Spanish Colonial Furniture
After the conquest of Mexico in 1521 and the Philippines in 1565, Spain dictated a global culture. The colonization of territories in the Americas, Western Europe, Africa, Oceania and the Pacific imposed the values of Spain, including Catholicism, while the extraction of resources reinforced the empire’s wealth and power. Unlike many styles that came out of European colonialism, such as British Colonial, Spanish Colonial furniture and architecture frequently mixed local heritage with the artistic traditions of Spain.
Spanish Colonial furniture was informed by the shifting styles of Europe as well as Indigenous culture. There were Inca tapestries depicting Spanish coats of arms and Baroque chairs adorned with tropical flora. The butaca, a low easy chair popular in the Caribbean, was inspired by Rococo’s curving forms and the shape of precolonial seating. In New Mexico, Pueblo artisans carved chests with patterns reminiscent of Anasazi art.
Even within the homes of the wealthy, furniture was usually restricted to necessities like benches, desks, cupboards and chests. These were often ornately designed and especially important for storing prized goods like textiles. Spanish Colonial houses were built with adobe and clay and tended to be minimally decorated, so the style’s heavily carved wooden furniture pieces stood out against a home’s white stucco walls.
The Spanish Colonial period mostly came to an end after the territories achieved independence from Spain. However, its aesthetics continued to influence Southwestern style and Spanish Colonial Revival style after Spanish Colonial style was used extensively at San Diego’s 1915 Panama-California Exposition.
Find a collection of antique Spanish Colonial chairs, tables, bedroom furniture and other furniture on 1stDibs.
18th Century Spanish Antique Spanish Colonial Furniture
Canvas
Mid-18th Century Mexican Antique Spanish Colonial Furniture
Gesso, Wood, Giltwood, Paint
18th Century Philippine Antique Spanish Colonial Furniture
Wood
17th Century Mexican Antique Spanish Colonial Furniture
Wood
Early 18th Century Spanish Antique Spanish Colonial Furniture
Cedar
16th Century Spanish Antique Spanish Colonial Furniture
Parchment Paper
Late 18th Century Antique Spanish Colonial Furniture
Iron
1790s Spanish Antique Spanish Colonial Furniture
Ceramic
Late 17th Century Spanish Antique Spanish Colonial Furniture
Wrought Iron
18th Century Spanish Antique Spanish Colonial Furniture
Iron
17th Century Antique Spanish Colonial Furniture
Gesso, Hardwood
18th Century Antique Spanish Colonial Furniture
Wood
Mid-18th Century Peruvian Antique Spanish Colonial Furniture
Wood
17th Century Antique Spanish Colonial Furniture
Iron
18th Century Mexican Antique Spanish Colonial Furniture
Wood, Paint
Late 18th Century Portuguese Antique Spanish Colonial Furniture
Ceramic
18th Century Mexican Antique Spanish Colonial Furniture
Canvas, Paint
Late 18th Century Antique Spanish Colonial Furniture
Gesso, Wood, Paint
18th Century Spanish Antique Spanish Colonial Furniture
Paint
16th Century Spanish Antique Spanish Colonial Furniture
Wrought Iron
18th Century Spanish Antique Spanish Colonial Furniture
Tin
Late 18th Century Mexican Antique Spanish Colonial Furniture
Copper
18th Century Peruvian Antique Spanish Colonial Furniture
Canvas
Mid-18th Century Mexican Antique Spanish Colonial Furniture
Ceramic, Terracotta
18th Century Peruvian Antique Spanish Colonial Furniture
Mother-of-Pearl, Teak
Late 17th Century Spanish Antique Spanish Colonial Furniture
Wood
Early 18th Century Italian Antique Spanish Colonial Furniture
Wrought Iron
18th Century Mexican Antique Spanish Colonial Furniture
Plaster, Wood, Paint
1790s Chilean Antique Spanish Colonial Furniture
Wood
Late 18th Century Antique Spanish Colonial Furniture
Wood, Paint
Late 17th Century Peruvian Antique Spanish Colonial Furniture
Canvas
1720s Peruvian Antique Spanish Colonial Furniture
Canvas
18th Century Antique Spanish Colonial Furniture
Wood
18th Century Antique Spanish Colonial Furniture
Walnut
18th Century Spanish Antique Spanish Colonial Furniture
Wrought Iron
17th Century Spanish Antique Spanish Colonial Furniture
Wrought Iron
Early 18th Century North American Antique Spanish Colonial Furniture
Other
16th Century Spanish Antique Spanish Colonial Furniture
Brass
Late 18th Century Mexican Antique Spanish Colonial Furniture
Gold Leaf
18th Century Spanish Antique Spanish Colonial Furniture
Oak
1780s Peruvian Antique Spanish Colonial Furniture
Wood
18th Century Spanish Antique Spanish Colonial Furniture
Wood
18th Century Spanish Antique Spanish Colonial Furniture
Paint
Late 18th Century Central American Antique Spanish Colonial Furniture
Paint
Mid-18th Century Peruvian Antique Spanish Colonial Furniture
Canvas
Mid-18th Century Antique Spanish Colonial Furniture
Canvas
18th Century Antique Spanish Colonial Furniture
Walnut
17th Century Dutch Antique Spanish Colonial Furniture
Glass, Wood, Paper
Late 18th Century Spanish Antique Spanish Colonial Furniture
Leather, Ebony
17th Century Spanish Antique Spanish Colonial Furniture
Wood
18th Century Peruvian Antique Spanish Colonial Furniture
17th Century Spanish Antique Spanish Colonial Furniture
Paint
18th Century Guatemalan Antique Spanish Colonial Furniture
Metal
18th Century Antique Spanish Colonial Furniture
Glass, Wood, Paint
1750s Mexican Antique Spanish Colonial Furniture
Silver
Early 18th Century Peruvian Antique Spanish Colonial Furniture
Canvas
Mid-18th Century Mexican Antique Spanish Colonial Furniture
Canvas
Early 18th Century Bolivian Antique Spanish Colonial Furniture
Canvas