Vintage British Colonial Dresser
1970s Unknown British Colonial Vintage British Colonial Dresser
Bamboo, Cane
1970s Unknown British Colonial Vintage British Colonial Dresser
Bamboo, Cane
1990s American British Colonial Vintage British Colonial Dresser
Faux Bamboo, Cane
Mid-20th Century American British Colonial Vintage British Colonial Dresser
Brass
20th Century Indian British Colonial Vintage British Colonial Dresser
Iron
20th Century Philippine British Colonial Vintage British Colonial Dresser
Grasscloth, Faux Bamboo
Late 20th Century British Colonial Vintage British Colonial Dresser
Marble
Late 20th Century Japanese British Colonial Vintage British Colonial Dresser
Porcelain
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage British Colonial Dresser
Brass
People Also Browsed
21st Century and Contemporary Swedish Mid-Century Modern Vintage British Colonial Dresser
Textile
2010s American Vintage British Colonial Dresser
Brass
2010s Austrian Jugendstil Vintage British Colonial Dresser
Silk
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Modern Vintage British Colonial Dresser
Velvet, Walnut
2010s South African Minimalist Vintage British Colonial Dresser
Hardwood
21st Century and Contemporary Swedish Scandinavian Modern Vintage British Colonial Dresser
Metal
21st Century and Contemporary American American Classical Vintage British Colonial Dresser
Wood
21st Century and Contemporary American American Classical Vintage British Colonial Dresser
Wood
2010s Mexican Mid-Century Modern Vintage British Colonial Dresser
Hardwood
21st Century and Contemporary American Bohemian Vintage British Colonial Dresser
Brass
2010s Italian Modern Vintage British Colonial Dresser
Alabaster, Brass
1970s French Space Age Vintage British Colonial Dresser
Metal, Aluminum
2010s Austrian Art Deco Vintage British Colonial Dresser
Brass
21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese Rustic Vintage British Colonial Dresser
Wood
Mid-20th Century North American Regency Vintage British Colonial Dresser
Walnut
2010s Italian Modern Vintage British Colonial Dresser
Metal, Brass
Recent Sales
20th Century Thai British Colonial Vintage British Colonial Dresser
Teak, Lacquer
20th Century British British Colonial Vintage British Colonial Dresser
Bamboo, Cane
1980s American British Colonial Vintage British Colonial Dresser
Bamboo
20th Century American British Colonial Vintage British Colonial Dresser
Faux Bamboo
Mid-20th Century American British Colonial Vintage British Colonial Dresser
1990s Unknown British Colonial Vintage British Colonial Dresser
Faux Bamboo, Cane, Rattan
20th Century American British Colonial Vintage British Colonial Dresser
20th Century American British Colonial Vintage British Colonial Dresser
20th Century Thai Vintage British Colonial Dresser
Paint
Late 20th Century English British Colonial Vintage British Colonial Dresser
20th Century American British Colonial Vintage British Colonial Dresser
Mahogany
Late 20th Century Philippine British Colonial Vintage British Colonial Dresser
Brass
Late 20th Century Philippine British Colonial Vintage British Colonial Dresser
Brass
Late 20th Century American British Colonial Vintage British Colonial Dresser
Cane, Faux Bamboo
1990s American British Colonial Vintage British Colonial Dresser
20th Century Philippine British Colonial Vintage British Colonial Dresser
Grasscloth, Bamboo
Late 20th Century Philippine British Colonial Vintage British Colonial Dresser
Grasscloth, Faux Bamboo
20th Century American British Colonial Vintage British Colonial Dresser
Reed, Rattan
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Vintage British Colonial Dresser
Brass
20th Century Philippine British Colonial Vintage British Colonial Dresser
Grasscloth
20th Century American British Colonial Vintage British Colonial Dresser
20th Century American Campaign Vintage British Colonial Dresser
Mahogany
20th Century British British Colonial Vintage British Colonial Dresser
Bamboo, Cane
1970s Unknown British Colonial Vintage British Colonial Dresser
Bamboo, Cane
1980s American British Colonial Vintage British Colonial Dresser
Bamboo, Cane
20th Century Bermudian British Colonial Vintage British Colonial Dresser
Bamboo, Cane
20th Century Bermudian British Colonial Vintage British Colonial Dresser
Bamboo, Cane
Mid-20th Century Philippine British Colonial Vintage British Colonial Dresser
Grasscloth, Bamboo, Rattan, Wood
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage British Colonial Dresser
Bamboo, Cane, Rattan
Mid-20th Century British Colonial Vintage British Colonial Dresser
Rattan, Leather, Grasscloth
20th Century Bermudian British Colonial Vintage British Colonial Dresser
Bamboo, Cane
1980s Unknown British Colonial Vintage British Colonial Dresser
Brass
20th Century Philippine British Colonial Vintage British Colonial Dresser
Grasscloth, Bamboo, Wood
1970s Unknown British Colonial Vintage British Colonial Dresser
Bamboo, Cane
1970s North American Campaign Vintage British Colonial Dresser
Brass
1970s Unknown British Colonial Vintage British Colonial Dresser
Bamboo, Cane
20th Century American British Colonial Vintage British Colonial Dresser
Late 20th Century American British Colonial Vintage British Colonial Dresser
Brass
20th Century American British Colonial Vintage British Colonial Dresser
Grasscloth, Bamboo
Late 20th Century Philippine Mid-Century Modern Vintage British Colonial Dresser
Grasscloth, Faux Bamboo
1970s Asian British Colonial Vintage British Colonial Dresser
Brass
1970s Canadian British Colonial Vintage British Colonial Dresser
A Close Look at 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.
Finding the Right storage-case-pieces for You
Of all the antique and vintage case pieces and storage cabinets that have become popular in modern interiors over the years, dressers, credenzas and cabinets have long been home staples, perfect for routine storage or protection of personal items.
In the mid-19th century, cabinetmakers would mimic styles originating in the Louis XIV, Louis XV and Louis XVI eras for their dressers, bookshelves and other structures, and, later, simpler, streamlined wood designs allowed these “case pieces” or “case goods” — any furnishing that is unupholstered and has some semblance of a storage component — to blend into the background of any interior.
Mid-century modern furniture enthusiasts will cite the tall modular wall units crafted in teak and other sought-after woods of the era by the likes of George Nelson, Poul Cadovius and Finn Juhl. For these highly customizable furnishings, designers of the day delivered an alternative to big, heavy bookcases by considering the use of space — and, in particular, walls — in new and innovative ways. Mid-century modern credenzas, which, long and low, evolved from tables that were built as early as the 14th century in Italy, typically have no legs or very short legs and have grown in popularity as an alluring storage option over time.
Although the name immediately invokes images of clothing, dressers were initially created in Europe for a much different purpose. This furnishing was initially a flat-surfaced, low-profile side table equipped with a few drawers — a common fixture used to dress and prepare meats in English kitchens throughout the Tudor period. The drawers served as perfect utensil storage. It wasn’t until the design made its way to North America that it became enlarged and equipped with enough space to hold clothing and cosmetics. The very history of storage case pieces is a testament to their versatility and well-earned place in any room.
In the spirit of positioning your case goods center stage, decluttering can now be design-minded.
A contemporary case piece with open shelving and painted wood details can prove functional as a storage unit as easily as it can a room divider. Whether you’re seeking a playful sideboard made of colored glass and metals, an antique Italian hand-carved storage cabinet or a glass-door vitrine to store and show off your collectibles, there are options for you on 1stDibs.