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.
British Colonial Antique 1910 Cheltenham Silver Coffee Service Sheffield England
Located in Miami, FL
1910 English silver coffee service by Cheltenham & Company, Ltd. Sheffield, England. All 4 pieces have the same maker's marks on the bottoms complete with the engraved unicorn design...
Silver
Ornate Silver-Plated Large Engraved Tray, 19th Century, Manchester Design
Located in Worcester Park, GB
This antique silver tray is a striking example of the ornate craftsmanship that defined late 19th to early 20th century decorative arts. Its elongated oval form and richly detailed b...
Sheffield Plate, Silver Plate
British Colonial Antique 1910 Cheltenham Silver Coffee Service Sheffield England
Located in Miami, FL
1910 English silver coffee service by Cheltenham & Company, Ltd. Sheffield, England. All 3 pieces have the same maker's marks on the bottoms complete with the engraved W A Trademark, Warranted Hard Solder England 69430. Open sugar dish...
Silver, Steel
$625Sale Price / set|50% Off
Antique English Sheffield Silver plate & crystal Crue set Circa 1890
Located in Birmingham, AL
uality 19th Century Victorian antique silver plated cruet set. Having a silver plated stand with a shaped handle and raised on ornate fe...
Crystal
Antique Silver Plated Mechanical Gun or Cannon Bottle Trolley Decanting Machine
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
This well made mechanical gun carriage bottle trolley and pourer is unsigned, but presumed to have originated from England in approximately 1890 in a British Colonial style. The carr...
Metal, Silver Plate
$2,963Sale Price / set|24% Off
H 21 in W 9 in D 9 in
Stunning English Silver Plate and Cranberry Glass Three-Bottle Tauntless
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Stunning English silver plate and cranberry glass three-bottle Tauntless, with tall cranberry glass decanters dripping with applied silver wor...
Silver Plate
$173
H 5.12 in W 5.12 in D 3.94 in
Antique Victorian Silver Plated Embossed and Engraved Mug 19th Century
Located in London, GB
This is a delightful antique Victorian English silver plated engraved and embossed mug, circa 1870 in date. Condition: In excellent condition, please see photos for confirmation....
Silver Plate
$1,975
H 3 in Dm 17 in
Elegant English 19th Century Sheffield Silver Plate Embellished Mirrored Plateau
Located in Roslyn, NY
Wonderful 19th century silver plate plateau has a rich floral embellishment with circular mirror. The beautiful patina adds to the look of this an...
Copper, Silver, Silver Plate
$203
H 1.97 in W 12.6 in D 2.37 in
Antique Silver Plate Crumb Scoop by Atkin Brothers, Sheffield, England, 1890s
Located in Miklavž Pri Taboru, SI
Antique silver plate crumb scoop by Atkin Brothers made in Sheffield, England, the end of the 19th century. The Atkin Brothers can trace their roots back to Sheffield silversmith, ...
Silver Plate
$1,150
H 1.75 in W 19.75 in D 12.5 in
19th Century French Louis XVI Silver-Plated Serving Tray with Handles
Located in Dallas, TX
Crafted in France circa 1880, this refined antique silver-plated serving tray showcases the elegant symmetry and ornamental vocabulary of the Louis XVI style. The rectangular board i...
Silver Plate
Quality antique Victorian silver plated ornate serving tray
Located in Ipswich, GB
Quality antique Victorian silver plated ornate serving tray having a quality large serving tray with relief decoration with trailing vines and two ornate carrying handles to both sides
Silver Plate
English Silver Plated Art Deco Barware Service
Located in Tarry Town, NY
English silver plated Art Deco style barware / tableware drinking goblet service for six people. Each silver cup is in great condition. Minor wear. Maker...
Silver Plate, Copper
19th Century French Christofle Silver Plated Repoussé Serving Tray
By Christofle
Located in Dallas, TX
Elevate a bar, dining table, or coffee service with this elegant antique French silver plated serving tray by Christofle, crafted circa 1870. Of generous rectangular form with softly...
Silver Plate
Antique English Sheffield Silver Goblet, circa 1890
Located in New Orleans, LA
Antique English Sheffield silver goblet, circa 1890. GOB004
Silver Plate
$1,499
H 3.5 in W 24 in D 16 in
Large Antique Engraved Sheffield England Silver Plated Gallery Serving Tray
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
This large serpentine shaped silver plated serving tray was made in Sheffield England in roughly 1910 in the period Edwardian style. This plated tray has a deep gallery with cutout h...
Copper
$1,495 / set
H 17 in W 8.5 in D 12 in
Antique Elkington & Co. Silver Plated Spirit Kettle with Floral Decoration
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
This antique spirit kettle was made by the well known Elkington & Co. of England in approximately 1880 and done in the period Victorian style. Th...
Silver Plate
$600
H 13 in W 10 in D 7 in
Richard Richardson Sheffield Edwardian Silverplate Tilting Spirit Kettle/Teapot
Located in Soquel, CA
Richard Richardson Sheffield Edwardian Silverplate Tilting Spirit Kettle/Teapot Early 20th Century Edwardian tilting silver-plated teapot on stand with...
Silver Plate
Sold
H 1.75 in W 25 in D 14.75 in
Old English Silver Plate Ornate Rectangular Footed Serving Tray with Handles.
Located in Miami, FL
British Colonial style old English silver plate rectangular serving tray, platter with ornate handles. Scroll embossed in the Center. It is in original vintage condition and has som...
Silver Plate, Nickel
109-Piece Cutlery Set in Oak Wellington Chest Canteen
Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight
109-piece cutlery set in oak wellington chest canteen This is a 109-piece silver plated dinner set in its original oak wellington canteen T...
Vintage Sheffield Place Number Silver Plate Napkin Rings, Set of Eight
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A set of eight, heavy vintage silver plate napkin rings, each engraved with a place number. The rings are classically styled with banding al...
Silver Plate