British Colonial Cabinets
Typically made of mahogany, teak or bamboo and featuring a range of fabrics and prints with botanical patterns, antique British Colonial furniture and decor varies as it involved local materials and techniques and spanned centuries of design styles.
As the British Empire expanded from the 16th to the 20th century, its conquest and control of colonies around the world bolstered its wealth through the extraction of resources. Including colonies in the Americas, Africa, Asia and Australasia, this spread of often violent subjugation imposed British culture, language and faith on Indigenous peoples. The design of homes was included in this expression of imperial power, with government officials, merchants and military officers creating homes mimicking the luxuries they were used to in England.
Local artisans were commissioned to replicate British designs, resulting in versions of Regency, Chippendale, Sheraton and other styles of furniture being crafted from mahogany, rosewood, ebony and teakwood as opposed to beech and oak, which were more common in Europe. Whereas the colonial furniture for the Portuguese and Dutch regularly had motifs of indigenous flora and fauna, the British tended to want more exact reproductions of their home country’s designs.
To escape the summer heat in places such as India and the Caribbean, British colonizers relocated to airy houses in the hills or plantations, leading to foldable chairs and collapsible desks in the style of military campaign furniture. Rather than upholstery as they might have in Europe, chairs and sofas in the British Colonial style had rattan and cane seating for these higher temperature climates. The contrast between the light textiles and the dark colors of the sturdy furniture became a defining aesthetic of British Colonial interiors.
Find a collection of antique British Colonial outdoor furniture, seating, bedroom furniture, decorative objects and other items on 1stDibs.
Late 19th Century Burmese Antique British Colonial Cabinets
Glass, Teak
20th Century Philippine British Colonial Cabinets
Brass
19th Century Indian Antique British Colonial Cabinets
Glass, Teak
20th Century Indian British Colonial Cabinets
Iron
1970s Unknown Vintage British Colonial Cabinets
Bamboo, Cane
Late 20th Century American British Colonial Cabinets
Grasscloth, Faux Bamboo, Glass
1990s American British Colonial Cabinets
Glass, Teak
1980s Thai Vintage British Colonial Cabinets
Glass, Wood, Teak
Early 1900s Thai Antique British Colonial Cabinets
Glass, Wood, Teak
Early 1900s Thai Antique British Colonial Cabinets
Glass, Wood, Teak
1920s Vintage British Colonial Cabinets
Mahogany
20th Century Burmese British Colonial Cabinets
Glass, Teak
Early 20th Century Indian British Colonial Cabinets
Glass, Rosewood
19th Century British Indian Ocean Territory Antique British Colonial Cabinets
Wood
21st Century and Contemporary American British Colonial Cabinets
Rosewood
Early 19th Century English Antique British Colonial Cabinets
Brass
Late 19th Century Asian Antique British Colonial Cabinets
Rosewood
20th Century Vietnamese British Colonial Cabinets
Mother-of-Pearl, Rosewood
20th Century Philippine British Colonial Cabinets
Faux Bamboo
Early 1900s German Antique British Colonial Cabinets
Mahogany
Early 19th Century English Antique British Colonial Cabinets
Mahogany
20th Century Sri Lankan British Colonial Cabinets
Glass, Ebony
19th Century Indian Antique British Colonial Cabinets
Rosewood
19th Century Sri Lankan Antique British Colonial Cabinets
Ebony, Satinwood
19th Century Caribbean Antique British Colonial Cabinets
Coconut, Mahogany, Rosewood, Satinwood
19th Century Sri Lankan Antique British Colonial Cabinets
Satinwood
19th Century Indian Antique British Colonial Cabinets
Teak, Glass
Mid-19th Century British Antique British Colonial Cabinets
Wood
1930s French Vintage British Colonial Cabinets
Rosewood
1890s British Indian Ocean Territory Antique British Colonial Cabinets
Teak
1970s American Vintage British Colonial Cabinets
Metal
21st Century and Contemporary Spanish British Colonial Cabinets
Bamboo, Cane
21st Century and Contemporary Spanish British Colonial Cabinets
Bamboo, Cane
Late 20th Century Chinese British Colonial Cabinets
Wood
20th Century British Colonial Cabinets
Oak
20th Century Philippine British Colonial Cabinets
Bamboo, Raffia
Early 19th Century Chinese Antique British Colonial Cabinets
Brass
20th Century Unknown British Colonial Cabinets
Upholstery, Bamboo, Rattan
Late 19th Century English Antique British Colonial Cabinets
Brass
1970s Unknown Vintage British Colonial Cabinets
Bamboo, Cane
Early 20th Century British British Colonial Cabinets
Walnut
1970s Unknown Vintage British Colonial Cabinets
Bamboo, Cane
19th Century British Antique British Colonial Cabinets
Metal
1970s Unknown Vintage British Colonial Cabinets
Bamboo, Cane
Late 20th Century American British Colonial Cabinets
Brass
19th Century British Antique British Colonial Cabinets
Bamboo, Lacquer
Early 1900s Thai Antique British Colonial Cabinets
Glass, Wood
Mid-20th Century Philippine British Colonial Cabinets
Brass
1970s American Vintage British Colonial Cabinets
Wood
19th Century Indian Antique British Colonial Cabinets
Teak
1920s English Vintage British Colonial Cabinets
Brass