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.
Set of 7 English Hand-Colored Botanical Auriculas Prints Gold Leaf Frames
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
These seven Antique Late 19th Century collection was one of many years of finding the right combination of Auriculas, all purchased at English markets and later framed in gold-leaf c...
Gold Leaf
H.A. Ogden U.S. Military Uniforms - 11 Chromolithographs
By Henry Ogden
Located in Savannah, GA
A set of 11 H.A. Ogden chromolithographs depicting U.S. Military uniforms in period frames, circa 1908. 14 by 17 ½ inches; ¾ inches deep
Glass, Wood, Paper
Signed Snaffles WW I Naval Print. Gentlemen Unafraid.
By Charles "Snaffles" Johnson Payne
Located in Oxfordshire, GB
Snaffles WW I Naval print "Gentlemen Unafraid". A coloured Snaffles lithograph entitled "Gentlemen Unafraid" showing sailors in the bow of a boat "Bedelia...
Paper
$595
H 13 in W 20.38 in D 0.07 in
Antique French Engraving Print signed Roger Viellard, Signed and Numbered
Located in Miami, FL
Original engraving print or lithograph depicting the French countryside. This decorative art is the work of Roger Viellard. Limited edition signed and numbered 7/50. Measures: 20...
Paper
Keiko Minami Signed Partridge Print
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Keiko Minami (1911-2004). “ A Japanes painter and printmaker, Minami became well known for her work for UNICEF greeting cards and book illustrations....
Paper
K. Trumpf, Limited Edition Signed Print Titled Levade
Located in Bridgeport, CT
Print With Lippezaner Horses And Riders In Vienna Titled "Levade" lower left. Pencil signed lower right, numbered 175/299 lower left. Finely framed in gilt wood. sight 17 x 22 3/4", ...
Paper, Glass, Wood
$527 / item
H 23.63 in W 16.74 in D 0.12 in
Italian Contemporary Hand Painted Botanical Print, Set of 4
Located in Scandicci, Florence
Elegant hand-watercoloured botanical prints representing some different types of flowers Lilium Narcissus. Each print is an artisanal Florentine product, reproducing images of the...
Paper
$326Sale Price|20% Off
H 8.08 in W 10.71 in D 0.02 in
Antique Chromolithograph of Mambrino, Grey Thoroughbred Racehorse
Located in Langweer, NL
Antique print titled 'Mambrino bred by Lord Grosvenor'. Antique print of Mambrino, grey thoroughbred racehorse, foaled in 1768, bred by John Atkinson of Scholes at whose death became the property of Richard Grosvenor...
Paper
$420 / set
H 9.06 in W 5.52 in D 0.04 in
Set of Four Antique Botanical Fern Prints by Anne Pratt, Hand-Colored, 1855
Located in Fukuoka, JP
A rich and decorative set of four original hand-colored lithographs by Anne Pratt, a leading botanical illustrator of the Victorian era. These detailed prints were published in 1855 ...
Paper
$650 / set
H 21 in W 18.5 in D 1.25 in
Pair of Antique Hand Colored Botanical Engravings, Floral Prints
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Pair of hand colored botanical engravings of flowers.
Paper
$347
H 15.75 in W 11.42 in D 0.01 in
Antique Chromolithograph of Flamingos – Phoenicopterus roseus, c.1890
Located in Langweer, NL
Antique Chromolithograph of Flamingos – Phoenicopterus roseus, c.1890 A magnificent late 19th-century chromolithograph depicting the Greater Flamingo (Phoenicopterus roseus) in diff...
Paper
Kiyoshi Saito Buddha Woodblock Print Signed / Numbered
Located in Cincinnati, OH
A wonderful woodblock print self carved and self printed by master printmaker Kiyoshi Saito . The piece titled " Buddha " numbered 25/200 and signed by the artist . Saito who broke...
Paper
Antique Chromolithographs of Roses (Set of 2), 1914
Located in Langweer, NL
Pair of Antique Rose Chromolithographs by Parsons & Willmott, 1914 This striking pair of chromolithographs originates from Ellen Ann Willmott’s monumental work 'The Genus Rosa' (1910–1914), illustrated by Alfred Parsons...
Paper
Ruth Leaf Signed Woodblock Print "Towers Series B"
Located in San Carlos, CA
For Sale: Rare Ruth Leaf Woodblock Print - "Towers Series B" Own a piece of art history with this unique and collectible woodblock print by Ruth Leaf. This signed and titled print,...
Paper
Antique Horse Print "The Stone Faceder" Signed by Snaffles, 1934
Located in Colorado Springs, CO
This is a hand-colored, remarked and signed Charles Johnson Payne lithographic print, entitle: The Stone Faceder. The border area of the art is sign by the artist using his known pseudonym - Snaffles. The print depicts equestrian style riding in the Irish countryside. The art also features a hand-drawn fox running through brush leading one to believe this is an Irish fox hunting print. Born January 17, 1884 at Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, Charlie was the fourth of a boot-maker’s eight children and from his youth developed a passion for all things military. He tried to enlist in the army to fight in the Boer war, but was rejected on the grounds that he was too young. Eventually, he joined the Royal Garrison Artillery at the age of 18 as a gunner...
Paper
Set of 12 Original Antique Military Costume Prints, circa 1900
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Wonderful set of 12 military costume prints. Published by The Connoisseur Publishing Company, circa 1900 Unframed. The measurement giv...
Paper