British Colonial Decorative Objects
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
Vintage Burberry Leather Plaid Case or Wallet
By Burberry
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Vintage Burberry cigarette case or wallet with flap closure.
Good condition vintage cigarette pack holder, great to use as a wallet or to store...
Category
Late 20th Century English British Colonial Decorative Objects
Materials
Leather
Vintage Maitland Smith Harlequin Penshell Brass Footed Decorative Modern Box Urn
Located in Dayton, OH
Late 20th Century Maitland Smith Lidded Box / Urn. Features a beautiful Harlequin pattern Penshell exterior resting on a footed brass neoclassical style tasseled base. The lid opens ...
Category
Late 20th Century British Colonial Decorative Objects
Materials
Brass
A 19th Century Brass Bound Mandalay Teak Campaign Dressing Box, Burma Circa 1860
Located in Ottawa, Ontario
These boxes were made for British military officers who were posted in Burma (now Myanmar) & India during the days of British rule.
The brass & copper bound teak case is profusely ...
Category
Mid-19th Century Burmese Antique British Colonial Decorative Objects
Materials
Brass, Copper, Iron
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 Decorative Objects
Materials
Bronze
Vintage Set Of Two John Derian Jungle Animals Porcelain Lidded Jars
By John Derian
Located in Bradenton, FL
Pair of 20th century porcelain jungle-themed lidded jars by New York designer, John Derian. Elegant vases feature multiple jungle animals including elephants, tigers, monkeys and zeb...
Category
20th Century American British Colonial Decorative Objects
Materials
Porcelain
Elizabeth Arden Porcelain Box Southern Heirlooms Made In Japan
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Vintage Southern Heirlooms Elizabeth Arden Trinket Box Porcelain Octagonal Shaped.
Southern Heirlooms Trinket Box Made in Japan.
Southern Heirlooms Eliza...
Category
Late 20th Century Japanese British Colonial Decorative Objects
Materials
Porcelain
Antique Sherwood & Wedge British Nautical Maritime Brass Onion Ship Oil Lanterns
Located in Dayton, OH
Pair of two antique Sherwood & Wedge "onion" navigational lamps featuring a cylindrical brass base, pierced top and fluted chimney cap, rotating wire bail handle, and simple wire cag...
Category
Late 19th Century Antique British Colonial Decorative Objects
Materials
Brass
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 Decorative Objects
Materials
Animal Skin, Bamboo
Antique Indonesian Wood Lacquered Box
Located in Austin, TX
Antique hand-painted and lacquered wooden box with removable tray, from Indonesia. The interior compartments are amply sized. There are some small spots where the paint has come off ...
Category
Late 19th Century Indonesian Antique British Colonial Decorative Objects
Materials
Wood
Set of Four Glass and Silver Plate Hurricane Candle Holders, Priced per Pair
Located in Palm Beach, FL
British colonial style set of four hurricane candle holders with hand blown glass shades on silver plated metal stands with classic form.
Category
20th Century American British Colonial Decorative Objects
Materials
Glass
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 Decorative Objects
Materials
Bronze
19th Century Royal Navy Oak Fire Bucket, with Plymouth Armorial Crest
Located in Chillerton, Isle of Wight
19th Century Royal Navy Oak Fire Bucket, with Plymouth Armorial Crest
This is a superb looking piece made in Oak and decorated with the Plymouth Armorial Crest, it was used as a wa...
Category
1870s Antique British Colonial Decorative Objects
Materials
Oak
Maitland Smith Heavy Bronze Lidded Mantel Urn Vase Ginger Jar 19"
Located in Dayton, OH
Vintage heavy bronze lidded ginger jar / urn / vase, produced by Maitland Smith. Designed and Hand Made in Thailand. 458 XP.
Dimensions:
11" x 18.5" (Diameter x Height)
Category
Late 20th Century British Colonial Decorative Objects
Materials
Bronze
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 Decorative Objects
Materials
Marble
Set di 4 Candelieri da altare. BRONZO E OTTONE.
Located in Cantù, IT
Set di 4 Candelieri da altare. BRONZO E OTTONE. set di 4 candelieri di altissima qualità artigianale con dettagli vintage e design unico.
Created and designed by Mice di Domenico Ru...
Category
18th Century and Earlier Italian Antique British Colonial Decorative Objects
Materials
Bronze
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...
Category
Early 20th Century English British Colonial Decorative Objects
Materials
Brass
Antico orologio oro argento
Located in Cantù, IT
Antico orologio oro argento Antico orologio oro argento Antico orologio oro argento Antico orologio oro argento Antico orologio oro argento Antico orolo...
Category
Late 20th Century British Colonial Decorative Objects
Materials
Silver
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 Decorative Objects
Materials
Other
Castilian Ornamental Porcelain & Brass Elephant Horn Drinking Hunt Vase 26"
Located in Dayton, OH
Ornamental hunt theme drinking horn / centerpiece trophy / cornucopia epergne / flower vase featuring a tapered pedestal base with brass capped feet and circus Elephant balancing a porcelain horn or tusk. Stamped on base, Item No. 4052-C4A. Castilian Imports...
Category
Late 20th Century British Colonial Decorative Objects
Materials
Brass
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 Decorative Objects
Materials
Bronze
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...
Category
Early 20th Century German British Colonial Decorative Objects
Materials
Porcelain
Beautifully Styled Ceylonese Porcupine Quill, Lidded Dark Wood Conical Pot
By SILVA (Sri Lanka)
Located in Rothley, Leicestershire
Superb Ceylonese porcupine quill lidded pot in a most unusual conical shape
Fashioned in dark wood and decorated with quill pieces
All quills are present and in excellent order. Int...
Category
1950s Sri Lankan Vintage British Colonial Decorative Objects
Materials
Hardwood
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 Decorative Objects
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 Decorative Objects
Materials
Marble, Brass
Sterling Silver Candle Holders
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This extraordinary candle holder is in great condition and beautifully crafted out of sterling silver this piece features three arms of beautiful details newly cleaned and polished d...
Category
1930s European Vintage British Colonial Decorative Objects
Materials
Metal, Sterling Silver
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...
Category
Mid-19th Century Indian Antique British Colonial Decorative Objects
Materials
Ebony
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 Decorative Objects
Materials
Coral
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 Decorative Objects
Materials
Hardwood, Paint
Rare 18th Century English Clock
Located in Madrid, ES
Rare 18th century English clock
Marquetry
Weight: 9.20 kg
England
Sizes: H 62cm L 31cm
very good condition.
Category
18th Century English Antique British Colonial Decorative Objects
Materials
Bronze
Leather Stuffed Elephant
Located in New York, NY
Faux ivory tusks.
Category
Early 19th Century English Antique British Colonial Decorative Objects
Materials
Leather, Straw
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 Decorative Objects
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 Decorative Objects
Materials
Porcelain
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...
Category
20th Century English British Colonial Decorative Objects
Materials
Zebra Hide
Set of Three 18th Century Hand-Made Brass Candlesticks
Located in Dallas, TX
Set of Three 18th Century Hand-Made Brass Candlesticks were designed to be functional yet attractive as they would remain in plain view all day, and only be utilized at night. Back in the days before electric lighting, candles were worth their weight in silver, as the process to make them was still laborious hand-labor, and the wax itself wasn't inexpensive. Many of our trunks from this period had separate cabinets inside the locked trunk...
Category
1770s English Antique British Colonial Decorative Objects
Materials
Brass
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 Decorative Objects
Materials
Porcelain
Antique English Copper Flagon Jug Vessel Pitcher Hallmark #2 C. 1900
Located in Tyler, TX
Beautiful Antique English Copper FLAGON, Pitcher, Vessel or Jug #2~~c. 1900
Excellent heavy copper flagon with hallmark
15" tall to top of handle
...
Category
Early 1900s English Antique British Colonial Decorative Objects
Materials
Copper
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.
Category
Late 20th Century Indian British Colonial Decorative Objects
Materials
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...
Category
Late 18th Century English Antique British Colonial Decorative Objects
Materials
Metal
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 Decorative Objects
Materials
Brass
Pair of Hand Painted Porcelain Parrot Vases
By John Derian
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Unusual rectangular porcelain flower vases decorated on both sides with hand painted tropical colored varying parrot species. The opening on the tops is divided into three sections f...
Category
20th Century American British Colonial Decorative Objects
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 Decorative Objects
Materials
Iron
Vintage Rose Chintz Egg Shaped Ceramic Trinket Box with Hinged Lid
Located in Chillerton, Isle of Wight
Vintage rose chintz egg shaped ceramic trinket box with hinged lid.
This 20th century vintage ceramic egg (Trinket Box) stands on shaped legs, i...
Category
Late 20th Century British Colonial Decorative Objects
Antique English 18K Gold Sterling Silver Coral Cigar Jewerly Keepsake Box
Located in Dayton, OH
Provenance : Jerome Schottenstein Estate, Columbus Ohio. Jerome was was an American entrepreneur and philanthropist, co-founder of Schottenstein Stores Corp. The Schottenstein family...
Category
Early 20th Century British Colonial Decorative Objects
Materials
Coral, Gold, Sterling Silver
Large Pencil Reed Rattan Floor Vase
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Midcentury floor vase crafted in pencil reed with a Classic form and warm lush finish.
Category
20th Century Italian British Colonial Decorative Objects
Materials
Reed
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 Decorative Objects
Materials
Leather, Maple
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 Decorative Objects
Materials
Fiberglass
Antique Luggage Crocodile Skin Leather Suitcase, Colonial
Located in Antwerp, BE
Antique suitcase made of crocodile leather handstitched with leather lacing and secured with tacks, an attractive antique reptile skin suitcase with a...
Category
Early 1900s British Antique British Colonial Decorative Objects
Materials
Faux Leather
Pair of Figura Lizardl Ostrich Egg Candlesticks by Redmile
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Whimsical yet refined pair of candlesticks with silvered metal acrobatic lizards holding ostrich eggs with candle holders on a classic base stamped Redmile London.
Category
20th Century English British Colonial Decorative Objects
Materials
Ostrich Eggshell
Pair of Faux Alligator Vases
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Pair of tall vases ingeniously crafted in cast composition depicting alligator hide with brass like highlights.
Category
20th Century North American British Colonial Decorative Objects
Materials
Faux Leather
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 Decorative Objects
Materials
Bronze
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 Leicester, London England. Curis was the royal watchmaker of the Prince of Wales.
As a result of an Act passed by the English Parliament in 1797 tavern clocks were hung in every pub and tavern throughout the British Isles. The Act declared that a tax would be collected on every clock in the realm.
As a result many private clock owners either hid their clocks or got rid of them altogether. Thus taverns and pubs became the preferred location for obtaining the correct time. The Tavern owners did not mind paying the tax because the towns people had to stop by if they wanted to find out what time it was. This resulted in more people eating and drinking at the Tavern.
An ""Act of Parliament clock...
Category
18th Century Antique British Colonial Decorative Objects
Materials
Pine
Colonial 18th Century Vizagapatam Pen-Engraved Writing Desk with Silver Mounts
Located in Amsterdam, NL
A Vizagapatam pen-engraved veneered sandalwood portable writing desk with silver mounts
India, Coromandel coast, Visakhapatnam, circa 1875
...
Category
18th Century Indian Antique British Colonial Decorative Objects
Materials
Bone, Sandalwood
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 Decorative Objects
Materials
Precious Stone
Pair of Victory V Gums Tins, England, Early 20th Century
Located in Antwerp, BE
Antique set of 2 Tin Boxes for Victory V Gums, England.
This British Brand made Liquorice-flavoured lozenges,
each by hand so every sweet contained the correct amount of therapeutic ingredient.
This Counter Cannisters - Advertising Boxes...
Category
Early 20th Century English British Colonial Decorative Objects
Materials
Tin
Silver Vase Oriental Manufacture of the Colonial Age, Early 1900
Located in Roma, IT
This silver vase is an original decorative object realized by oriental manufacture of the colonial age in the beginning of the 20th century.
This refined silver vase is entirely e...
Category
Early 20th Century Asian British Colonial Decorative Objects
Materials
Silver Plate
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 Decorative Objects
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 Decorative Objects
Materials
Metal
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 Decorative Objects
British Colonial decorative objects for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a broad range of unique British Colonial decorative objects 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 decorative objects created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include decorative objects, serveware, ceramics, silver and glass, building and garden elements and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with metal, wood and other materials. If you’re shopping for used British Colonial decorative objects made in a specific country, there are Europe, United Kingdom, and England pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original decorative objects, popular names associated with this style include Maitland Smith, Mice di rugiano domenico e c. s.n.c., Dresden Porcelain, and Europa Antiques. 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 decorative objects differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $80 and tops out at $25,000 while the average work can sell for $1,894.
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