British Campaign Furniture: Elegance under Canvas, 1740-1914

Infantry Magazine, Summer, 2002 by Kerry Bowling

By Nicholas A. Brawer. Harry N. Abrams Inc., 2001. 232 Pages. $45.00.

Writing on a subject previously neglected in the study of military artifacts, Nicholas A. Brawer explores the "life under canvas" that made British gentlemen-officers "go to great expense to maintain their prestige, rank, and station in life, as well as the comforts of their permanent homes, while on military service abroad." Through a collection of 275 photographs depicting the collapsible furniture in both assembled and disassembled stages, Brawer meticulously describes the evolution of campaign furniture during the Georgian, Victorian, and Edwardian eras of Great Britain.

Beginning with the first section, British Campaign Furniture, the book goes beyond the fold-up furnishings, delving into the social status and imperial influence that the British brought with them on the march. Scattered throughout the text are extensive footnotes that significantly contribute to the reader's understanding and several quotes, mainly from Army and Navy officers who reflect on the necessity of the campaign furniture, or the absurdity of carrying such luxury in times of war. As the unknown author of The Navy "At Home" noted, In short, all was of the most refined elegance. of the most approved taste, of the most exquisite delicacy, and of the richest description, side by side, with the instruments of stern and instant destruction ... not Cleopatra herself, in her gilded and silken galley, knew an equal luxury. In fact, the more portable the furniture became, the more the officers ordered, so as to make living abroad the exact life they lived in London.

An especially opulent period was during the British Raj in India where it took "60 horses, 140 elephants, two or three hundred baggage camels and bullock carts without end" to transport the Governor-General and his two sisters "up the country" from Calcutta. For as Brawer puts it rather eloquently, "the Empire was indeed portable, so long as it was borne on the backs and heads of men."

The second section, Elegance Abroad: A Portfolio, consists of 35 pages of photographs in both color and black and white, encompassing all varieties of campaign furniture along with footnotes containing manufacturer information and the purpose of each particular piece. Among the many examples are a portable billiard table and folding chess board for the "gentleman at ease," and a portable shower as a part of one's personal kit.

As the 19th century drew to a close and more companies began to produce campaign furniture, the style changed dramatically from the large, lavish pieces designed by Chippendale and Sheraton and became more utilitarian and compact in style. The violent and deadly Boer War (1899-1902) proved that mobility had to take precedence over luxury, giving rise to the era of modern day campaign furniture. This time period also saw the population of England double, which led to the incorporation of collapsible furniture in domestic homes as an alternative to cramped urban dwelling. Campaign furniture was no longer exclusive to the military.

Included at the end of the text is a Directory of British Campaign Furniture Makers, Outfitters, and Patentees, for those interested in the more collectable aspect of this furniture, as this book is geared towards the collector. Though the book's historical social context is both well researched and fascinating in its presentation, today's professional military officer might have difficulty relating to the lavishness, due to today's emphasis on lightness of load and deployability.

The extensive collection of photographs and amusing stories make this book an interesting read, though at times the text is bogged down with information relevant only to those seeking to study this particular topic. The military reader will find only a scant amount of military historical value in British Campaign Furniture. It is reasonably priced, however, and offers intriguing insight into a previously unresearched aspect of past British warfare.