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
18th Century East Indies Mahogany Raj Bed with Paws
Located in Charleston, SC
An 18th century Raj East Indies bed with elaborate carving, carved tiger paw feet, and a finished tester. Often copying Western or British forms, Rajput courts extracted influence fr...
Category
Late 18th Century Indian Antique British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Mahogany, Rosewood
19th Century Campaign Chair Herbert McNair Design Carved Oak and Tan Leather
Located in High Wycombe, GB
A 19th century Campaign chair of Herbert McNair Design carved oak & polished tan leather adjustable reclining seat.
James Herbert MacNair (23 December 1868 – 22 April 1955), was...
Category
19th Century Scottish Antique British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Leather, Oak
Antique Thai British Colonial Teak and Glass Display Cabinet - Pair
Located in Chicago, IL
Antique Thai British Colonial Teak and Glass Display Cabinet - Pair
This british colonial tall and thin display cabinet has 5 shelves and 2 glass doors. Made of teakwood from Thaila...
Category
Early 1900s Thai Antique British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Glass, Wood, Teak
Early 20th Century Burmese Wood Chest of Drawers
Located in New York, NY
A four-drawer chest in teak wood from old Burma, now Myanmar. Early 20th Century, circa 1925.
Dark finish. Two small drawers, two large. Original brass handles.
Category
1920s Burmese Vintage British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Teak
Mother of Pearl French Colonial Vietnamese 2-Door Cabinet
Located in Pasadena, CA
A solid rosewood cabinet with the front richly inlaid with mother of pearl depicting birds and a delicate floral motif. Made in Vietnam for the export market. The two doors open to r...
Category
20th Century Vietnamese British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Mother-of-Pearl, Rosewood
Colonial 18th Century Vizagapatam Pen-Engraved Writing Desk with Silver Mounts
Located in Amsterdam, NL
A Vizagapatam pen-engraved veneered sandalwood portable writing desk with silver mounts
India, Coromandel coast, Visakhapatnam, circa 1875
...
Category
18th Century Indian Antique British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Bone, Sandalwood
Large British Colonial 19th Century Ebony Sri Lankan Ceylonese Wall Bracket
Located in Amsterdam, NL
A Sri Lankan ebony wall bracket by Don Andris Cabinet Makers, Colombo
Colombo, first half 19th century, stamped Don Andris, Cabinet Makers Colombo on shelf
The shelf suspended by three foliate motif carved rests and one plain rests to the wall.
Measures: H. 50.5 x W. 43 x D. 15.5 cm
Note:
According to J.W. Bennett in 1843 (in: Furniture from British India...
Category
Early 18th Century Indian Antique British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Ebony
19th Century British Colonial Jakwood and Ebony Trunk
Located in Pasadena, CA
A 19th century British Colonial trunk comprised of jakwood and ebony. The trunk features a central hardware piece and carved columns on the sides.
Category
Early 19th Century Sri Lankan Antique British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Ebony
19th Century Black Lacquered Wood Pedestal with Red Stone Inset
Located in New York, NY
A black lacquered pedestal/stand in elm wood, with red root stone top, cabriole legs and base stretcher, Beijing, 19th century.
Category
Mid-19th Century Chinese Antique British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Stone
Tall Antique Indonesian Secretary with Glass Panels
Located in New York, NY
A tall Indonesian antique secretary with twin glass panel doors, mid 19th century. Polychromed wood, three shelves, two drawers. Ornately carved cabriole legs and trim with ball and ...
Category
Late 19th Century Indonesian Antique British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Glass, Wood
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19th Century Chinese Carved Beech Wood Writing Desk
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British Colonial Teak Wood Display Counter
Located in Chicago, IL
This teak wood display counter was once found in a retail store in Rangoon, Burma. It dates to the early 20th century, c. 1910. During the colonial era, business boomed throughout w...
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Glass, Teak
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Located in Brooklyn, NY
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Previously Available Items
Antique East Indian British Colonial Teak 6 Seat Dining Table
Located in Chicago, IL
Antique East Indian British Colonial Teak 6 seat dining table
This antique British colonial teak wood dining table seats up to 6 people. It has ...
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Early 1900s Indian Antique British Colonial Furniture
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Teak
Rectangular Scorched Burnt or Tortoise Bamboo and Cane Coffee or Cocktail Table
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
Tortoise shell or scorched bamboo coffee table. Beautiful rectangular coffee table with black woven cane or rattan top. Legs are splayed and are connected with a crossbar stretcher f...
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Mid-20th Century Central Asian British Colonial Furniture
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Bamboo, Cane
H 19 in W 30 in D 18 in
Pair of Anglo Indian Style 20th Century Mahogany and Cane Seat Plantation Chairs
Located in Ft. Lauderdale, FL
A charming and very British colonial pair of plantation or planter's chairs made of solid mahogany with decorative turnings and with caned seat and back in good condition. Part of th...
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Mid-20th Century Indian British Colonial Furniture
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Cane, Mahogany
H 34 in W 30.5 in D 43.5 in
19th Century Anglo-Indian Campaign Set
Located in Dallas, TX
Gorgeous and extremely rare 19th century Anglo-Indian campaign set.
Museum quality pieces!
19th century Anglo-Indian campaign set includes:
1. Collapsible peacock chair.
2. Collapsible table
3. Stationary/writing box.
4. Wall/picture frame.
5. Taj Mahal serving tray.
Extremely fine workmanship throughout. These pieces would have taken months to complete by the numerous craftsmen that would have been involved in making them.
From circa 1880 and made of teak profusely inlaid with floral bone motifs.
The back splat of chair culminating in two peacocks facing each other with full plumage.
The chair handles...
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British Colonial Style Teak Wood King-Size Bed
Located in Chicago, IL
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21st Century and Contemporary British Colonial Furniture
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Indian Bone and Teak Four-Poster Bed
Located in Hawthorne, CA
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British Colonial Style Bookcase
Located in Chicago, IL
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20th Century Thai British Colonial Furniture
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Glass, Teak
British Colonial Style Breakfront Bookcase
Located in Chicago, IL
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20th Century Thai British Colonial Furniture
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Glass, Teak
British Colonial Style Breakfront Bookcase
Located in Chicago, IL
This Mid-Century Modern cabinet comes in two parts; the top display case features four sliding doors with glass panes. The lower section boasts ample storage space in the form of two...
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20th Century Thai British Colonial Furniture
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Glass, Teak
British Colonial Style Breakfront Bookcase
Located in Chicago, IL
This Mid-Century Modern cabinet comes in two parts; both the top and bottom have two pairs of glass paned doors that open to compartments lined with shelves.
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20th Century Thai British Colonial Furniture
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Glass, Teak
British Colonial Marble Top Table
Located in Chicago, IL
This charming table features an inset top raised on cabriole legs joined by an H-form stretcher. It makes a unique alternative to a traditional desk however, given its versatile size...
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20th Century Indian British Colonial Furniture
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Marble
Pair Vintage Chinese Rosewood Tambor Side Bed Storage Drawer Tables
Located in Wilton, CT
Beautifully made pair of vintage Chinese rosewood side tables, circa 1970s. Each with four storage drawers concealed behind a vertical tamb...
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1970s Hong Kong Vintage British Colonial Furniture
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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 Early 20th Century, 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 asian art and furniture, case pieces and storage cabinets, decorative objects and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with wood, hardwood and other materials. If you’re shopping for used British Colonial furniture made in a specific country, there are Asia, South Asia, and Southeast Asia pieces for sale on 1stDibs. 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 $3,300 and tops out at $44,500 while the average work can sell for $5,861.
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