Antique Teak and Brass Campaign Bookshelves, Army & Navy Store

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The Portable Library: Victorian Teak and Brass Campaign Bookshelves

This is an excellent example of British Campaign Furniture—a set of … Read more The Portable Library: Victorian Teak and Brass Campaign Bookshelves

This is an excellent example of British Campaign Furniture—a set of antique, free-standing bookshelves designed for travel and military use during the Victorian era.

The piece is constructed of richly colored teak wood and features bright brass hardware, offering a striking combination of utilitarian function and classical style. The design emphasizes portability: the shelves are held together by brass columnar supports and can be completely dismantled for easy transit and packing.

Notable features include:

Construction: Three shelves held by four cylindrical brass stanchions.

Aesthetic Detail: An unusually elegant shaped cresting rail tops the unit, transforming it from a purely functional item into a piece of decorative furniture suitable for a permanent home or an officer's tent.

Base: It rests on small brass feet, allowing it to function as a standalone unit, but the open design also made it ideal for sitting atop a traditional campaign chest.

Markings: Stamped with inventory numbers 13 and 669, consistent with the record-keeping of large military furnishers.

Maker/Retailer: Attributed to the Army & Navy Store (Army & Navy Co-operative Society Ltd.)

Date: circa 1885 (Late Victorian Period)

Material: Teak Wood, Brass

Dimensions: 35 inches (89 cm) Wide x 25 inches (63.5 cm) High x 7 3/4 inches (19.5 cm) Deep

Historical Context
This type of shelving is a quintessential product of the British Empire's expansion in the 19th century. Campaign furniture—items made to be easily disassembled and transported—was essential for military officers, colonial administrators, and traveling gentry who needed to maintain a proper English lifestyle while stationed abroad, often in remote locations like India or Africa.

The Army & Navy Store Connection
The Army & Navy Co-operative Society Ltd. (A&N CSL) was one of the largest and most famous retailers catering to the needs of British officers and civil servants from the mid-19th century onward. They sold everything needed for colonial life, from uniforms and provisions to portable furniture. The design of these collapsible shelves, where the brass columns screw into the shelves themselves, matches illustrations found in the A&N CSL's widely circulated catalogues of the period (such as the 1883 edition). The stamped numbers are likely a factory or inventory code used by the supplier.

Functionality and Style
The use of teak, a dense, durable, and naturally moisture-resistant hardwood common in shipbuilding, highlights its intended use in challenging, damp, or tropical climates. While originally made for use on a campaign or foreign posting, the clean lines and brass accents of campaign furniture made it highly fashionable back in Britain, ensuring its enduring appeal as a classic of practical Victorian design.

References
Brawer, Nicholas A. British Campaign Furniture: Elegance Under Canvas, 1740-1914. New York: Harry N. Abrams, 2001. (Definitive reference on the style).

Clarke, Christopher. At Ease Gentlemen: A Catalogue of 18th, 19th & Early 20th Century Campaign Furniture and Travel Equipment. Christopher Clarke Antiques, 2003.

Army & Navy Co-operative Society Ltd. Catalogues (Original and reprint editions, c. 1883–1907). (Provides visual context for the mass-production and retail of these demountable shelf designs).

(Ref: Ny10265-aim) See less