British Colonial Sculptures
BRITISH COLONIAL STYLE
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.
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Style: British Colonial
Very Large Bronze Elephant Sculpture, Near Life Size
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Rare and remarkable elephant sculpture expertly crafted in bronze with a lush patina, ambitious attention to detail, and a dramatic near life size scale.
Category
20th Century American British Colonial Sculptures
Materials
Bronze
Maitland Smith Jockeys on Horse Bronze Equestrian Racing Statue 18"
Located in Dayton, OH
Vintage Maitland Smith bronze two jockeys on horses equestrian racing statue featuring leather wrapped base.
Dimensions:
17.5" x 9.5" x 15" h
Category
Late 20th Century British Colonial Sculptures
Materials
Bronze
Taxidermie - Splendide cages aux Oiseaux - 14 perroquets et perruches
By Artistics
Located in TOULON, FR
Quatorze magnifiques oiseaux exotiques perchés à l'extérieur d'une grande cage ronde en métal.
Hauteur totale : 1,57 m, largeur : 1 m.
Amazone à front blanc, toui à lunettes, ara ble...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary British Colonial Sculptures
Materials
Animal Skin, Bamboo
After Joseph Pitts, Parian Bust of F.A. Cox, 1854
Located in New York, NY
After Joseph Pitts (English, active 1830-1870), A Parian Ware Bust of F[rancis]. A[ugustus]. Cox (English, 1783 - 1853), signed "Jos.h Pitts, SC / London / 1854" to left side, and in...
Category
Mid-20th Century European British Colonial Sculptures
Materials
Marble
A Fossilized Whale Vertebrae
Located in Savannah, GA
A fossilized whale vertebrae from 19th century specimen collection.
10 ½ inches wide by 8 inches deep by 8 inches tall
Category
Mid-19th Century Unknown Antique British Colonial Sculptures
Materials
Other
Maitland Smith Bronze Figural Monkey Sculpture Toilet Paper Holder 21"
Located in Dayton, OH
Large vintage Maitland Smith bronze sculpture or statue of a happy monkey walking on all fours with his tail raised over his back. Use...
Category
Late 20th Century British Colonial Sculptures
Materials
Bronze
Pair of Early 19th Century English Antique Decorative Wooden Oak & Pine Globes
Located in Stockholm, SE
Pair of British colonial wooden sculptural globes. The brown one is in solid oak and the black in stained pine. In great vintage condition and very decorative.
Sold as a set.
Dime...
Category
Early 19th Century British Antique British Colonial Sculptures
Materials
Oak, Pine
Maitland Smith Tessilated Marble & Brass Turtle Thinker Obelisk Sculpture 20”
Located in Dayton, OH
Vintage Maitland Smith stone tesslated marble stone obelisk sculpture standing on the backs of four brass turtles, which in turn sit atop a square pedestal. At the tip of the obelisk sits another brass turtle, anthropomorphized in the position of The Thinker. Marked 198 on base. Hand Made in the...
Category
Late 20th Century British Colonial Sculptures
Materials
Marble, Brass
Carved Wood Colorful Life Size Palm Tree Sculpture
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Extraordinary tall vintage palm tree sculpture handcrafted in wood carved and paint decorated with leaves, coconuts, trunk, and weighted terra firma base.
Category
20th Century Balinese British Colonial Sculptures
Materials
Hardwood, Paint
Set of 2 Large Kingfisher Bird Sculptures, Early xx Century
Located in Firenze, IT
Pair of large ceramic birds.
Europe, first half of the 20th century.
Brass bases, affixed later.
Measures : 40H x 32 x 18 cm
Conditions...
Category
1930s European Vintage British Colonial Sculptures
Materials
Metal
Leather Stuffed Elephant
Located in New York, NY
Faux ivory tusks.
Category
Early 19th Century English Antique British Colonial Sculptures
Materials
Leather, Straw
Large White Table Coral Sculpture on Lucite
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Impressive white coral assemblage using an exceptionally large table coral specimen with its sea inspired color and textures. Presented on a lucite base to enhance the sculptural ele...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Solomon Islands British Colonial Sculptures
Materials
Coral
Antique Dudson English Staffordshire Pearlware Bocage Shepherd Figure 5"
Located in Dayton, OH
Antique early English Staffordshire porcelain pearlware bocage group, showing male and female shepherds with a red and white lamb, standing in front of a flowering tree. Attributed ...
Category
Mid-19th Century Antique British Colonial Sculptures
Materials
Porcelain
Antique English Staffordshire Porcelain Figurine Girl Seated on Waterfall Bird
Located in Dayton, OH
Antique 19th century staffordshire porcelain figure showing a young woman seated on the rocks above a waterfall with two birds.
Category
19th Century Antique British Colonial Sculptures
Materials
Porcelain
1 Large Mounted Sable Antelope Skull with Large Curved Ringed Horns / Antlers
Located in New York, NY
A magnificent, stunning African sable antelope with large curved ringed horns or antlers mounted on a wrought iron stand. The piece is mounted as a scul...
Category
20th Century African British Colonial Sculptures
Materials
Iron
2 Antique Dudson English Staffordshire Pearlware Bocage Shepherd Figures
Located in Dayton, OH
Pair of antique early Staffordshire pearlware bocage figures, a shepherd and a shepherdess each standing in front of a tree with three red and white sheep / lambs. Each piece uses sh...
Category
Mid-19th Century Antique British Colonial Sculptures
Materials
Porcelain
Anglo Indian British Colonial Style Brass Elephant Head on Stand
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Standout Anglo Indian cast brass elephant head sculpture presented on a turned brass stand. Hand polished and lacquered for easy care.
Category
Mid-20th Century Indian British Colonial Sculptures
Materials
Brass
Pair of Mid-Century Palm Tree Decorative Sculptures
Located in Palm Beach, FL
In vogue pair of mid-century stylized palm tree sculptures crafted in cast fiberglass. Painted in an off white finish and presented in faux planters filled with seashells.
Category
20th Century American British Colonial Sculptures
Materials
Fiberglass
Pair of 1940s Mid Century Ladies Riding Boots with Wooden Stretchers
Located in Port Jervis, NY
Fabulous pair of leather riding boots with wooden stretchers. Leather is still intact and in good condition. Pull up straps are still attached and working. Stretcher is a 3 part mapl...
Category
1940s English Vintage British Colonial Sculptures
Materials
Leather, Maple
Paul Thubert 'English, 19th Century' a Large Bronze Sculpture of War Veterans
Located in New York, NY
Paul Thubert
(English, 19th Century)
A large patinated bronze sculpture statue of two war veterans with uniforms and badges. Each with amputation injuries. One with an amputate...
Category
19th Century British Antique British Colonial Sculptures
Materials
Bronze
Brass Palm Tree Sculpture
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Brass banana tree or palm tree sculpture with a custom burnished bronze like finish, removable leaves, a weighted base decorated with floral designs,...
Category
20th Century Italian British Colonial Sculptures
Materials
Brass
Pair of Sea Fan Sculptures
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Pair of sea fan sculptures crafted or dipped in silvered metal with amazing accuracy and presented on classic form lacquered stands. Signed Eduardo Garza...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American British Colonial Sculptures
Materials
Metal
Tole Military Hat Trade Sign on Lucite
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Trade sign depicting an 18th century British officer's hat with a weathered finish and presented on a custom Lucite stand.
Category
20th Century English British Colonial Sculptures
Materials
Tôle
Large Carved Arab Sculpture with Coffee and Pipe, Vienna, circa 1900
Located in Berghuelen, DE
A masterly carved wooden statue of an Arab drinking coffee and smoking his pipe. An antique shop window decoration from a coffee shop or a tobacco ...
Category
Early 20th Century Austrian British Colonial Sculptures
Materials
Wood
Carved Stone Parrot on a Frosted Lucite Base
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Parrot sculpture hand carved from exotic semi-precious stones with brass feet and perched on a frosted Lucite base.
Category
20th Century Brazilian British Colonial Sculptures
Materials
Precious Stone
Pair of White Terracotta Lions
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Whimsical pair of Italian midcentury terracotta male and female lions with a white glaze and
painted details. Although hardly ferocious these seated big c...
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian British Colonial Sculptures
Materials
Terracotta
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...
Category
20th Century American British Colonial Sculptures
Materials
Coral
Midcentury Brass Palm or Banana Tree
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Striking midcentury stylized brass tabletop palm or banana tree with a tropical ambiance suitable for traditional or modern interiors. Hand polished and la...
Category
20th Century Italian British Colonial Sculptures
Materials
Brass
Antique Rustic Anglo-Indian Candleholder
Located in Sheffield, MA
The large sculptural antique rustic Anglo-Indian candleholder made from architectural element. Carved hardwood with an indented metal disk and spike or pricket for candles with extra...
Category
Late 19th Century Indian Antique British Colonial Sculptures
Materials
Hardwood
British Colonial Wood Column on Stand
Located in Atlanta, GA
A single 19th century British Colonial carved wood column with custom Stand. This antique hand carved wooden architectural element from India, which stands just under 6.5 feet in hei...
Category
19th Century Indian Antique British Colonial Sculptures
Materials
Iron
Glass Beaded Parrot Sculpture
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Glass beaded parrot sculpture ambitiously crafted with glass beads and perched on a custom wood, brass, and Lucite stand.
Category
20th Century South African British Colonial Sculptures
Pair of Faux 'Elephant Tusk', Marble Bookends or Dresser Ornaments, 20th Century
Located in Esbjerg, DK
A pair of faux elephant tusk bookends or decorative ornaments for your desk, dresser or in front of your entrance hall mirror. They are constructe...
Category
Late 20th Century British Colonial Sculptures
Materials
Marble
Pair of British Colonial Terracotta Lions
Located in Atlanta, GA
A pair of British colonial terracotta lions. This majestic pair of painted terracotta lions from the early 20th century will bring an air of regalness to any room.
Category
20th Century Indian British Colonial Sculptures
Materials
Terracotta
Pair of Eclectic 20th Century British Colonial Terracotta Elephants in Pale Pink
Located in Atlanta, GA
A pair of British colonial terracotta elephants from the early 20th century, India, with nicely rendered details. These eclectic statues have a very subtle, nicely aged, layer of pal...
Category
20th Century Indian British Colonial Sculptures
Materials
Terracotta
Limited Edition Cast Elephant by Louis Paul Jonas
By Louis Paul Jonas
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Limited edition cast elephant that captures the essence of these noble animals. This composition edition is presented on a classical wood base signed Louis Paul Jonas...
Category
20th Century American British Colonial Sculptures
Materials
Composition
Facing Pair of Early to Mid-20th Century Regal, Majolica Lion Figures
Located in Palm Beach, FL
A pair of very regal seated Majolica lions, a white glaze over a terracotta base, great condition, with some of the terracotta showing through the glaze,...
Category
1960s Italian Vintage British Colonial Sculptures
Materials
Pottery
British Colonial sculptures for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a broad range of unique British Colonial sculptures for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the 21st Century and Contemporary, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage sculptures created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include decorative objects, building and garden elements, folk art and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with metal, ceramic and other materials. If you’re shopping for used British Colonial sculptures made in a specific country, there are Europe, Asia, and United Kingdom pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original sculptures, popular names associated with this style include Maitland Smith, James Hinks & Son, Joseph Hinks & Sons, and Louis Paul Jonas. It’s true that these talented designers have at times inspired knockoffs, but our experienced specialists have partnered with only top vetted sellers to offer authentic pieces that come with a buyer protection guarantee. Prices for sculptures differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $180 and tops out at $25,000 while the average work can sell for $3,200.