Seat of History
A chronicled military chair enjoys a rebirth at the hands of its most ardent admirer.
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“War used to be a very civilized affair,” says Nicholas Brawer, “and heaven forbid you went off to war without a mahogany dining table.” As co-owner of F.M. Allen, a safari-inspired travel consulting, apparel and furniture company, Brawer is an authority on the lifestyle habits of the British military elite—from the 1700s through the early 20th century. His expertise lies specifically in the campaign furniture they traveled into battle with; he even penned the definitive book on the subject: British Campaign Furniture, Elegance Under Canvas 1740–1914.; function voidFunc() { } voidFunc();)
F.M. Allen’s model, $750, strays slightly
from form: Its double canvas seat negates
the need for complex supporting buckles
and straps, features found on original models. (Click image to enlarge)The portable wood-and-brass furniture, which was most likely named after the French word champ (meaning “field”), was designed to be assembled and disassembled in a matter of minutes without nails, tacks, screws or tools. It also came to signify social rank; officers often had their names inscribed into the pieces. “It was widely used by explorers, colonial administrators and aristocrats,” says Brawer. “The British would surround themselves by the same kind of furniture they had at home. I have pictures of high-ranking military personnel at white-tie dinners in the middle of the African bush.”
Brawer, who acts as manager and sources antiques for F.M. Allen’s Madison Avenue store, says the canvas-and-mahogany Roorkhee chair is one of the genre’s quintessential pieces. Named in honor of the headquarters of the Indian Army Corps of Engineers at Roorkhee, ca. 1898, the chair breaks down into a roll of fabric and a series of well-designed sticks, and is easily carried in its own custom-made bag. “It epitomizes the transition between Victorian furniture and camp furniture,” he says.
F.M. Allen
212.737.4374
www.fmallen.com
