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.
Anglo Indian Bronze Serving Bowl on a Palm Tree Stand with Camel
Located in Palm Beach, FL
British colonial style cast bronze fruit or serving bowl on a palm tree stand over a camel on a faux terra firma base.
Bronze
Antique English Pewter Plate
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Pewter plate made in England by unknown manufacturer. An good original condition, with minor wear consistent with age and use, preserving a beautiful p...
Pewter
Late 20th Century John Somers Pewter Round Flower Bowl
By John Somers
Located in Raleigh, US
John Somers Brazilian Pewter ‘Floreira’ Flower Bowl Dimensions: 5 x 5 inches (round) Material: High-quality Brazilian pewter Features: Footed base for stability and elegance Sophist...
Pewter
Carved Coral Bowl or Planter
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Here is a large piece of bowl coral with its bleached white color and sea inspired texture, carved and repurposed as a bowl or planter. Available only in the United States of Americ...
Coral
Hand-Cast Polished Bronze Indian Bowl, Vide-Poche
Located in London, London
Charming and elegant bronze Indian decorative bowl, vide-poche. The piece is entirely handcrafted with great skills and talent. Cast using very traditional techniques, the bowl is p...
Bronze
$131 / item
H 1.97 in W 5.12 in D 5.12 in
Handmade Cast Bronze with Dark Patina Decorative Indian Bowl, Vide-Poche
Located in London, London
Charming and elegant bronze Indian decorative bowl, vide-poche. The piece is entirely handcrafted with great skills and talent. Cast using very traditional techniques, the inside of...
Bronze
19th Century Anglo-Indian Silver Bowl
Located in High Point, NC
19th century Anglo-Indian silver bowl with a rounded melon shaped base decorated with medallions which have pictures of animals and palms, under a rim which has lovely reticulated foliage. Supported on three fish feet.
Silver
Onyx Lidded Bowl, 20th Century
Located in San Juan Capistrano, CA
Highly Figured Onyx Lidded Bowl, 20th Century.
Onyx
Rare Edvin Ollers Pewter Bowl, Sweden - Antique - 1907
By Edvin Ollers
Located in Stockholm, SE
An exceptional and rare pewter compote bowl/center piece designed by Edvin Ollers in 1907, a renowned Swedish artist and designer celebrated for his contributions to early 20th-centu...
Pewter
Art Nouveau Footed Tray Made By Liberty & Co., English Hammered Antique Pewter
Located in Rothley, Leicestershire
Art Nouveau antique pewter footed tray made by Liberty & Co., Regent Street, London Historic household piece of English pewter with hand hammered stylised decoration Circa 1910 S...
Pewter
19th Century Japanese Painted Imari Shall Bowl on Bronze Dore Stand
Located in Dallas, TX
Decorate a console with this antique Imari bowl for a small dose of oriental design in your home. Crafted in Japan circa 1860, the circular porcelai...
Bronze
Set of Two Handmade Cast Bronze Indian Bowl, Vide-Poche
Located in London, London
Charming and elegant bronze Indian decorative bowls, vide-poche. The pieces are entirely handcrafted with great skills and talent. Cast using very traditional techniques, the inside...
Bronze
Mipreshus Medium Glass Bowl
Located in San Andreas Atoto, MX
In 1994, Nouveistudio originates and evolves as an artistic workshop dedicated to experimentation and development in glass. After expert handlers capable of responding to any need, t...
Glass
$6,741Sale Price / set|50% Off
H 10.15 in Dm 13.35 in
18th Century Qianlong Jade Bowl On 19th Century Gilt Bronze Stand
By Henri Picard
Located in London, by appointment only
Magnificent Grand Scale Late 18th Century Qianlong Period Spinach Green Jade Bowl On 19th Century Gilt Bronze Stand By Henri Picard. To have created a sculptural bowl of this excepti...
Jade, Bronze
$526Sale Price|34% Off
H 5.12 in W 6.3 in D 4.93 in
Antique Sugar Bowl Gilded Interior, English Silver-Plated Ornate Floral Design
Located in Wembley, GB
Antique English Silver-Plated Sugar Bowl with Gilded Interior, Ornate Floral Design Description: This antique English silver-plated sugar bowl features an elegant gilded (gold-wash...
Gold Plate, Silver, Sterling Silver
Chinese Export Silver Dragon Bowl on Stand
Located in Stamford, CT
19th century Chinese export silver bowl. Decorated in a bold repoussè dragon motif with two dragons contending for a center flaming pearl of wisdom amongst clouds and chased ground. Marked on the underside KHL. Carved wooden stand...
Silver
Italian Majolica Ceramic Bowl in the Shape of a Lion's Head 1960
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Vintage Italian handcrafted Majolica ceramic bowl, ashtray in the shape of a lion's head. Decorate a shelf or a kitchen counter with this elegant Majolica bowl hand painted and is be...
Ceramic
Antique English Brass Planter Lion Heads Flowerpot Pub Scenes c.1930
Located in Tyler, TX
EXCELLENT Antique English Brass Planter Flower Pot Jardiniere with Lions Heads and Pub Scene~~c. 1930 Beautiful decorative brass planter~~excell...
Brass
Sold
H 11.25 in W 9 in D 9.5 in
Antique Carl Thieme German Dresden Footed Reticulated Baroque Compote 11"
Located in Dayton, OH
Antique Carl Thieme German Dresden centerpiece compote. Made of porcelain featuring high relief footed base and reticulated / pierced scalloped bowl with two colonial figures, a man...
Porcelain
Sold
H 14.25 in Dm 12 in
Antique English Brass Planter Rams Heads Hoof Feet Flower Pot Hand Seamed C.1900
Located in Tyler, TX
EXCELLENT Antique English Brass Planter Flower Pot Jardiniere with Rams' Heads and Hooved Feet~~c. 1900 Beautiful decorative brass planter~~ex...
Brass
Sold
H 20 in W 15 in D 9.5 in
Antique English Planter Basket Hammered Copper w Brass Handle Coal Hod Hearth
Located in Tyler, TX
Charming antique English hammered copper basket or planter with brass handle~~c. 1900 Popular decorative accent for a fireplace, hearth or kitchen in today's French Country, Englis...
Brass, Copper
Sold
H 7 in W 11.5 in D 8 in
Glazed Ceramic Majolica Lucky Elephant Key Dish with Green Botanical Motif
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
This beautiful polychrome majolica key dish will be the perfect addition to a foyer table, coffee table, or nightstand. It is very heavy for its size and crea...
Ceramic, Paint
Antique English Pewter Plate
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Pewter plate made in England by unknown manufacturer. An good original condition, with minor wear consistent with age and use, preserving a beautiful p...
Metal
Blue Round Wedgwood Jasperware Dish with Man and Floral Detail, England
By Wedgwood
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
Jasperware dish in blue and white. This round dish is blue with white floral decorations at the edges. At the center, a man with a beard is featured. Signed at bottom Wedgwood Made i...
Ceramic
Sold
H 7.5 in W 42 in D 19 in
Oversize Metal Bronze Palm Frond Leaf Centerpiece Bowl Philippines, circa 1950
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
Large oversize metal palm leaf frond bowl. In a beautiful bronze or brass patina, this piece is the perfect way to add a finishing touch to a dining room or entryway. Extremely long,...
Metal, Brass, Bronze
Decorative Waste Basket
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Well-dressed waste basket crafted with bamboo, wicker and reed. Featuring four monochrome landscapes with woven argyle side panels and beaded bun feet.
Wicker
British Colonial Rattan Serving Tray or Basket with Tiger Handles
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Vintage oval serving tray or basket crafted with rattan and lined inside with luxurious tiger print upholstery. Featuring cast aluminium figural tiger handles.
Large Malachite Ashtray or Vide Poche
Located in Auribeau sur Siagne, FR
Large Malachite ashtray or vide poche. Large size, very heavy; item rare for these reasons.