The Things We Carry

Inspired by the great expeditions at the turn of the century, the latest incarnations of campaign furniture pay homage to life under the canvas while reading utterly modern in both function and beauty. By Michael Hainey The Things We Carry

Produced by Michael Reynolds / Photographed by Anthony Cotsifas Prop styling by Eugenia Santiesteban Soto

UCH LIKE the Land Ro- designers like Chippendale, Hepplewhite, and ver, which began as Sheraton were all making the stuff. No unit or something that was scientific expedition (think Darwin on the H.M.S. entirely utilitarian—a Beagle) could operate without the versatility and way for enterprising the storage it provided. Brits to bring comfort When tanks and mechanized infantry ulti- to their far-flung trav- mately made mobility in battle much more of a els in the African bush priority, the idea of transporting whole rooms fell or the rugged terrain out of favor in the military. But that didn’t keep of India—campaign fashion houses from wanting to experiment with M furniture has been not the form’s portability and to accommodate this just fancied up but embraced far beyond its original new age of exploration: Hermès (known for craft- habitat. Now you’re as likely to see a Ralph Lauren ing custom cases for Out of Africa author Karen traveling-bar case in the town houses of Kensing- Blixen), Louis Vuitton, and Goyard pioneered ton as you are on the plains of Kenya. “Campaign the Parisian luggage trade, making trunks sturdy is timeless,” says New York furniture maker Rich- enough to be roughly handled by porters on count- ard Wrightman, whose father’s campaign collec- less transatlantic crossings. tion inspired his own line. “It evokes the romance Even today, many people don’t realize that mod- of travel, the distant lands that inhabit our memo- ern classics like Le Corbusier’s Basculant chair and ries and imagination.” Marcel Breuer’s Wassily chair were highly influ- The gear—also known as “knockdown” furni- enced by the campaign tradition. And after decades ture—has been around for centuries, in some form of ubiquitous sleek minimalism, functional pieces or another. It’s argued that Roman armies under like the Roorkhee chair (invented for the British Julius Caesar were among the first to make folding army and named in honor of the headquarters of portable pieces that ofcers could transport into the Indian Army Corps of Engineers at Roorkhee) battle (field desks and chairs, tables on which they feel new again. “I’ve seen battered examples in could spread out maps and plot their conquests). weathered wood and beaten canvas,” says Wright- To see how these By the eighteenth century, when the Brits were man of the Roorkhee, which he made a version of photographs were tromping about the globe, planting flags and ex- for his recent collaboration with Ghurka. “And they created, go to cntraveler.com/ panding their own empire, prominent furniture still look incredibly handsome.” u campaign-furniture.

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0615-TR-WECF01 Counterclockwise from top left: Cartier Roadster Saddle travel clock (cartier.us; $1,030); John Hardy cuf (johnhardy.com; $2,200); Van Cleef & Arpels Triangles Heritage bracelet (vancleefarpels.com; $21,300); Lisa Eisner cuf (lisaeisnerjewelry.com; $3,200); Out of Africa vintage book (212-872-2570; $125); Anya Hindmarch journal (212-872-2570; $750); Bulgari Serpenti bracelet (bulgari.com; $68,000); Kelly Wearstler tray (kellywearstler.com; $1,125); Bottega Veneta Three Drawers Trunk (646-292- 5817; $19,300); Leica M-P Set Safari Camera (Leica stores nationwide; $9,990); Van Cleef & Arpels Heritage necklace (vancleefarpels.com; $63,500); Tivoli Audio Model Three BT radio (tivoliaudio.com; $350); Linda Horn Shagreen Box (lindahorn .com; $325).

0615-TR-WECF02 This page, from top: Stelton Ship’s Lamp (steltonusa.com; $689); Bergdorf Goodman Bojay boxes (212-872- 2570; $395 and $695); Hermès writing desk (hermes.com; $29,800); Linda Horn trunk (lindahorn .com; $325). Right: Ralph Lauren Home One Fifth Trunk Bar and accessories (ralphlaurenhome .com; $14,985 and $23– $595); Hermès Le Bal des Oiseaux scarf (hermes.com; $450).

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0615-TR-WECF04 0615-TR-WECF05 From top: Louis Vuitton Toiletry Case (louisvuitton .com; $5,450); Ralph Lauren Home Delevan trunk (ralph lauren home .com; $1,595); Goyard Grand Hotel 70 (Goyard boutiques nationwide; $11,260); Prada suitcase (prada.com; price upon request); Ghurka 200th Anniversary Trunk Set with, at right, chairs (ghurka .com; $17,500); Globe- Trotter suitcase (globetrotter 1897 .com; $2,175); Louis Vuitton Monogram Alzer 60 (louisvuitton.com; price upon request); Linda Horn trunk (lindahorn.com; $625).

0615-TR-WECF06 Counterclockwise from top: Suite NY Adnet Mirror (suiteny.com; $879); Best Made Co. Lensatic Cruiser Compass (bestmadeco.com; $168); Linda Horn Oval Shagreen Box (lindahorn.com; $375); Zenith Pilot Type 20 GMT (zenith-watches.com; $8,100); Ghurka tray table, fask, and shoe horn (ghurka .com; $2,975, $325, and $225); Ray-Ban sunglasses (sunglasshut .com; $170); Sol y Luna tray (212-872-2570; $165); Liscio shaving set (muehleusa .com; $226). PREVIOUS PAGE AND RIGHT: BACKGROUND PHOTOGRAPHSBACKGROUND ROBERTCOURTESYARTPHOTOGIRL.WILLINGHAM/ANONYMOUS RETOUCHED IMAGES RIGHT: BY ALL AND RETOUCH PREVIOUSPAGE

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0615-TR-WECF07 From left: Richard Wright- man Chatwin Lounge Chairs (richardwrightman.com; $2,950); Bottega Veneta Narrow Sawhorses table (646-292-5817; $5,800); Leica Silverline 8x20 Binoculars (Leica stores nationwide; $949); Persol sunglasses (sunglasshut.com; $360); Ralph Lauren Collection riding boot (ralphlauren.com; $1,100); Double Knot Banded Kilim rug (1stdibs.com; $7,950); Montana tent (cabelas.com; $970).

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