Campaign Boot & Whip Rack

A mahogany Portable Boot and Whip Rack made to disassemble into six pieces.

To all intents and purposes, this looks exactly the same as a domestic Boot Rack, used to hang boots upside down with whips above so that they can dry and air. Three brass pegs, chained to each side of the uprights, are used to fix the assembled pieces in places. The horizontal parts each have tenons that fit to mortice slots with a hole to receive a peg. Once they are removed, the horizontal sections can be separated from the uprights and the Rack will break down into its six components. The uprights are hinged to the middle to fold in half and further reduce in size.

The parts are marked by chisel and gouge to help with reassembling the Rack. From top to bottom, one side is marked X, I, C, II and the other XII, II and XI. The marking is a little inconsistent with the bar that sits between the turned whip pegs and the boot cutouts having no markings to it whilst its position on one upright is marked with I but not marked on the other upright. Added to this, there are no markings to the section with the whip pegs. This is a curious anomaly but does not prevent the easy assembly of the rack.

If this Boot Rack was used by a cavalry officer or not is not known. We have had portable Saddle Horses before though. Both would be equally useful domestically or for a hunt. The design to make it portable without altering the standard look of such a rack is well considered and it is well made. The turning to the bottom stretcher is crisp and the applied moulding to the centre of the boot section and to the uprights where they meet the shaped foot subtly lifts the rack. Early to mid 19th Century.