Urbane safari

If asked to choose my favourite furniture, I would nominate all things Campaign: pared back, clean lined and cleverly designed, it appeals to my love of history while ticking the efficiency and utility boxes.

Attributed to the conquering Brits who transported Georgian chic to all climes, each piece was meticulously designed so that the warring officer class could have home comforts wherever they sallied forth. Required to re-camp and de-camp at irregular intervals, the furniture needed for such travels had to be easily assembled, folded, stowed and transported.

You could say it pre-empted the modern flat-pack, although in truth it took much of its inspiration from the ancient Romans, the original flat-packers with their folding thrones and demountable cities, creating microcosms of Rome all along their campaign trail.

This fabulous folding stool really puts the camp back into campaign.

The zebra skin seat may have been a little ambivalent in its straddling of traditional and contemporary, so just to erase any doubt, they popped it on a brass frame, and took it to a whole new level. 

So Becker Minty.

It’s a contemporary piece, made in Italy, the cradle of all things sophisticated. And while the Italians too did their fair share of damage in Africa, there is nothing remotely outdoorsy about this.

Clever, compact and oh so glamorous, it’s perfect for even the smallest of empires.

And did I mention there’s two?