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.
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
Rustic Continental-Style Square Wall Clock, Carved Wood, 19th Century
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
$5,229
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
Early 19th Century Austrian Biedermeier Wall Clock
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
A traditional Austrian Biedermeier wall clock featuring a rectangular carved and gilded wood frame clock face; surmounted by a gilt bronze winged eagle. The decorations on the frame ...
Bronze
French 19th Century Ormolu Cartel Wall Clock
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A good quality 19th century French gilded ormolu wall clock, having Rococo influences to the scroll foliate decoration and cherubs above the eight day striking movement, circa 1880.
Ormolu
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
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
$5,766
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
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
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
19th Century Napoleon III French Wall Clock
Located in Winter Park, FL
A 19th century French Napoleon III wall clock with "oeil de boeuf" shaped glass paned door, ebonized wood frame and clock surround with mother-of-pearl inlay decoration. Paper face w...
Brass
$11,140Sale Price|20% Off
H 18.12 in W 12.41 in D 7.49 in
Bracket Clock John F.R.S. Ellicott, London early 18th Century
Located in Münster, DE
Bracket Clock John F.R.S. Ellicott, London (1706–1791) Early 18th century, 8-day movement, striking on 2 bells, 4-note chime/repeater mechanism, date display, brass dial, origi...
Bronze, Brass
19th Century Antique Wall Clock, Wood German
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A rare find Antique French or maybe German wall clock. All wood frame with hand made brass gears. The dial is painted and shows the old paint cracks. I beli...
Wood
Wonderful English 18th-19th Century Red Chinoiserie Grandfather Clock
Located in Ft. Lauderdale, FL
English late 18th-early 19th century red chinoiserie grandfathers clock. Brass dial inscribed Jan Chater. Working condition. Beautiful detail and paint. Wonderful condition.
Metal
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