Featured Mid 19th Century Campaign Chest

I have a mid-19th-century mahogany Campaign Chest in fairly good condition, however, it is on wheels. Would a 19th-century chest have wheels? I have seen similar chests with feet and some without feet but I can't find any with wheels.

 

Beautiful piece.

 

wheels could have been added once the campaign was over......

 

it is possible

Thanks, @KikoBlueEyes!

 

The underside of the piece does seem to have some wear, as though it had been moved a good bit before the casters were added.

Quick question for my own edification, if I may. Does the term "campaign chest" indicate a design style? It doesn't necessarily imply an item has had military use, does it?

 

My understanding (and I’m sure someone here will be able to correct me if I’m wrong is that the *term* originated with furniture designed to travel with military officers, but “campaign” is now used to describe chests (and other furniture) designed to be used and relatively secure during long periods of extensive travel, rather than just surviving transport from point A to point B.

 

I’ve seen the term used to describe furniture used by traveling merchants, but I don’t know if the use is proper nomenclature, or if it’s simply that “campaign chest” is a lot shorter than “designed to be *used* during…” etc. etc..

 

Please note - I have no furniture expertise. I have found a couple of campaign chests on wheels:

The first one is missing the top section.

Campaign Chest of Drawers, Wrapped Brass on Wheels, American, 1940s For Sale at 1stDibs

This one
Sold Price: CHINESE EXPORT TWO-PART CAMPAIGN CHEST WITH DESK - March 6, 0119 11:00 AM EST (invaluable.com)

 

Not sure how you are getting mid-19th century on this. I don't see 170 years of use on this piece. Can you show us some pics to convince otherwise?

 

As a style it’s very utilitarian without many frills or indulgent decorative flourishes. Anything that would have been easily broken during travel. All of the stuff I’ve seen is just straight lines like the chest shown. Most that’s made for the home has brass hardware and brass reinforcing “strips” like the one shown. Also inset handles, again so they wouldn’t break off during travel/campaigns when that’s what they were used for. Very sturdy, heavy and well built. Even though heavy wasn’t great for travel it lent to its sturdiness. Also like barristers bookcases the pieces tend to be easily broken in down in sections for travel. Not all but many campaign chests come in stackable sections. I have a campaign inspired (or barrister) desk that breaks down into a top section with two side sections and it fits together. I love the campaign furniture aesthetic. So do others as it continued to be made long after its intent was for actual campaigns. I believe Henredon made/makes a lot of campaign style furniture.

edit: oh yeh the chests almost always have inset handles on their sides as well so that they could be carried easily by a man on either side. Lugging the generals heavy furniture around.

 

@verybrad a couple of things. First, this is a piece that has been in my family for some time. It was my dad's (who is 90). Prior to that, it was his mother's and before that my great grandmothers (who was born sometime in the 1860s but I don't know the exact year. Additionally, according to things I have read online the lock on my piece is a copy of a Bramah lock not an actual Bramah lock. Apparently when the patent expired in 1812 people started making copies and marked them "Bramah London" ... the next patent come in 1871. But that is just my theory, I could be wrong.
edit: I should note I don't not know if my great grandmother was the original owner or it was passed down to her as well.

 

[QUOTE=" oh yeh the chests almost always have inset handles on their sides as well so that they could be carried easily by a man on either side. Lugging the generals heavy furniture around.[/QUOTE]

@J Dagger is there any knowledge we can gain about my piece for NOT having the handles on the side? It does have the two sections but not the handles. Thanks, for that great info!

 

Oops I forgot the lock pic

 

You might want to watch this auction:
Bid Now: A Mahogany Campaign Desk, Bramah London, 19th century - November 2, 0122 9:30 AM CET (invaluable.com)

 

I most certainly will! Thanks @KikoBlueEyes!

 

An English walnut two-part campaign chest - Oct 02, 2018 | John Moran Auctioneers, Inc. in CA (liveauctioneers.com)

Different wood, but like yours with two top drawers. Same lock mark.

If you aren't registered with Live Auctioneers, it's free.

 

You are on fire @KikoBlueEyes! And, I was not registered but I am now!

 

I can easily see 1860s or 70s with this. It's just in unusually good condition to have been systematically used in "campaigning." Casters on the bottom would have been normal for this time period.

 

Thank you, @Ghopper1924 that is great to know!

 

@J Dagger is there any knowledge we can gain about my piece for NOT having the handles on the side? It does have the two sections but not the handles. Thanks, for that great info![/QUOTE]

I don’t know enough to say for sure, that’s for sure. I think it would lend to it being made for home use rather than in the field but just a guess. I don’t know much about furniture, I just like the campaign style and my post was just what I could spout off the top my head. I’m hoping to find a chest or couple stackables for storage. A large armoire would probably be more practical but dang if campaign chests aren’t cool.