Campaign furniture might seem like a niche field, but it was big business in its day
a castle on the Iberian Peninsula? And, of course, how well his tent was kitted out was a sign of social standing. So as well as the decidedly practical camp beds, washstands, travel showers and bidets, companies retailed portable sideboards, card tables and folding cake stands to officers planning to entertain in style.
The massive growth of Empire also meant that civilians were undertaking long journeys, as administrators or emigrants. And during the gold rushes in California and Australia, thousands of speculators travelled overseas. ‘Before the age of steam, the journey to somewhere like India might take six months,’ Sean points out. ‘Travellers would hire an empty cabin on a ship, and go to a specialist company called a cabin fitter to buy the things they needed – perhaps a sofa with drawers underneath that doubled as a bed. When they made land at Calcutta they could sell it to someone making the return journey.’
Campaign furniture might seem like a niche field, but it was big business in its day, with a long list of different makers catering to a well-heeled clientele. Top retailers, like Thomas Butler, Hill and Millard and JW Allen, occupied premises in some of London’s most prestigious locations.
Today’s buyers span a huge range, says Katie Hannah, a valuer at Scottish auction house Lyon & Turnbull. Sometimes they’re military history enthusiasts. Or they might be drawn to the romance of furniture designed for travel: ‘It’s really exciting to imagine: who owned this? Where have they been? What adventures did they have? And when furniture is marked with the name of its original owner, or we have clear provenance, it really is possible to
RIGHT, CLOCKWISE FROM TOP 19th-century portable shower bath; campaign washstand with towel rail, c1860, £850; shower in its packed-down state. All Christopher Clarke Antiques.
research some of these things, and reconstruct their story.’ Other buyers simply love the look of a campaign chest, she continues: ‘Teak or mahogany contrast so well with brass, and there’s something about the simplicity of the design that has a timeless appeal. Other Victorian furniture can seem dark and fussy, even slightly oppressive. Or it can be far too big to fit in a modern home. But compact and utilitarian campaign furniture works in lots of different interiors.’
Historically, demand for campaign furniture petered out in the early 20th century. The Boer War heralded a new kind of warfare, and cumbersome mahogany buffets and four-poster beds were a liability when dealing with a fast-moving enemy that used guerilla tactics. However, the legacy of campaign furniture lives on, says Sean. ‘Some of the designs, for example for collapsible picnic tables, are still being made in plastic and sold in camping shops today. And the emphasis on quality, simplicity and utility anticipates the philosophy of furniture designers from the mid-20th century and beyond.’