British Colonial Furniture
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.
19th Century Indian Antique British Colonial Furniture
Wood, Glass
1760s Canadian Antique British Colonial Furniture
Paper
19th Century Indian Antique British Colonial Furniture
Glass, Wood
1960s Vintage British Colonial Furniture
Tin
1970s Unknown Vintage British Colonial Furniture
Bamboo, Cane
21st Century and Contemporary American British Colonial Furniture
Ceramic, Stoneware, Pottery, Delft
1970s Philippine Vintage British Colonial Furniture
Fabric, Bamboo, Cane, Reed
Mid-20th Century European British Colonial Furniture
Marble
Early 20th Century English British Colonial Furniture
Leather, Wood
Mid-20th Century Italian British Colonial Furniture
Mirror, Oak, Porcelain
Late 20th Century British Colonial Furniture
Brass
1960s Vintage British Colonial Furniture
Teak
Late 20th Century Unknown British Colonial Furniture
Upholstery, Wicker, Rattan
21st Century and Contemporary Mexican British Colonial Furniture
Reed
Late 20th Century American British Colonial Furniture
Wood, Paper
Mid-20th Century French British Colonial Furniture
Leather, Wood, Calico
1970s American Vintage British Colonial Furniture
Wood
Late 20th Century British Colonial Furniture
Bronze
Mid-20th Century American British Colonial Furniture
Reed, Bamboo
Early 19th Century English Antique British Colonial Furniture
Porcelain
20th Century Indian British Colonial Furniture
Iron
Late 20th Century American British Colonial Furniture
Leather, Fabric, Bamboo, Faux Bamboo, Cane
18th Century and Earlier Italian Antique British Colonial Furniture
Bronze
1870s Indian Antique British Colonial Furniture
Silver
Early 20th Century English British Colonial Furniture
Brass
Late 20th Century British Colonial Furniture
Silver
1940s Vintage British Colonial Furniture
Brass
19th Century Antique British Colonial Furniture
Oak
1970s Unknown Vintage British Colonial Furniture
Bamboo, Cane
1830s English Antique British Colonial Furniture
Fabric, Glass, Wood
20th Century Philippine British Colonial Furniture
Grasscloth, Bamboo
Late 20th Century British Colonial Furniture
Brass
Mid-19th Century Unknown Antique British Colonial Furniture
Other
Early 20th Century British Colonial Furniture
Teak
Late 18th Century English Antique British Colonial Furniture
Porcelain
Early 20th Century English British Colonial Furniture
Enamel
1950s Sri Lankan Vintage British Colonial Furniture
Hardwood
Early 20th Century British Colonial Furniture
Cane, Teak
Early 20th Century Burmese British Colonial Furniture
Rattan, Teak
1880s English Antique British Colonial Furniture
Porcelain
Late 19th Century English Antique British Colonial Furniture
Rattan, Wood
1970s Unknown Vintage British Colonial Furniture
Bamboo, Cane
Early 20th Century German British Colonial Furniture
Porcelain
19th Century American Antique British Colonial Furniture
Metal
Mid-20th Century Southeast Asian British Colonial Furniture
Bamboo, Mahogany
Late 20th Century American British Colonial Furniture
Grasscloth, Faux Bamboo, Glass
19th Century English Antique British Colonial Furniture
Leather, Mahogany
Late 20th Century British Colonial Furniture
Bronze
19th Century British Antique British Colonial Furniture
Bamboo, Hardwood
Late 20th Century American British Colonial Furniture
Maple
Mid-20th Century American British Colonial Furniture
Wood, Paper, Paint
20th Century Southeast Asian British Colonial Furniture
Cane, Teak
19th Century Antique British Colonial Furniture
Paper
1970s Unknown Vintage British Colonial Furniture
Bamboo, Cane
Late 20th Century British Colonial Furniture
Bronze
Mid-20th Century American British Colonial Furniture
Cane, Wood
Early 20th Century Burmese British Colonial Furniture
Glass, Teak
Late 20th Century Philippine British Colonial Furniture
Bronze