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.
Vintage English Leather Top Campaign Style Low Console or Coffee Table
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Dapper mid century English campaign style console or table crafted in mahogany with a tooled leather top on a case with three drawers, campaign brass hardware and straight legs with ...
Brass
Lovely Harrods London R.E.H Kennedy Military Campaign Console Table
By Kennedy Furniture For Harrods London
Located in Crawley, GB
We delight to offer for sale this large Harrods London Kennedy military campaign two drawer console table with brass plaque corner protectors and brass handles , in lovely condition ...
Brass
Beautiful Harrods London R.E.H Kennedy Military Campaign Console Table
By Kennedy Furniture For Harrods London
Located in Crawley, GB
We delight to offer for sale this lovely Vintage Harrods London Retailed, REH Kennedy made Mahogany & Brass Military Campaign two drawer console table , brass can be repolish under r...
Brass
Campaign Style Console Table
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Dashing mid-century two tiered console crafted in mahogany in an unusual form with influences from neoclassic and British colonial. The brass campaign style hardware has a bronze lik...
Brass
$1,647 / item
A Fine Campaign Style Walnut Console Table
Located in Dublin, IE
A fine walnut, brass mounted campaign style console table of fabulous quality and with a rich patination to the wood. The moulded top of rectangular form fitted with brass corner mo...
Brass
ViNTAGE HARRODS LONDON KENNEDY TWIN DRAWER MILITARY CAMPAIGN CONSOLE TABLE
By Harrods, Kennedy Furniture For Harrods London
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
Royal House Antiques Royal House Antiques is delighted to offer for sale this lovely Military campaign console table made by Kennedy and retailed through Harrods London with twin dr...
Brass
Very Good Mahogany Campaign Console Table
Located in Swadlincote, GB
A very nice quality mahogany six leg campaign console table with central brass plaque, inset brass banding and corner insets, in overall very nice house ready condition. 27" high 54...
Mahogany
$2,843 / item
Modern Campaign-Style Console
Located in Westwood, NJ
A modern campaign-style console table with an embossed leather top. This three-drawer console is accented with brass campaign-style hardware and sits on a metal base. Dimensions:...
Metal
Antique Military Campaign Style Console Table
Located in London, GB
An excellent antique military campaign style console table. This was made in England, it dates from around the 1930-50’s period. It is very well made and it is a great size. This ha...
Brass
STUNNiNG HARRODS LONDON KENNEDY TWIN DRAWER MILITARY CAMPAIGN CONSOLE TABLE
By Kennedy Furniture For Harrods London, Harrods
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
Royal House Antiques Royal House Antiques is delighted to offer for sale this lovely Military campaign console table made by Kennedy and retailed through Harrods London with twin dr...
Brass
Military Campaign Style Console Coffee Table Hidden Radio Tape Record Player
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
We are delighted to this lovely vintage circa 1970s impulse ST 210 Radiogram Military Campaign brown leather topped console table What a cool thing, on the outside you have the never out of style military Campaign style console table, it’s the size of a modern day coffee table, the top is brown cattle leather with gold leaf embossing Inside you have a full entertainment system, there’s a radio, tape...
Leather, Hardwood
Vintage X Frame Console Table
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
This elegant vintage console table blends architectural geometric precision with timeless functionality. Featuring a sophisticated matte black finish, its defining characteristic is ...
Metal
ViNTAGE HARRODS LONDON KENNEDY SINGLE DRAWER MILITARY CAMPAIGN CONSOLE END TABLE
By Kennedy Furniture For Harrods London, Harrods
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
Royal House Antiques Royal House Antiques is delighted to offer for sale this lovely Military campaign console table made by Kennedy and retailed through Harrods London. Please not...
Chrome
$3,750
H 30.12 in W 47.05 in D 24.02 in
FINE HARDWOOD KENNEDY HARRODS LONDON MILITARY CAMPAiGN DESK OR WRITING TABLE
By Harrods, Kennedy Furniture For Harrods London
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
Royal House Antiques Royal House Antiques is delighted to offer for sale this fine Harrods London, REH Kennedy Military Campaign desk or writing table Please note the delivery fee ...
Brass
$1,295
H 20.08 in W 24.02 in D 13.98 in
LOVELY HARRODS LONDON KENNEDY MILITARY CAMPAIGN HIGH SiDE END TABLE HARDWOOD
By Kennedy Furniture For Harrods London, Harrods
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
Royal House Antiques Royal House Antiques is delighted to offer for sale this very nicely made Military campaign coffee or cocktail table made by Kennedy and retailed through Harrod...
Brass
Modern Walnut Console Table
Located in North York, ON
Modern walnut console table. Simplistic modern design with beautiful walnut wood grain patterns. Finished in a medium dark walnut color with a satin lacquered sheen. Made in the USA,...
Walnut
Gustavian Style Console Table
Located in Hollywood, FL
This is a unique Gustavian style console table, its been restored and repainted with Milk Paints "Oyster White"
Wood
Modern Campaign-Style Console
Located in Westwood, NJ
A modern campaign-style console table with an embossed leather top. This three-drawer console is accented with brass campaign-style hardware and sits on a metal base. Dimensions:...
Metal
Fine Black Lacquer Console Table
Located in Greenwich, CT
Simple black lacquer console table with waterfall legs, elegant color and lines. We carry fine quality furniture with elegant finished and has been appeared many times in "Architecture Digest...
Lacquer
Marble Style Console Table
Located in Brooklyn, NY
This modern style console table combines a minimal geometric profile with a swirling cream-colored surface. Please confirm item location with seller (NY/NJ).
Laminate
$2,386
H 23.82 in W 48.04 in D 19.3 in
Military Campaign Style Console Coffee Table Hidden Radio Tape Record Player
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
We are delighted to this lovely vintage circa 1970s impulse ST 210 Radiogram Military Campaign brown leather topped console table What a cool thing, on the outside you have the never out of style military Campaign style console table, it’s the size of a modern day coffee table, the top is brown cattle leather with gold leaf embossing Inside you have a full entertainment system, there’s a radio, tape...
Leather, Hardwood
Modern Campaign Green Leather Wrapped Console Table
Located in Westwood, NJ
Our Modern Campaign Green Leather Wrapped Console Table is the perfect fusion of vintage and contemporary design. The dark green embossed leath...
Metal
Fine Jumu Console Table
Located in Greenwich, CT
Fine Jumu console table with waterfall legs, elegant color and lines. We carry fine quality furniture with elegant finished and has been appeared many times ...
Wood
$5,625Sale Price|25% Off
H 32.5 in W 43 in D 16.75 in
English Regency Style Marble Top Zinc Lion Caryatid Console Table
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
English Regency Style Marble Top Zinc Lion Caryatid Console Table England, circa 1900s With canted cornered white marble top, raised on a pair o...
Marble, Metal
James de Wulf Concrete Campaign Console
Located in Paia, HI
A mix of Brutalist form and Bauhaus design, the Campaign console table sets the tone in any space. The console top is constructed of reinforced, cast concrete, finished with a proprietary wax to give it a slick touch and unique sheen. The console legs are formed from iron, aged to a patina finish. The arches supporting the concrete table top...
Concrete, Cement, Iron, Wrought Iron
Antique Military Campaign Style Console Table
Located in London, GB
An excellent antique military campaign style console table. This was made in England, it dates from around the 1930-50’s period. It is very well made and is a great size. This has b...
Brass
Antique Military Campaign Style Console Table
Located in London, GB
An excellent antique military campaign style console table. This was made in England, it dates from around the 1930-50’s period. It is very well made and is a great size. This has b...
Brass
Sold
H 27.17 in W 53.94 in D 16.15 in
LARGE HARRODS LONDON REH KENNEDY MiLITARY CAMPAIGN TWO DRAWER CONSOLE TABLE
By Harrods, Kennedy Furniture For Harrods London
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
Royal House Antiques Royal House Antiques is delighted to offer for sale this lovely Vintage Harrods London Retailed, REH Kennedy made Mahogany & Brass Military Campaign two drawer ...
Brass
Vintage Boho Drexel Heritage Campaign Console Table
By Drexel
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
This Vintage Boho Drexel Heritage Campaign Console Table blends bohemian flair with classic campaign style. Crafted with sleek lines and brass...
Brass
Sold
H 33.67 in W 35.63 in D 15.95 in
LOVELY MILITARY CAMPAIGN STYLE CONSOLE TABLE OR SMALL SIDEBOARD WiTH DRAWERS
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
Royal House Antiques Royal House Antiques is delighted to offer for sale this lovely Military Campaign style console table with drawers Please note the delivery fee listed is just...
Brass
A Fine Campaign Style Cherrywood Console Table
Located in Dublin, IE
A fine cherrywood, brass mounted campaign style console table of fabulous quality and with a rich patination to the wood. The moulded top of rectangular form fitted with brass corne...
Brass
Sold
H 30.25 in W 42 in D 11.25 in
English Campaign Style Mahogany Console Table of Narrow Proportions, Circa 1930
Located in San Francisco, CA
An elegant English mahogany campaign style brass mounted console or sofa table, of unusually narrow proportions, possibly a custom made piece for a yacht, the top with a solid brass ...
Brass
Sold
H 32.88 in W 53.55 in D 18.51 in
CHARMING LAURA ASHLEY CHALDON RANGE CAMPAiGN SIDEBOARD CONSOLE TABLE
By Laura Ashley
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
We are delighted to offer for sale this lovely Laura Ashley Chaldon range birch campaign style sideboard/console table. This piece draws inspiration from traditional period furnitu...
Brass
Sold
H 27.09 in W 53.94 in D 15.75 in
Lovely Kennedy Harrods Military Campaign Style Hardwood Console Table Sideboard
By Kennedy Furniture For Harrods London, Harrods
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
Royal House Antiques Royal House Antiques is delighted to offer for sale this lovely vintage circa REH Kennedy, Harrods London retailed, Military Campaign three drawer console table...
Brass
A Fine Campaign Style Cherrywood Console Table
Located in Dublin, IE
A fine cherrywood, brass mounted campaign style console table of fabulous quality and with a rich patination to the wood. The moulded top of rectangular form fitted with brass corne...
Brass
Sold
H 29.25 in W 11 in D 36 in
Vintage Tiered Campaign Faux Bamboo Entry Console Sofa Table Sideboard 36"
Located in Dayton, OH
Vintage Campaign style tiered console or entry table featuring a slender profile with upper gallery over two drawers with Neoclassical brass hardware, supported by faux bamboo legs. ...
Bamboo
Sold
H 29.53 in W 51.38 in D 16.74 in
Lovely Vintage Harrods Kennedy Military Campaign Console Table Sideboard Drawers
By Kennedy Furniture For Harrods London, Harrods
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
We are delighted to offer for sale this lovely vintage circa REH Kennedy, Harrods London retailed, Military Campaign three drawer console table / sideboard A very good looking we...
Brass