British Campaign Furniture

“To unite elegance and utility, and blend the useful with the agreeable, has ever been considered a difficult, but an honorable task.” – A. Hepplewhite & Co. (The Cabinet-Maker and Upholsterer’s Guide, 1787)

Here at Clipper we offer authentic British campaign furniture to our clientele. The fascinating history of campaign or “knock-down” furniture is not widely known, and certainly deserves a closer look.

British campaign furniture was used for voyages, traveling, and camping trips throughout the British Empire in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. The pieces had to be durable and practical, but still had to reflect the fashionable tastes of the time. Master craftsmen were used to make these pieces, which was no easy endeavor. Elite British military officers wanted to enjoy the same comforts of home, yet needed pieces of furniture that could easy be disassembled and folded up for transport without having to use nails, tacks, or tools. The British military soon became recognized for carrying their culture with them down to the most meticulous detail, no matter where they were stationed in the world. In his book, British Campaign Furniture: Elegance Under Canvas, 1740-1914, Nicholas A. Brawer explains:
Throughout the Empire, British nationals could be found steadfastly, if not obstinately, asserting their Britishness by wearing tight-fitting, European clothes ill-suited to foreign climates…writing letters on carved elm or mahogany desks; sitting in upholstered leather armchairs; and sleeping in cushioned beds. Regardless of the corner of the globe they found themselves, the officers of the British Empire and their ladies acted with almost complete disregard for the culture, geography, and climate in which they were stationed.
Among the most popular designs of campaign furniture were bass-bound military chests. Oftentimes these were split into two sections, which allowed for easy transport. Each half could be hung over the back of a mule. Indeed, compact furniture design became popular both abroad and at home. One could purchase campaign furniture whether he was a member of the military, navy, or just a civilian who had enough money to afford a piece. The upper class of society would often use tables that could be extended or shortened for accommodating different numbers of guests at dinner parties. Lower class society found campaign furniture perfect for solving problems with a lack of household space. Sofas that could expand into beds for guests were among the most convenient pieces for small homes.

Antique collapsible campaign furniture can often be seen in house museums throughout the nation, such as our local Owens-Thomas House Museum, here in Savannah!
Please browse our website or give us a call to learn about what pieces of campaign furniture we have in stock today!

Books Used for Writing this Blog:

British Campaign Furniture: Elegance Under Canvas, 1740-1914 by Nicholas A. Brawer

We all grew up knowing that China celebrates the New Year at a different time than us Westerners. But we may wonder, why? And how do they celebrate?

The Chinese have celebrated the Xin Nian and Deng Jie (Chinese Lunar New Year and Lantern Festival) for over four thousand years. The Chinese New Year is celebrated for 15 days between late January and late February. It is based on the lunar calendar and marks the end of winter and the beginning of spring. Every year is represented by one of the twelve Chinese animals: the rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, sheep or ram, monkey, rooster, dog, and pig. This upcoming New Year will be the Year of the Dragon, which will span January 23, 2012, through February 9, 2013.

To prepare for the holiday, people clean their houses, buy new clothes, make food, and care for the graves of their ancestors. Cleaning is a way for the Chinese to “soak up good luck” for the oncoming New Year. The celebration includes visiting relatives, giving gifts of money in red envelopes, and lighting fireworks to scare away evil spirits. Traditional foods eaten on the holiday include noodles, chicken, fish, dumplings, rice, and vegetables. The holiday ends with the Deng Jie (Lantern Festival) when everyone participates in a parade with paper lanterns, dancers, musicians, clowns, and a Chinese dragon.
The traditional New Year greeting is “Kung hay fat choi” or “Wishing you to prosper”. Nian hua is a special New Year’s picture of a fat baby and a carp, symbolizing wealth and abundance. Other symbols commonly seen during the holiday are dragons, which symbolize good fortune, and lions, which symbolize strength or energy. While the holiday lasts 15 days, the first three days of the celebration are generally regarded as the most important.

Books Used for Writing this Blog:

Guide to Celebrating and Holidays Around the World by Kathryn I. Matthew and Joy L. Lowe
Festivals Together: A Guide to Multi-Cultural Celebration by Sue Fitzjohn, Minda Weston, Judy Large

In our Everyday Artifacts blog series, we feature antiques and collector’s pieces available for purchase at our storefront or online. Antiques and collectibles can make one’s home feel as though it’s a reliquary or museum. After all, interior design is not much different than curating an art exhibit. By carefully selecting home décor, one can transform furniture into great conversation pieces.

Today we’ll focus on our antique Palanquin. A Palanquin is known as a Sedan Chair in Western culture. Palanquins were normally used for transporting people of high societal status. Our Palanquin was recovered from a temple in Burma. It dates back to the Mandalay times (1752 – 1885). It was used to transport high-ranking Buddhist monks on their final journey to the funeral pyre. It is carved out of teak wood and is finished with gold paint and adorned with green and mirrored spangles. On each end, one can’t help but notice the fierce but beautiful nāga heads. A nāga is a mythological water snake. Nāgas are known as nature spirits, guardians of springs, rivers, and wells. They are often thought to have the ability to bring immortality. In Buddhism, it is said that The Buddha had his own nāga as a protector after he found enlightenment.

Owning a piece with such historical and religious significance gives one a sense of awe and responsibility. Collecting antiques is not only an aesthetic venture, but it ensures that artifacts are protected and cared for over time. This beautiful piece literally carried the bodies of men who devoted their lives to the search for enlightenment. Its cultural history is as beautiful as its appearance.

You don’t always have to go to a museum to see beautiful artifacts. Visit our storefront or click on the link here to see our Palanquin for yourself!
http://www.clippertrading.com/clipper/products/antique-palanquin

More on Nāgas and Palanquins:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/N%C4%81ga
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Litter_%28vehicle%29#In_Asia

Today in our Everyday Artifacts blog series, we will focus on our antique musician’s surround.

Burmese musical instruments are known visually for their fanciful and intricate embellishments and producing sounds that are completely unfamiliar to the Western ear. The drum circle or, hsaing-waing, traditionally consists of twenty-one drums cradled by leather thongs on a circular wooden frame. The wooden frame, or musician’s surround, itself normally consists of eight detachable panels that are heavily decorated. The musician sits in the center of the circular surround to play the drums.

Our musician’s surround dates back to c. 1870 and is carved out of camphor wood covered with gold-leaf and inlaid glass. Originally used for social gatherings as a performance piece, it can still serve the same function today! Speak with us today to learn how you could install a piece of glass to create the perfect coffee table. Or, better yet, install drums to reclaim its lost voice.

You don’t always have to go to a museum to see beautiful artifacts. Visit our storefront or click on the link here to see our Musician’s Surround for yourself!
http://www.clippertrading.com/clipper/products/musicians-surround

More on Musician’s Surrounds:
**CITE BOOK**

A soloist playing the hsaing-waing:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_8GZWRqbQQk

A full traditional Burmese orchestra, including the hsaing-waing:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GS80l6Diqyc