Roorkhee / Campaign / Safari Chair

The simple joints and slung design of the Roorkhee campaign chair were the inspiration for some of the most iconic chairs of the 20th century including Breuer’s Wassily, Le Corbusier’s Baasculant, Magistretti’s 905 and Wilhelm Bofinger’s Farmers chair. Kaare Klint barley altered the design of the Rookhee for his Safari chair.

Designed as piece of campaign furniture at the end of the 19th century by a British army engineer based in Roorkhee India later being adopted for use on safari. The chair is light and comfortable, packs down small and is simple to assemble. With no fixed joints the chair adapts to various surfaces and is only complete once sat in with the weight of its occupants holding it all firmly together.

This example from the early 20th century made from oak has been restored with an incredibly dark green verging on black lacquer. The chair has been re-slung with Merchant & Mill's Expedition Dry Oil Skin with wide leather strapping and we were able to salvage parts of the original brass hardware.