British Colonial Furniture
BRITISH COLONIAL STYLE
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.
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Style: British Colonial
Carolina Bamboo & Cane Bench
Located in Bellport, NY
The Carolina Bench beautifully hand crafted in Spain of bamboo and cane. The seat is covered in a sunbrella natural tone fabric. The bottom level is gre...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Spanish British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Linen, Bamboo, Cane
Pair of English Armchairs in Velvet and Walnut Wood
Located in Milano, IT
Gorgeous pair of velvet armchairs of English manufacture of the late 1800s.
The beautiful armchairs have a walnut wood structure and have been lined with sand colored velvet tending...
Category
Late 19th Century British Antique British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Velvet, Walnut
British Soldier's Woolwork or Woolie, 19h Century
Located in Pasadena, CA
This is an exceptional example of a 19th century British soldier's "Woolie" or woolwork that is signed "G.W. Whitby/India. The woolwork depicts the ...
Category
Early 19th Century English Antique British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Wool, Glass, Wood
Large Scale 20th Century Persian Lacquerware Table Lamp
Located in Morristown, NJ
c. 1950s, large scale gourd-form coir lamp hand decorated with gazelles, lions, and hunters on horseback on green ground, brass fittings. The painting is accentuated with gold painte...
Category
19th Century Unknown Antique British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Brass
Antique 18th Century Childs Pewter Porringer Cup Bowl Porridge Dish
Located in Dayton, OH
Antique circa 18th century childs pewter porringer / tastevin featuring straight sides with rim flange, flat base, triangular bracket with wedge under...
Category
18th Century Antique British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Pewter
Great Pair of Vintage Mahogany Planters Chairs
Located in Charleston, SC
Great pair of vintage mahogany planters chairs with canvas.
Category
20th Century English British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Canvas, Mahogany
Antique British Colonial Rosewood Cabinet with Glass Panel Doors
Located in Atlanta, GA
A tall British Colonial rosewood storage cabinet with glass doors from the early 20th century. This antique display cabinet features a molded cornice atop a tall case with pair of five-panel front doors, set with glass. The skirt and sides of the cabinet remain clean and simple, and has a very subtle elongated carve out giving it an ever so slight raise off of the ground. This piece is made of rosewood, giving it a beautifully rich presence. This storage cabinet stands approximately 6.5 feet tall, and just over 3.75 feet wide, making it a great storage piece. Please note that there is some slight bowing at the lower right door, which doesn't allow the piece to close fully flush at bottom. This 1920s British Colonial rosewood cabinet, offers endless storage and display potential for your treasured collections, hall/bath linens...
Category
Early 20th Century Indian British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Glass, Rosewood
Antique 18th Century English Pewter Porringer Cup Bowl Porridge Dish
Located in Dayton, OH
"Antique circa 18th century unmarked pewter porringer or tastevin with bellied sides, bossed base, triangular ear bracket with wedge, and peacocks tai...
Category
18th Century Antique British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Pewter
British Colonial Planter
Located in Boynton Beach, FL
Vintage British Colonial style burnt bamboo planter. Made well and kept in great condition. Bamboo panels have been hand burnt to display a beautiful tortoiseshell pattern.
Would...
Category
Mid-20th Century Unknown British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Bamboo
Antique Dudson English Staffordshire Pearlware Bocage Shepherd Figure 5"
Located in Dayton, OH
Antique early English Staffordshire porcelain pearlware bocage group, showing male and female shepherds with a red and white lamb, standing in front of a flowering tree. Attributed ...
Category
Mid-19th Century Antique British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
19th Century Model Field Gun on Carriage, Cast Iron Porch Cannon
Located in Chillerton, Isle of Wight
19th century Model Field gun on carriage, cast iron porch cannon
A good and well made piece, the field gun is made in good detail, this piece has spent m...
Category
Mid-19th Century Antique British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Iron
Set of Three Antique Hand Colored Seashell Engravings
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Historic set of three 18th century engravings hand painted in watercolor depicting seashell specimens in an early naturalist style. Presented u...
Category
Mid-18th Century German Antique British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Wood, Paint
Buckingham Crest Etching on Canvas by Liz Jardine Heraldic Shield Framed
Located in Dayton, OH
Buckingham Crest Etching on canvas by Liz Jardine, circa 1992. A large format art with an amazing frame. Features a heraldic crest or shield at the center ...
Category
1990s British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Canvas
Turned Wood Table Lamps
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Mid century British colonial style table lamps crafted in turned wood with classic form and a mahogany finish. Two pair available.
Category
20th Century American British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Mahogany
2 Antique Dudson English Staffordshire Pearlware Bocage Shepherd Figures
Located in Dayton, OH
Pair of antique early Staffordshire pearlware bocage figures, a shepherd and a shepherdess each standing in front of a tree with three red and white sheep / lambs. Each piece uses sh...
Category
Mid-19th Century Antique British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
Heavy Bronze Bell, Tower Bell
Located in Chillerton, Isle of Wight
Heavy bronze bell, tower bell.
This is a very heavy piece it is on an Oak Yoke with iron fixings including a the bracket which holds the rope
For the purpose of the pictures and...
Category
Late 19th Century Antique British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Bronze
Antique White Washed Teak Settee or Bench with Slatted Back
Located in Sheffield, MA
Colonial influenced antique hand-carved rustic country daybed or bench made from natural aged teak, deep enough for sleeping or relaxing. Suitable for indoor or outdoor use. Great in the garden, on a porch or patio. The antique teakwood bench...
Category
Early 20th Century Central American British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Teak
Antique American Colonial Cherry Wood Slender Leg Pembroke Lamp Side End Table
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Antique American Colonial Cherry Wood Slender Leg Pembroke lamp side end table. Item features tall slender legs with pad feet, drop sides, solid wood c...
Category
19th Century Antique British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Wood, Cherry
2 Antique 18th Century Pewter Pedestal Master Salt Cellar Trencher Bowls Cups
Located in Dayton, OH
Pair of rare antique 18th century pewter salt cellars / bowls / pedestal dishes or footed cups with unique scalloped and swirled form. Measure: 3".
Category
18th Century Antique British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Pewter
Antique English Walnut Storage Cabinet or Entryway Bookcase Shelf Stained Glass
Located in Seattle, WA
Antique English walnut storage cabinet or entryway bookcase shelf stand with original stained glass.
Category
1850s Antique British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Stained Glass, Walnut
Pair of Gorham Weighted Sterling Silver Footed Compote Candy Nut Dishes
By Gorham
Located in Germantown, MD
Pair of weighted Gorham Sterling silver compotes, candy dishes.
Very good condition.
Category
Early 20th Century American British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Sterling Silver
Antique Thai British Colonial Teak and Glass Display Cabinet/Bookcase
Located in Chicago, IL
Antique Thai British Colonial Teak and Glass Display Cabinet/Bookcase
This bookcase has 3 shelves. There is no glass top for the bookcase. For an additional fee we are able to produ...
Category
Early 1900s Thai Antique British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Glass, Wood, Teak
Lee Radziwill Inspired Block Print Down Flower Motif Pillow in Pink, India
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
Bring a taste of the orient to any space with one of our custom-created Indian block print pillows. Each pillow is made of soft cotton and h...
Category
2010s Indian British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Fabric, Cotton, Down
Burnt Bamboo Coffee Table with a Decoupage Top
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Two tiered coffee table with rectangular burnt bamboo frame and featuring a top and lower storage space with decoupaged fauna and flora over a crackle background.
Category
20th Century American British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Bamboo
British Colonial Style Demi-Lune Leather Top Desk
Located in Palm Beach, FL
British colonial style desk crafted in mahogany in a demilune form with a tooled tan leather top, four drawers and featuring bold turned an...
Category
Late 20th Century American British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Brass
Set of Three 18th Century Hand-Made Brass Candlesticks
Located in Dallas, TX
Set of Three 18th Century Hand-Made Brass Candlesticks were designed to be functional yet attractive as they would remain in plain view all day, and only be utilized at night. Back in the days before electric lighting, candles were worth their weight in silver, as the process to make them was still laborious hand-labor, and the wax itself wasn't inexpensive. Many of our trunks from this period had separate cabinets inside the locked trunk...
Category
1770s English Antique British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Brass
57 Pc Royal Doulton Regal Crest H5221 English Bone China Dinnerware Set, 1993
Located in Dayton, OH
57 piece Royal Doulton fine bone china dinnerware set in pattern H5221 – Regal Crest.
Measures: 8 teacups - 3.5” x 3” / oval platter - 13...
Category
Late 20th Century British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
Cast Iron Umbrella Stand with Dog or Retriever
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Charming antique English umbrella stand cast in iron with a top bracket supported by a stylized tree over a hunting dog with a water tray.
Category
Early 20th Century English British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Iron
Antique British Colonial Inlaid Server from the Philippines
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Rare and remarkable 19th century British colonial two drawer server from the Philippines, handcrafted in mahogany with a lush grain, featuring pegged construction, brass hardware, seashell inlays and elegant turned and beaded legs.
Category
Early 19th Century Philippine Antique British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Brass
British Colonial Style Nest of Faux Bamboo Tables
Located in Palm Beach, FL
British colonial style nest of three tables with faux burnt bamboo frames wrapped with reed and grasscloth panels at the top.
Largest to smallest:
H: 22.5 W: 22 D: 16.5
H: 20 ...
Category
20th Century Philippine British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Bamboo
Antique English Country Mahogany Ladderback Roundabout Corner Arm Chair Seat
Located in Dayton, OH
Antique English Country roundabout corner armchair. Made of mahogany featuring rounded form with ladderback supports over turned posts and supports, vinyl seat and nailhead accents.
Category
Early 20th Century British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Upholstery, Mahogany
Lloyd Loom Lounge Chair in White Grey
Located in Voorburg, NL
Fantastic Lloyd Loom lounge chair in greyish white original Lloyd loom weave. The chair has a stable base made of brushed nickel steel base. The Lloyd loom weave is very strong and c...
Category
Early 2000s British British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Steel
Vintage African Tapestry Wall Hanging with British Colonial Safari Style
Located in Dallas, TX
77336, vintage African rug tapestry. Reminiscences of an exotic journey and worldy sophistication, this vintage African tapestry wall hanging ...
Category
Mid-20th Century Kenyan British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Wool
Antique English Copper Flagon Jug Vessel Pitcher Hallmark #2 C. 1900
Located in Tyler, TX
Beautiful Antique English Copper FLAGON, Pitcher, Vessel or Jug #2~~c. 1900
Excellent heavy copper flagon with hallmark
15" tall to top of handle
...
Category
Early 1900s English Antique British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Copper
Group of Three Escambia Bay Florida Watercolors by Joy Postle
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Historically significant group of three watercolors on paper depicting Escambia Bay Florida as it was before development. Signed by noted American artist Joy Postle...
Category
Early 20th Century American British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Faux Bamboo, Glass, Paint, Paper
Royal Air Force P10 Aircraft Compass No. 10489 T
Located in Chillerton, Isle of Wight
A Royal Air Force P10 aircraft compass No. 10489 T
The compass has a brass body finished in black, it comes in its battleship grey painted wooden ...
Category
1930s Vintage British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Brass
British Colonial Elephant Head Writing Desk
Located in Palm Beach, FL
British colonial style one drawer writing desk or table crafted in walnut with a chic pecan finish with contrived aging and featuring four carved elephant head legs with an India inspired...
Category
20th Century American British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Walnut
Leather Stuffed Elephant
Located in New York, NY
Faux ivory tusks.
Category
Early 19th Century English Antique British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Leather, Straw
British Colonial Style Faux Bamboo and Leather Bookcase
Located in Palm Beach, FL
British colonial style bookcase or etagere featuring a faux bamboo frame, tooled leather panels on the sides, shelves, and drawer fronts having classic lion head hardware...
Category
20th Century Philippine British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Faux Bamboo
Vintage Bamboo Chest with Greek Key Design
Located in Houston, TX
Vintage bamboo chest with Greek key design. This versatile mid-century bamboo chest, side table, end table or bedside table has style and storage ...
Category
1950s Vintage British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Bamboo
British Colonial Style Faux Bamboo Super King Bed Frame in Faux Tortoise
Located in Palm Beach, FL
British colonial style super king bed with faux bamboo faux tortoise posts, borders, and applied geometric designs over a grasscloth background. Complet...
Category
20th Century North American British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Faux Bamboo
Struttura Poltrona Tripolina, Originale Anni 50. Da Transatlantico
Located in Felino, IT
Galleria Profumo e Fuselli di Genova nel 1949. poltrona originale da transatlantico.
struttura in teak , giunti in ottone.
fa parte di una fornitura navale degli anni 50...
Category
1950s European Vintage British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Bronze
British Colonial Style Bamboo Recliner Chair with Ottoman
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Mid century recliner chair crafted in bamboo and bent bamboo with caned seating featuring a pull out ottoman and Morris style reclini...
Category
Mid-20th Century Philippine British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Bamboo
Bamboo Lounge Chair
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Vintage lounge chair crafted with bent bamboo and woven rattan in an elegant modern form featuring pullout footrest and adjustable back.
Extended depth 60".
Category
Mid-20th Century Philippine British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Bamboo, Rattan
Colonial Style Shell Queen Bed in Ebonized Finish
Located in Pasadena, CA
A queen sized 4-poster bed, in Jak wood with an ebonized finish. The bed features hand carved details overall, oversize tassel-style feet, a headboard ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Sri Lankan British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Mahogany
Handsome Military Snare Drum from Sevenoaks Air Training Corps
Located in Chillerton, Isle of Wight
Handsome military snare drum from sevenoaks air training corps.
This a good decorative piece ‘2158 SEVENOAKS SQDn’ AIR TRAINING CORPS’ painted on the f...
Category
Late 20th Century British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Plastic
Pair of Mid-Century British Colonial Style Faux Bamboo and Grasscloth Stands
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Pair of British Colonial style stands or tables with faux bamboo frames having a faux tortoise finish and with round tops and lower tier covered with grasscloth.
Category
20th Century Philippine British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Grasscloth
Tropical Oil Painting on Canvas of a Haitian Road
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Oil Painting on canvas depicting a path or road with figures engaged in daily life in a tropical setting, executed in an atypical impressionist style. Signed Poisson Haiti in the low...
Category
Mid-20th Century Haitian British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Paint
WWw11, Tiny Leather Attaché Case First Aid Medical Equipment
Located in Chillerton, Isle of Wight
WW11, tiny leather attaché case first aid medical equipment
This is a superb piece and is in excellent condition almost unused, the case is mad...
Category
Early 20th Century British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Leather
Two Antique English Bookcases
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Near pair of British colonial bookcases crafted in mahogany in a step down form with brass campaign style side handles, one lower drawer and turned legs on brass casters.
From le...
Category
Early 20th Century English British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Mahogany
Pair of Tray Tables or Stands
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Vintage pair of folding tray or serving tables with woven rattan tops ambitiously crafted with galleries on folding X style bases.
Category
20th Century Philippine British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Rattan
Early 20th Century Vintage English Walnut Buffet Cabinet with Casters
Located in Seattle, WA
English buffet with marble top and 2 doors. The handles and escutcheons are bronze. It rests on four tapered legs that ends in casters.
Dimensions. Approx 36 W ; 30 H ; 19 D.
Category
1920s Vintage British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Mahogany
20th Century British Colonial Bookcase with Bottom Storage
Located in Chicago, IL
This impressively-scaled book cabinet was made from solid Teak wood and dates to the 1940's. During the late British empire in India and Burma much furniture was made in the Art Deco...
Category
Early 20th Century Burmese British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Teak
Pair of French Rattan Cafe Chairs
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Impressive pair of antique French rattan and reed cafe chairs with bent wood frames decorated with painted and natural reed wrapped rattan in a g...
Category
Early 20th Century French British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Rattan, Reed
British Colonial Hutch
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Early 20th century cabinet with two glazed doors above, two drawers and two doors below with solid, raised, panels. Nicely made with through-tenon construction. Great patina.
Category
Early 20th Century Indian British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Hardwood
Inlaid Center Table
By David Linley
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Unusual center table crafted in mahogany and walnut veneer with an octagon form top having a sunburst grain design with a floral border inlaid with Macassar ebony, satinwood, sycamor...
Category
20th Century English British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Burlap, Ebony, Sycamore, Walnut
Drum Form Rattan and Leather Coffee Table
Located in Palm Beach, FL
British colonial style coffee table with a round top composed of a stitched leather abstract mosaic over a classic drum form crafted in reed wrapped rattan on three wrapped legs.
Category
20th Century American British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Rattan
Anglo Indian British Colonial Style Brass Elephant Head on Stand
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Standout Anglo Indian cast brass elephant head sculpture presented on a turned brass stand. Hand polished and lacquered for easy care.
Category
Mid-20th Century Indian British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Brass
British Colonial furniture for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a broad range of unique British Colonial furniture for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the 21st Century and Contemporary, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage furniture created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include tables, case pieces and storage cabinets, seating and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with wood, metal and other materials. If you’re shopping for used British Colonial furniture made in a specific country, there are Europe, Asia, and United Kingdom pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original furniture, popular names associated with this style include Maitland Smith, Baker Furniture Company, Bloomingdale's, and Ralph Lauren. It’s true that these talented designers have at times inspired knockoffs, but our experienced specialists have partnered with only top vetted sellers to offer authentic pieces that come with a buyer protection guarantee. Prices for furniture differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $80 and tops out at $88,000 while the average work can sell for $3,161.
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