombe Chest of Drawers, Italy 1960s
Located in Chicago, IL
A 1960s Italian bombe chest of drawers with a gorgeously grained burl wood veneer. This piece has three drawers with curved metal leaf m...
Category

1960s Italian Vintage Campaign Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Metal

Sarreid Mirror Polished Stainless & Brass Two-Drawer Low Chest
Located in Hanover, MA
Vintage 1960s mirror polished stainless steel clad Campaign chest of two drawers with solid brass pulls by Sarreid of Spain. Finished on the back...
Category

1960s Spanish Vintage Campaign Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Brass, Stainless Steel

Sarreid Two-Drawer Low Chest in Mirror Polished Stainless and Brass
Located in Hanover, MA
Sarreid of Spain geometric two-drawer footed low chest clad in mirror polished stainless steel and trimmed in brass with solid brass greek key style pulls and side handles. Vintage 1...
Category

1960s Spanish Vintage Campaign Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Brass, Stainless Steel

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

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Pair of Baker Fruitwood Campaign Style Chests
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Impressive pair of chests or commodes crafted in fruitwood in a sleek modern form with hints of tradition having brass campaign style hardware and classic turned feet. Signed Baker i...
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20th Century American Campaign Commodes and Chests of Drawers

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Pair of Paul McCobb 1503 Planner Group Maple & Black Two Drawer Chests
Located in Bainbridge, NY
Pair of Paul McCobb Planner Group by Winchendon maple nightstands, cabinets, chests, end tables, 1950's. Featuring Model 1503 ...
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1950s American Vintage Campaign Commodes and Chests of Drawers

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Italian Vintage Oak and Birch Wood Office Tallboy Chest of Drawers, 1960s
Located in Roma, IT
Italian vintage office chest of drawers, made between the 50s and 60s in solid birch and oak. Recently subjected to a complete restoration, it has 7 drawers that slide easily in the...
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Mid-20th Century Italian Campaign Commodes and Chests of Drawers

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Oak

Exceptional Vintage Modern Walnut Ten-Drawer Chest by Baker
Located in Atlanta, GA
An absolutely stunning modern ten-drawer chest by Baker, circa 1980. Evidently from a limited production series, as research can find no examples like it. Stout, exquisitely crafted ...
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1980s American Vintage Campaign Commodes and Chests of Drawers

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Brass

Pair of 2-Drawer Gold Trim Mirrored Nightstands
Located in New York, NY
Pair of custom 2-drawer gold trim mirrored nightstands. Customization is available in different sizes, finishes and hardware.
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21st Century and Contemporary American Campaign Commodes and Chests of Drawers

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Gold

Baker Furniture French Regency Louis XVI Walnut Chest of Drawers, Refinished
Located in South Bend, IN
A gorgeous French Regency Louis XVI style dresser or chest of drawers By Baker Furniture, "Milling Road" Collection USA, circa 1960s Carved walnut, with original brass hardw...
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1960s American Vintage Campaign Commodes and Chests of Drawers

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English Five-Drawer Chest with Slide
Located in Woodbury, CT
Made by our craftsmen in England, this is a modern interpretation of an antique Classic. It is a Georgian style mahogany chest with a pull-out brush slide over five cockbeaded drawer...
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21st Century and Contemporary British Campaign Commodes and Chests of Drawers

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Mahogany

English Five-Drawer Chest with Slide
English Five-Drawer Chest with Slide
H 33.5 in W 30 in D 15 in
Vintage Sarreid Brass Cocktail Table Chest of Drawers, circa 1970s
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Two drawer mid-century glamorous cocktail table /chest of drawers by Sarreid. Circa 1970s. Cocktail table/chest of drawers is clad in brass with nailhead trim. Dovetailed drawers. This glam piece pairs well with mid-century, hollywood regency, post modern, danish modern, and boho chic. It works well with all colors and all eras. 1960s, 1970s and 1980s. We currently have this paired with a Vista of...
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1960s Spanish Vintage Campaign Commodes and Chests of Drawers

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Brass

Sarreid Hollywood Regency Campaign Brass Clad Compact Chest of 3 Drawers Stand
Located in Buffalo, NY
Sarreid Hollywood Regency Campaign Brass Clad Compact Chest of 3 Drawers Stand,,, Black lacquer asian modern style base,, 3 dovetail drawers,,
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1970s Spanish Vintage Campaign Commodes and Chests of Drawers

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Brass

Late 19th Century Pair Swedish Painted Four Drawer Chests
Located in Troy, MI
Pair of Swedish four drawer chests with antique white painted finish. Details include top drawers with reeded fronts, dental trim around top edge, tapered and angled front...
Category

Late 19th Century Swedish Antique Campaign Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Wood

Pair of Mid-Century Blond Four Drawer Chests with Round Brass Hardware
Located in St. Louis, MO
Nice pair of Mid-Century Modern bleached mahogany four drawer bachelors chests with round brass disc hardware on concave base. These would also make great nightstands or bedside ches...
Category

1950s American Vintage Campaign Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Brass

Baker Furniture Chippendale Carved Mahogany Chest of Drawers, Newly Refinished
Located in South Bend, IN
An exceptional Georgian or Chippendale style serpentine front dresser or chest of drawers By Baker Furniture, "Historic Charleston Collecti...
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Late 20th Century American Campaign Commodes and Chests of Drawers

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Previously Available Items
Antique Yew Wood Military Campaign Chest of Drawers
Located in London, GB
A superb antique yew wood military campaign chest of drawers. This was made by Kennedy furniture and was retailed in Harrods, it dates from around the 1960-70’s. It is of exceptiona...
Category

1960s British Vintage Campaign Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Oak, Yew

Pair of Antique Yew Wood Military Campaign Bedside Chests
Located in London, GB
A superb pair of antique yew wood military campaign bedside chests of drawers. They were made by Kennedy furniture and were ...
Category

1960s British Vintage Campaign Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Brass

Antique Yew Wood Military Campaign Chest of Drawers
Located in London, GB
A superb antique yew wood military campaign chest of drawers. This was made by Kennedy furniture and was retailed in Harrods, it dates from around the 1960-70’s. It is of exceptiona...
Category

1960s British Vintage Campaign Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Brass

Kent Coffey Lotus Chinoiserie Campaign Cherry Tallboy Dresser Chest of Drawers
Located in Dayton, OH
A beautiful highboy or chest of drawer from the "The Lotus" collection by Kent Coffey. Made from cherry with brass accents. Features 5 dovetailed drawers. Finished in Oriental Cherry...
Category

1960s Vintage Campaign Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Cherry

Handsome Mahogany Campaign Style 3 Drawer Chest or Night Stand
Located in Hopewell, NJ
Handsome small English mahogany campaign style chest having the classic recessed brass handles and 3 drawers. Would make a perfect night stand!.
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1960s English Vintage Campaign Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Brass

Beautiful Pair of Italian Campaign Style Burl Veneer Chest of Drawers
Located in Hopewell, NJ
Gorgeous pair of Italian campaign style chests or night stands having amazing oyster burl veneer creating a stunning pattern and design. Original recessed brass hardware, stepped ba...
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1960s Italian Vintage Campaign Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Burl

Pair Campaign-Style Chests, New Blue Lacquer
Located in Norwalk, CT
Handsome pair of chests, newly lacquered in satin finish BM Old Navy. Solid brass hardware, hand polished. Wood drawers. Great medium size at: 32" W x 17.75" ...
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1960s Vintage Campaign Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Wood

Pair of 1960s Brass Chests by Sarreid of Spain
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Pair of brass chests by Sarreid, Spain, 1960s. The pair are both on custom oak bases in a satin black finish. They would make perfect beside chests...
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1960s Spanish Vintage Campaign Commodes and Chests of Drawers

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Brass

W. & J. Sloane Campaign Style Italian Burl Olive Wood Semanier or Chest
Located in Kennesaw, GA
This is a handsome piece! It is an Italian burl wood semanier by W. & J. Sloane out of New York. It has Regency campaign styling. The chest is marked.
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1960s Italian Vintage Campaign Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Brass

Vintage Modern Campaign-Style Lingerie Chest by Henredon
Located in Brooklyn, NY
This beautiful chest of drawers features brass accents and pulls, and is a wonderful representation of campaign-style design. Unique in its single file lingerie style arrangement, th...
Category

1960s Vintage Campaign Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Wood

Pair of Campaign Chest of Drawers
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Elegant pair of vintage mid-century three-drawer dressers has been professionally restored and painted in rich black color with a lacquered finish. These fabulous dressers come with brass accents on all corners and have their original brass handles that have been newly polished. This remarkable pair of campaign dressers...
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1960s American Vintage Campaign Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Brass

Pair of Campaign Chest of Drawers
Pair of Campaign Chest of Drawers
H 30.25 in W 30 in D 19 in
Twelve Drawer Heritage Henredon Campaign Style Dresser, Circa 1960s
Located in Peabody, MA
A long campaign style chest with twelve drawers in walnut with brass accents by Heritage Henredon, ca. 1960s.
Category

1960s North American Vintage Campaign Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Oak, Walnut

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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