What is a campaign chest?

A campaign chest is a piece of portable furniture designed specifically to be packed up and transported by military officers during military operations throughout the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries.

Why was camphor wood frequently used for military campaign trunks?

Camphor wood was favored for naval and colonial campaign trunks due to its natural aromatic oils, which repelled insects, prevented mould growth, and protected stored clothing and documents from humid maritime conditions.

How do you identify an authentic nineteenth-century campaign chest?

Authentic campaign pieces feature flush-fitting brass hardware, flush handles, reinforced brass corner straps, heavy timber construction, and original lock mechanisms designed to survive transport.

How can an antique campaign chest be styled in modern interiors?

An antique campaign chest can be styled as a low coffee table in a living area, placed at the foot of a bed for linen storage, or positioned in an entryway as a structural accent piece.

How should brass-bound camphor wood furniture be cared for?

Maintain the timber by dusting with a soft, dry cloth and applying a high-grade beeswax polish periodically; avoid harsh chemical polish on brass components to preserve historical oxidisation and patina.

for sale €1,697 $1,842

£1,450

Hingstons of Wilton

Sellingantiques Verified Since Mar 2010

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Id #SA1231291

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Victorian Camphor Wood Campaign Chest with Rare Bell Lock – 19th‑century Military Trunk

19th century

For Sale by Hingstons of Wilton

Description

Victorian Camphor Wood Campaign Chest with Rare Bell Lock – 19th Century Military Trunk

A fine Victorian camphor wood campaign chest, beautifully constructed for military travel and distinguished by its rare bell lock — an ingenious 19th century security feature designed to alert the owner when the chest was being opened.

Crafted from richly figured camphor wood, the chest displays warm tones, crisp grain patterns, and the classic brass bound edges associated with high quality campaign furniture. The top features decorative inlay work, and the original brass fittings remain intact, giving the piece both authenticity and presence.

Compact in size yet full of character, this chest is ideal for collectors of campaign furniture, military history enthusiasts, or anyone seeking a striking decorative storage piece with genuine Victorian provenance.

This can be used in many places around the home, it will make a great coffee table, conversation piece as well as can used in a bedroom for storage options.

Key Features

• Genuine Victorian camphor wood campaign chest

• Rare bell lock designed to alert the owner when opened

• Brass bound edges and original fittings

• Decorative inlay to the top

• Warm, well figured camphor wood with excellent patina

• Compact and practical size

• Ideal for collectors of military and campaign furniture

Dimensions

• Width: 99 cm (39 ins)

• Depth: 40 cm (19 ¼ ins)

• Height: 44.5 cm (17 ½ ins)

“There is scarcely anything in the world that some man cannot make a little worse and sell a little more cheaply. The person who buys on price alone is this man’s lawful prey.”

• Delivery

• UK mainland FREE Other destinations please contact us, and we will get a quote. We use a professional Removal company to transport our precious items and do not entrust them to usual parcel services. Therefore, delivery may be 7 -10 days, but it is worth the wait of course.

• On occasions customers have been disappointed to miss an item as they e-mailed their enquiry instead of phoning, I would recommend that if you wished to get the piece, please call rather than e-mail. We are very friendly and easy to deal with.

•

This Victorian Camphor Wood Campaign Chest is a green product and have not affected the environment we live in.

Guarantee

This Victorian Camphor Wood Campaign Chest carries the Hingstons Antiques product guarantee plate which gives you the peace of mind that any item with this plate, is of the quality and condition expected when purchasing from Hingstons Antiques Limited. All our goods are individually selected by Nick Hingston who uses his experience of over 50 years of trading to select the items with the best design and condition suitable to be placed into our quality stock.

• Hingstons Distance selling policy.

• Purchases from Hingstons Antiques Ltd give all buyers the right to cancel the purchase within 14 working days after receipt of the item, for a full refund less transport costs, on condition it is returned in the condition it was sent.

• Payment- We can accept payment by bank transfer, card transaction by phone, or cheque in store for UK customers, please contact us if you are an overseas customer.

Physical Dimensions

Height

44.5cm (17.52")

Width

99cm (38.98")

Depth

40cm (15.75")

Declaration

Hingstons of Wilton has dated this Antique Camphor Campaign Chest to the Victorian era.

Reference Numbers

Sellingantiques Reference

SA1231291

Dealers Notes

PRICE MATCHING

Antiques are unique and it is impossible to price match in the normal way. Please take into account the quality of product, and the care taken in our restoration, before making a decision if you are looking at price comparison.

When you choose to purchase an item from Hingstons, you will be purchasing a piece that will enhance your home.

We spend time choosing the best product, an antique that has to meet the criteria to be placed in Hingstons of Wilton stock.

Beware of cheaper imitations.

DISTANCE SELLING REGULATIONS

Purchases from Hingstons Antiques Ltd are covered under the Distance Selling Regulations, which give all buyers the right to cancel the purchase within 7 working days after receipt of the item, for a full refund less RETURN transport costs.

Description

Victorian Camphor Wood Campaign Chest with Rare Bell Lock – 19th Century Military Trunk

A fine Victorian camphor wood campaign chest, beautifully constructed for military travel and distinguished by its rare bell lock — an ingenious 19th century security feature designed to alert the owner when the chest was being opened.

“

Crafted from richly figured camphor wood, the chest displays warm tones, crisp grain patterns, and the classic brass bound edges associated with high quality campaign furniture.

Hingstons of Wilton

The top features decorative inlay work, and the original brass fittings remain intact, giving the piece both authenticity and presence.

fig 1. A rectangular Victorian camphor wood campaign chest featuring polished brass binding along the edges, geometric dark line inlay, and a central brass lock escutcheon. — fig 1. Victorian Camphor Wood Campaign Chest with Rare Bell Lock – 19th‑century Military Trunk

Compact in size yet full of character, this chest is ideal for collectors of campaign furniture, military history enthusiasts, or anyone seeking a striking decorative storage piece with genuine Victorian provenance.

fig 2. A rectangular Victorian camphor wood campaign chest featuring polished brass binding along the edges, geometric dark line inlay, and a central brass lock escutcheon. — fig 2. Victorian Camphor Wood Campaign Chest with Rare Bell Lock – 19th‑century Military Trunk

This can be used in many places around the home, it will make a great coffee table, conversation piece as well as can used in a bedroom for storage options.

Key Features

• Genuine Victorian camphor wood campaign chest

fig 3. A rectangular Victorian camphor wood campaign chest featuring polished brass binding along the edges, geometric dark line inlay, and a central brass lock escutcheon. — fig 3. Victorian Camphor Wood Campaign Chest with Rare Bell Lock – 19th‑century Military Trunk

• Rare bell lock designed to alert the owner when opened

• Brass bound edges and original fittings

• Decorative inlay to the top

• Warm, well figured camphor wood with excellent patina

• Compact and practical size

fig 4. A rectangular Victorian camphor wood campaign chest featuring polished brass binding along the edges, geometric dark line inlay, and a central brass lock escutcheon. — fig 4. Victorian Camphor Wood Campaign Chest with Rare Bell Lock – 19th‑century Military Trunk

• Ideal for collectors of military and campaign furniture

Dimensions

• Width: 99 cm (39 ins)

• Depth: 40 cm (19 ¼ ins)

• Height: 44.5 cm (17 ½ ins)

“There is scarcely anything in the world that some man cannot make a little worse and sell a little more cheaply. The person who buys on price alone is this man’s lawful prey.”

fig 5. A rectangular Victorian camphor wood campaign chest featuring polished brass binding along the edges, geometric dark line inlay, and a central brass lock escutcheon. — fig 5. Victorian Camphor Wood Campaign Chest with Rare Bell Lock – 19th‑century Military Trunk

• Delivery

• UK mainland FREE Other destinations please contact us, and we will get a quote. We use a professional Removal company to transport our precious items and do not entrust them to usual parcel services. Therefore, delivery may be 7 -10 days, but it is worth the wait of course.

fig 6. A rectangular Victorian camphor wood campaign chest featuring polished brass binding along the edges, geometric dark line inlay, and a central brass lock escutcheon. — fig 6. Victorian Camphor Wood Campaign Chest with Rare Bell Lock – 19th‑century Military Trunk

• On occasions customers have been disappointed to miss an item as they e-mailed their enquiry instead of phoning, I would recommend that if you wished to get the piece, please call rather than e-mail. We are very friendly and easy to deal with.

fig 7. A rectangular Victorian camphor wood campaign chest featuring polished brass binding along the edges, geometric dark line inlay, and a central brass lock escutcheon. — fig 7. Victorian Camphor Wood Campaign Chest with Rare Bell Lock – 19th‑century Military Trunk

•

This Victorian Camphor Wood Campaign Chest is a green product and have not affected the environment we live in.

Guarantee

This Victorian Camphor Wood Campaign Chest carries the Hingstons Antiques product guarantee plate which gives you the peace of mind that any item with this plate, is of the quality and condition expected when purchasing from Hingstons Antiques Limited. All our goods are individually selected by Nick Hingston who uses his experience of over 50 years of trading to select the items with the best design and condition suitable to be placed into our quality stock.

fig 8. A rectangular Victorian camphor wood campaign chest featuring polished brass binding along the edges, geometric dark line inlay, and a central brass lock escutcheon. — fig 8. Victorian Camphor Wood Campaign Chest with Rare Bell Lock – 19th‑century Military Trunk

• Hingstons Distance selling policy.

• Purchases from Hingstons Antiques Ltd give all buyers the right to cancel the purchase within 14 working days after receipt of the item, for a full refund less transport costs, on condition it is returned in the condition it was sent.

• Payment- We can accept payment by bank transfer, card transaction by phone, or cheque in store for UK customers, please contact us if you are an overseas customer.