Christopher Clarke Antiques

Cabin Interior with campaign furniture

It is rare to find images showing campaign furniture in use and even harder to find original works. This pair of pen, wash and watercolour pictures show two views of the interior of an Officer’s cabin on board ship. In the one picture stand a pair of packing case cupboards of the type that would house a two part chest during travel. On top of these is a campaign bookcase and two campaign trunks are underneath the curtained window. A folded chair and hanging water bag are next to the cupboards. The other sketch shows two swords hanging on the wall, a candlestick on gimble and a table with two boxes underneath that might be a box mirror and writing slope. In the center of the room is an ebonized, X frame folding chair, which is typically Victorian and a chair that looks exactly like a Brown Brothers patent Suspensary Chair. Brown Brothers are known makers of campaign furniture and such a metal framed chair is illustrated in ‘The Portable Empire’. This sketch is outlined in pencil with the artist picking out the details of the handles and campaign strap work to the furniture. Many of the officers in the army were expected to have some ability in sketching and this was probably done for recreation or as reminder of life on board ship. A journey to India or the colonies could take many months and sketching would help pass the time. Second half 19th century.

Examples of the Campaign Packing Cases illustrated in these pictures can be seen here :

Ross Packing Cases 

Mahogany Fronted Packing Cases