What is a military campaign packing case?

Military campaign packing cases were robust storage containers designed to transport an officers personal effects, uniforms, and equipment safely during military deployments and travel throughout the 19th and early 20th centuries.

What materials were used in constructing campaign chests?

These cases were typically constructed from sturdy timber, reinforced with metal sheeting, heavy steel or iron straps, corner brackets, and flush drop handles to withstand rough transport.

How do you identify an authentic antique military campaign case?

Authentic pieces usually display stencilled military unit names or officer names, flush or recessed brass and iron hardware, makers stamps or plaques, and original painted or metal-bound exterior finishes.

How can a military campaign case be styled in a modern interior?

A campaign case functions well as an industrial coffee table, a statement storage chest at the foot of a bed, or a feature piece in a study alongside leather upholstery.

How should an antique metal-bound trunk be maintained?

Dust the exterior regularly with a soft dry cloth, preserve original stencilling by avoiding abrasive cleaners, and apply a light microcrystalline wax to bare metal hardware to prevent corrosion.

for sale €1,755 $1,905

£1,500

Kendall House Antiques Ltd.

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Metal Bound Trunk

Vintage Luggage Chest

Campaign Storage Chest

Id #SA1170041

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Campaign – Military Travelling Packing Case. By Allen of London. Circa 1900. with a Rich Provenance

Name: Campaign – Military Travelling Packing Case. By Allen of London. Circa 1900. with a Rich Provenance
Brand: Antique
SKU: SA1170041
Price: 1500 GBP
Availability: InStock

1900 - 1920

For Sale by Kendall House Antiques Ltd.

Description

A rare painted pine carriage case made by one of the top London Makers. In as found condition, the lettering all original and untouched, the chest complete with working key and pull-out central shelf. The doors fitted with a top and bottom brass slip locks, with a main front lock for personal security, plus there are two threaded holes top and bottom of the case which align with the securing metal strap that would have received two threaded bolts for safe stowage.

Provenance: Purchased from the Fairfax-Lucy family, of Charlecote Park Stratford Upon Avon fame, earlier this year.

Height 92.5cm Length 96.5cm Width 65cm

Sir Henry William Cameron-Ramsay-Fairfax-Lucy, 3rd Baronet (born Royal Leamington Spa) 1870 – 1944. Who fought in the Boer War and gained the rank of Major in the 2nd Life Guards.

The oil painting illustrated shows Sir Henry Cameron Ramsay-Fairfax-Lucy, 3rd Baronet as a Major in the Life Guards, painted in full military uniform by Alfred Edward Borthwick.

This painting was presented to the National Trust by Sir Montgomerie Fairfax-Lucy (his son) along with Charlecote Park and its chief contents in 1946. Two years after the death of his father.

Charlecote Park Stratford Upon Avon is open to the public and owned by The National Trust, the painting can be seen hanging in the main gallery. NT533861

Sir Henry Fairfax-Lucy married Ada Christina Lucy, eldest daughter and heiress to Henry Spencer Lucy of Charlecote, and assumed the additional name and arms of Lucy in 1892.

Charlecote Park: Infamous hunting ground of possibly the world’s most famous poacher William Shakespeare. Local legend suggesting that a young Shakespeare was caught poaching deer on the estate belonging to Sir Thomas Lucy. While the story's truth is debated, it's deeply embedded in Charlecote's lore and is referenced in Shakespeare's play The Merry Wives of Windsor.

Campaign chest manufacture J. W. Allen: A military outfitter, luggage manufacturer and one of the longest standing barrack furniture makers in British history. The business was established in London in 1788. By 1865 the company were operating from large, smart premises at 37 Strand London. Catalogues from this period show that the company was selling travel items such as trunks, and barrack furniture such as portable armchairs and portable beds. The business advertised heavily in Army Lists and periodicals likely to be of interest to the travel-minded. The company name in the advertisements appeared as either J. W. Allen or simply Allen as the firm became so well known. His trade labels proudly mention “By Appointment to H.R.H The Prince of Wales. The last known entry for J. W. Allen in the London Trade Directories was in 1913.

Physical Dimensions

Height

92.5cm (36.42")

Width

96.5cm (37.99")

Depth

65cm (25.59")

Declaration

Kendall House Antiques Ltd. has dated this Antique Military Campaign Trunk to the 1900s.

Reference Numbers

Sellingantiques Reference

SA1170041

Dealers Internal Reference

25676

Dealers Notes

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Description

A rare painted pine carriage case made by one of the top London Makers.

“

In as found condition, the lettering all original and untouched, the chest complete with working key and pull-out central shelf.

Kendall House Antiques Ltd.

The doors fitted with a top and bottom brass slip locks, with a main front lock for personal security, plus there are two threaded holes top and bottom of the case which align with the securing metal strap that would have received two threaded bolts for safe stowage.

fig 1. A large dark green metal-bound military campaign travelling case with stencilled lettering on the front panels and iron drop handles on the side. — fig 1. Campaign – Military Travelling Packing Case. By Allen of London. Circa 1900. with a Rich Provenance

Provenance: Purchased from the Fairfax-Lucy family, of Charlecote Park Stratford Upon Avon fame, earlier this year.

Height 92.5cm Length 96.5cm Width 65cm

Sir Henry William Cameron-Ramsay-Fairfax-Lucy, 3rd Baronet (born Royal Leamington Spa) 1870 – 1944. Who fought in the Boer War and gained the rank of Major in the 2nd Life Guards.

fig 2. A large dark green metal-bound military campaign travelling case with stencilled lettering on the front panels and iron drop handles on the side. — fig 2. Campaign – Military Travelling Packing Case. By Allen of London. Circa 1900. with a Rich Provenance

The oil painting illustrated shows Sir Henry Cameron Ramsay-Fairfax-Lucy, 3rd Baronet as a Major in the Life Guards, painted in full military uniform by Alfred Edward Borthwick.

This painting was presented to the National Trust by Sir Montgomerie Fairfax-Lucy (his son) along with Charlecote Park and its chief contents in 1946. Two years after the death of his father.

fig 3. A large dark green metal-bound military campaign travelling case with stencilled lettering on the front panels and iron drop handles on the side. — fig 3. Campaign – Military Travelling Packing Case. By Allen of London. Circa 1900. with a Rich Provenance

Charlecote Park Stratford Upon Avon is open to the public and owned by The National Trust, the painting can be seen hanging in the main gallery. NT533861

Sir Henry Fairfax-Lucy married Ada Christina Lucy, eldest daughter and heiress to Henry Spencer Lucy of Charlecote, and assumed the additional name and arms of Lucy in 1892.

fig 4. A large dark green metal-bound military campaign travelling case with stencilled lettering on the front panels and iron drop handles on the side. — fig 4. Campaign – Military Travelling Packing Case. By Allen of London. Circa 1900. with a Rich Provenance

Charlecote Park: Infamous hunting ground of possibly the world’s most famous poacher William Shakespeare. Local legend suggesting that a young Shakespeare was caught poaching deer on the estate belonging to Sir Thomas Lucy. While the story's truth is debated, it's deeply embedded in Charlecote's lore and is referenced in Shakespeare's play The Merry Wives of Windsor.

fig 5. A large dark green metal-bound military campaign travelling case with stencilled lettering on the front panels and iron drop handles on the side. — fig 5. Campaign – Military Travelling Packing Case. By Allen of London. Circa 1900. with a Rich Provenance

Campaign chest manufacture J. W. Allen: A military outfitter, luggage manufacturer and one of the longest standing barrack furniture makers in British history. The business was established in London in 1788. By 1865 the company were operating from large, smart premises at 37 Strand London. Catalogues from this period show that the company was selling travel items such as trunks, and barrack furniture such as portable armchairs and portable beds. The business advertised heavily in Army Lists and periodicals likely to be of interest to the travel-minded. The company name in the advertisements appeared as either J. W. Allen or simply Allen as the firm became so well known. His trade labels proudly mention “By Appointment to H.R.H The Prince of Wales. The last known entry for J. W. Allen in the London Trade Directories was in 1913.