Campaign Seating
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.
21st Century and Contemporary South African Campaign Seating
Zebra Hide
21st Century and Contemporary South African Campaign Seating
Zebra Hide
1960s American Vintage Campaign Seating
Brass
20th Century French Campaign Seating
Iron
20th Century Pakistani Campaign Seating
Brass
Early 20th Century American Campaign Seating
Cane, Oak
1950s French Vintage Campaign Seating
Brass
Early 20th Century English Campaign Seating
Oak
20th Century Italian Campaign Seating
Bamboo, Rattan
Mid-20th Century French Campaign Seating
Brass, Bronze, Steel
1890s English Antique Campaign Seating
Brass
Mid-20th Century Costa Rican Campaign Seating
Wood, Leather
1890s English Antique Campaign Seating
Maple
Mid-20th Century Pakistani Campaign Seating
Brass
1850s French Antique Campaign Seating
Wood
20th Century American Campaign Seating
Brass
20th Century American Campaign Seating
Brass
1930s Polish Vintage Campaign Seating
Cane, Beech
Late 20th Century French Campaign Seating
Bamboo, Rattan
1950s European Vintage Campaign Seating
Brass, Wrought Iron
Mid-20th Century British Campaign Seating
Brass
1960s French Vintage Campaign Seating
Brass, Bronze, Steel
Mid-20th Century British Campaign Seating
Leather
Mid-20th Century North American Campaign Seating
Bamboo, Rattan
Mid-20th Century English Campaign Seating
Brass
Mid-20th Century British Campaign Seating
Brass
Mid-20th Century British Campaign Seating
Brass
1980s Philippine Vintage Campaign Seating
Brass
1950s French Vintage Campaign Seating
Brass
21st Century and Contemporary North American Campaign Seating
Wrought Iron
1870s French Antique Campaign Seating
Wrought Iron
Late 20th Century British Campaign Seating
Leather, Wood
1980s Philippine Vintage Campaign Seating
Brass
Late 19th Century English Antique Campaign Seating
Canvas, Fruitwood
20th Century Italian Campaign Seating
Brass, Steel
Early 20th Century American Campaign Seating
Metal
1960s European Vintage Campaign Seating
Walnut
Mid-20th Century Italian Campaign Seating
Brass
Mid-20th Century American Campaign Seating
Wicker, Rattan
Early 20th Century Scottish Campaign Seating
Brass
Late 20th Century Campaign Seating
Chrome
1970s Vintage Campaign Seating
Iron
2010s Campaign Seating
Chrome
Mid-20th Century American Campaign Seating
Chrome
1950s Hong Kong Vintage Campaign Seating
Brass
Late 20th Century Campaign Seating
Leather
Mid-20th Century French Campaign Seating
Brass
Mid-20th Century Peruvian Campaign Seating
Wrought Iron
21st Century and Contemporary Asian Campaign Seating
Leather, Wood
1960s Unknown Vintage Campaign Seating
Metal
1960s French Vintage Campaign Seating
Oak
Mid-20th Century Danish Campaign Seating
Leather, Canvas, Softwood
21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese Campaign Seating
Leather, Wood
21st Century and Contemporary English Campaign Seating
Leather, Hardwood
Mid-20th Century American Campaign Seating
Upholstery, Wood
Late 20th Century American Campaign Seating
Cane, Wood
Early 20th Century Campaign Seating
Iron
19th Century English Antique Campaign Seating
Brass