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.
Charles Elkan Rustic Burl Wood Three Dial Clock and Weather Station
Located in Queens, NY
Vintage Rustic weather station containing three dials: a clock, barometer, and thermometer, with brass trim and beige and black enamel faces, mounted in a burl wood case with live to...
Brass
Rustic Continental Style Wooden Square Wall or Table Clock with Glass Inset
Located in Queens, NY
Rustic Continental-style square table or wall clock with a silver metal and glass case containing carved wooden Roman numerals surrounding a central beige and black clock face, toppe...
Glass
18th C. English Pine Curtis & Horspool London Act of Parliament Tavern Clock
Located in Dayton, OH
18th century monumental museum quality Act of Parlament clock. Made from pine with a large round face over elongated case. Features an enameled metal face marked Curis Horspool in Le...
Pine
$5,140
H 95.67 in W 23.63 in D 10.24 in
Masterful antique English grandfather clock, mahogany, 18th century
Located in Berlin, DE
Masterful antique English grandfather clock, mahogany, 18th century. English grandfather clock, 18th century, mahogany veneer with ...
Metal, Brass, Iron
Black Industrial Square Wall Clock from Pragotron, 1970s
By Pragotron
Located in Kojetice, CZ
- Wall clock designed by Pragotron in former Czechoslovakia during the 1970s and made till 1990s - Was used in factories, schools and railway stations - Newly black painted metal fr...
Aluminum, Iron
Angelus Weather Station
By Angelus
Located in Buenos Aires, Argentina
Angelus Weather Station Table clock with 8 day movement Very fine and rare weather station Circa 1960 Origin Switzerland Motif: ship's wheel Clock - barometer - hygrometer - thermometer everything works Very good condition (natural wear) hand winding Angelus was founded by the brothers Stolz with the establishment of a watchmaking Manufacture in Le Locle, Switzerland. Over the past century, Angelus forged a fine reputation for creating exceptional chronograph and multi-complication wristwatches, multi-display travel clocks with long power reserves, and alarm watches. 1891 Brothers Albert and Gustav Stolz – distinguished watchmakers and former students of Henri Sandoz who was director of the Tavannes Watch...
Bronze
18th Century English Chinoiserie Clock
Located in Charlottesville, VA
An 18th century English longcase clock with chinoiserie decoration on a black lacquer ground, featuring gilt figures, pagodas, and landscape motifs throughout the case. The arched ho...
Brass
Late 18th Century English Chinoiserie Tavern Clock
Located in Gloucestershire, GB
Beautiful late 18th Century English Chinoiserie wall or tavern clock. The Chinoiserie decoration on this clock case is of excellent quality and the scale is impressive too. A good br...
Brass
ELEGANT 18th CENTURY LONDON LONGCASE CLOCK
Located in Lincolnshire, GB
A George III period fiddle back mahogany longcase clock. The eight day movement with a full brass dial signed Ed Mann, London Fully cleaned with 2 years warranty Circa 1775
Brass
1950s Swiss Omega Square Table Clock
By Omega
Located in Marbella, ES
1950s Swiss Omega square table cock.
Bronze
$5,683
H 99.61 in W 27.56 in D 12.21 in
Unique Antique English Grandfather Clock, Mahogany, 18th Century
Located in Berlin, DE
Unique antique English grandfather clock, mahogany, 18th century. English floor clock, 18th century, mahogany veneer with root woo...
Wood, Mahogany
Austrian Wooden Round Art Deco Wall Clock
Located in Vienna, AT
Wooden walnut round clock face and brass clock hands. Fitted with a battery movement. Made in Austria in the 1930s. Fully restored with glossy finish.
Brass
Vintage Teak Weather Station by Barigo, Germany, 1960s
Located in Esbjerg, DK
A stylish and sleek wall or table weather station with thermometer, barometer and hygrometer. Designed and made in Germany during the 1960'erne by Barigo. Measurements: W: 17.5 cm,...
Acrylic, Teak
18th Century English Chinoiserie Decorated Tall Case Clock
Located in Charlottesville, VA
Tall case clock with chinoiserie decoration throughout the case, including figures, pagodas, and flowering trees in gold. The hood has a pagoda top with brass finials and flanking co...
Brass
David Weatherly Philadelphia Tall Case Clock
Located in East Aurora, NY
A very nice Pennsylvania federal tall case clock by David Weatherly (1779-1851) in a beautifully veneered Mahogany case likely made by Thomas O...
Mahogany
Vintage Wall Clock
Located in Chicago, IL
Likely 19th century, British mechanism (still functional) brought to Burma during the colonial period. The face is missing. Hardwood frame.
Metal