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.
Miniature Brass Log Holder, English Country Style, Mid-20th Century
Located in Queens, NY
3 English-style Miniature (mid-20th Century) pen holder in the shape of a brass log holder (PRICED EACH)
Brass
$1,229Sale Price|20% Off
Antique Decorative Desk Stand, Indian, Ebony, Colonial Writer's Tidy, Victorian
Located in Hele, Devon, GB
This is an antique decorative desk stand. An Indian, ebony Colonial writer's tidy, dating to the early Victorian period, circa 1850. Striking dark tonality with eye-catching Colon...
Ebony
Art Deco Brass and Steel Shears
Located in Queens, NY
Art Deco brass and steel shears.
Brass
English Art Deco Chrome Plated Shears
Located in Queens, NY
English Art Deco large chrome plated shears.
Chrome
Vintage Brass and Metal Lighter, Italy, Mid-20th Century
Located in Roma, IT
Vintage brass and metal lighter is an original decorative object realized in the mid-20th century. A metal vintage ashtray perfect to enjoy relax moment. Produced by Jewelry Ga...
Metal, Brass
Vintage Leather Desk Complete Set, Mid-20th Century
Located in Roma, IT
Leather desk complete set is an original set of decorative set of objects realized in the mid-20th century. Mixed media: Leather, paper, plexiglass, brass and tissue. Made in ...
Leather, Glass, Plexiglass
$269 / item
H 0.75 in W 5.5 in D 0.75 in
Minimal Bottle Opener Made in Brass, Stainless Steel and Raw Steel
Located in Chicago, IL
Strong in form and heavy in weight, the bottle openers are elegant in their simplicity and precision. Solid bar stock is transformed through the most minimal intervention possible, c...
Steel, Brass, Stainless Steel
$1,844
H 4.73 in Dm 3.43 in
Stunning English Solid Sterling Silver 1936 Art Deco Style Cigarette Dispenser
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
We are delighted to offer this lovely 1936 solid sterling silver art deco cigarette dispenser A very good looking and well made piece, full...
Sterling Silver
$1,687Sale Price|25% Off
H 7.26 in W 9.82 in D 2.15 in
JAZ Paris 1930 Art Deco Geometric 8 Days Glass Desk Clock in Stainless Steel
By Jaz
Located in Miami, FL
A desk clock designed by Jaz Paris. A beautiful and very handsome desk clock, created in Paris France by the the clock company of Jaz during the art deco period, back in the early 1930. This very decorative piece is very hard to find has been designed with geometric art deco patterns and assembled from an octagonal beveled cranberry glass and stainless steel steeped mountings. Deceptively weighty time piece showing the quality that one expects from this maker. Movement: French mechanical wingding Jaz movement, Eleven Jewels, 8 days. The dial is round with metallic cranberry color, Arabic silver...
Steel, Stainless Steel
Art Deco marble and bronze bookends
Located in Autonomous City Buenos Aires, CABA
Art Deco marble and bronze bookends Beautiful bookends in black marble with bronze patinated in Pompeian green, with representation of men in a carrying position showing how they car...
Marble, Bronze
Large Vintage Cast Metal Decorative or Toy Colonial Canon Model
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
This large cast metal canon shows no maker's marks, but is presumed to have been made in the United States in circa 1965 in a Colonial Revival style. This model canon...
Metal
$265
H 8.5 in W 3.75 in D 3.75 in
Art Deco Geometric Squared Base Chrome & Bakelite Fountain Pen signed Esterbrook
Located in New York, NY
This exceptional Art Deco fountain pen, crafted by Esterbrook in America circa 1935, embodies the sleek geometric design principles of the period...
Chrome
$1,200Sale Price|20% Off
H 5.5 in W 3.75 in D 3 in
Art Deco Silver Plate Tennis Racket Bookends, France, Circa 1940
Located in Miami, FL
A pair of bookends, cast in silver-plated metal and designed as a tribute to the game of tennis. Each bookend takes the form of an arched, tombstone-shaped upright plate, against whi...
Silver Plate
$450
H 3.13 in W 5.38 in D 2.13 in
Desk Business Card Holder, VIP, Lucite Acrylic, Postmodern, Late 20th Century
Located in New York, NY
An acrylic VIP business card holder, Postmodern design period, circa late-20th century. VIP in red translucent acrylic, attached to transparent holder base. Demonstrated holding busi...
Acrylic, Lucite
Vintage Italian glass paperweight, mid 20th century
Located in View Park, CA
Vintage glass paperweight, probably Italian circa 1960.
Glass
Mid-Century Modern Italian-Made Office or Dressmaking Shears I S A
Located in Chula Vista, CA
For your consideration, a vintage Italian-made office or dressmaking shears. Produced by ISA (Industrie Specializzate Articoli) from the Premana region in Italy. Forged in Premana, ...
Stainless Steel
Vintage Caledonia Tartan Mauchline-Style Card Case
Located in Atlanta, GA
A tartan-decorated card case in the tradition of Mauchline ware, but likely produced in the second half of the 20th century, reflecting a revivalist interest in Scottish decorative h...
Wood, Paper
Zebra Hide Desk Set
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Rare and remarkable vintage campaign zebra desk set with a blotter, a notepad, and a pen holder. Possible Hermes. Blotter H: 12 W: 23 D: .5 Notepad H: 5.5 W: 8 D: 1 Penholde...
Zebra Hide