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.
$3,400 / set
Pair of British Colonial Two Light Wall Sconces
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Pair of antique English wall sconces crafted in metal with a worn silver plate finish over a classic form having a crown, graceful looping ...
Metal
Pair of Metal and Cast Iron Monkey and Palm Sconces
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Pair of wall sconces with a slightly oxidized finish, five candle cups in palm leaf clusters, and featuring cast iron monkeys in a familiar, taunting ...
Iron
$864Sale Price / item|20% Off
Humphry Wall Lamp Handmade in Portugal By Wood Tailors Club
Located in RIO TINTO, PT
Sir Humphry Davy was a British chemist known for his studies in electrochemistry, the invention of the safety lamps, and is the main inspiration for our club’s Humphry Wall Lamp. Bec...
Brass
$1,267Sale Price / item|20% Off
21st Century Fleming Wall Lamp Walnut Wood Made in Portugal by Wood Tailors
Located in RIO TINTO, PT
Exclusive gentlemen’s clubs have long been a magnet for the most illustrious and wealthiest residents in the city, offering a luxurious retreat with extensive accommodations. Setting an exquisite radiance for a proper club’s experience, the Fleming wall lamp was inspired by the English engineer John...
Walnut
$1,947Sale Price / item|20% Off
21st Turing Wall Lamp Walnut Wood Brass Handmade in Portugal by Wood Tailors
Located in RIO TINTO, PT
The elite establishments are prestigious meeting places for some of the most powerful, rich, and influential individuals. So, Turing Wall Lamp takes the formal look beyond, inspired by Alan Turing...
Brass
$1,486Sale Price / item|20% Off
21st Century Faraday Wall Lamp Wood Made in Portugal by Wood Tailors Club
Located in RIO TINTO, PT
Time goes by, but gentlemen’s clubs manage to conserve their historical roots and values suiting to modern times, continuously tailoring an exclusive, premium heritage. Faraday wall lamp establishes that connection between past and present, allying the excellence in traditional expertise with the best in design. Faraday is inspired in the British chemist and physicist, Michael Faraday...
Walnut
$1,140Sale Price / item|20% Off
21st Century Essen Wall Lamp Wood Made in Portugal by Wood Tailors
Located in RIO TINTO, PT
Frequently the opulence is hidden inside the club’s walls, increasing the mysterious wonder atmosphere surrounding them. With a sumptuous look, Essen wall lamp is inspired by Louis E...
Walnut
Joy Wall Lamps Small by Draga&Aurel Resin, 21st Century
Located in Como, IT
Drawing inspiration from the Space Age, the Joy wall lamp emerges as an eye-catching luminous sculpture. Its vibrant colors are meticulously handcrafted in our atelier by layering ep...
Resin
Pair Two-Light Silver Plated Wall Light Sconces
Located in New York, NY
Pair silvered bronze 2-light wall lights (sconces) in the English Regency style
Bronze
$3,200
H 20 in W 18 in D 6 in
Handsome Set of handmade Wall Light 2 Arm Carved Wood Monkey Sconce Wall Lamps
Located in Dallas, TX
A handsome set of hand-made wall light 2 arm carved wood monkey sconce wall lamps. Hand painted finish with browns, reds and gilt trim. Decorative trim adorns the top above the figures and just below them. The lights stand on curved gilt metal rods with floral shaped flourishes. This was manufactured by Maitland-Smith. The monkeys in this set have a great amount of character and joy in their expression with a strong pose. Their hats and jackets appear to have colonial-esque jackets. There’s a strong s-curve pose for the figures as well. In Good condition. Some gentle wear on the small light shades. One of the shades has a small hole. These playful and elegant statues would make a wonderful feature on any dining room or front entry...
Wood
$2,100 / set
H 20 in W 8.5 in D 4 in
Pair of English Midcentury Silver Plated Two-Light Wall Sconces with Foliage
Located in Atlanta, GA
A pair of English vintage silver plated wall sconces from the mid 20th century, with two lights and foliage motifs. Created in England during th...
Silver Plate
Pair of Cast Brass Sconces
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Pair of American double arm sconces; shades are not original to the fixture, but are of the period.
Brass
Joy Wall Lamps Small by Draga & Aurel Resin, 21st Century
Located in Como, IT
Drawing inspiration from the Space Age, the Joy wall lamp emerges as an eye-catching luminous sculpture. Its vibrant colors are meticulously handcrafted in our atelier by layering ep...
Resin
Solferino L, Handmade Wall Lamp in White Plaster
By Colé
Located in Milan, Lombardy
Solferino wall and ceiling lamp are part of the Haussmann lighting collection. It is a collection of handmade Parisian plaster lamps, very elegant and resistant, inspired by the shapes and motifs of the Haussmannian style. Radar's interpretation transforms traditional ceiling decoration...
Plaster
Pair of Colonial Brass 3 Light Wall Sconces
Located in valatie, NY
Pair of colonial brass 3 light wall sconces. Classic 18th c design sand cast in beautifully patinated brass. They have never been wired.
Brass
Cast Iron and Vaseline Glass Sconces
Located in Peekskill, NY
We have a collection of these original cast iron wall bracket sconces in stock. This is a classic design that we refinished and rewired. The hand blown tipped globe is nice contrast...
Iron
Joy Wall Lamps Small by Draga&Aurel Resin, 21st Century
Located in Como, IT
Drawing inspiration from the Space Age, the Joy wall lamp emerges as an eye-catching luminous sculpture. Its vibrant colors are meticulously handcrafted in our atelier by layering ep...
Resin
$2,016Sale Price / item|40% Off
H 21.26 in W 15.75 in D 2.37 in
Modern Rossim Marble Sconce, Wall Decor, Brass, Handmade Portugal by Greenapple
By Greenapple
Located in Lisboa, PT
Modern Rossim Marble Sconce, Contemporary Collection, Handcrafted in Portugal - Europe by Greenapple. The Rossim marble sconce is inspired by the serene beauty of the Rossim Valley ...
Statuary Marble, Marble, Onyx, Quartz, Travertine, Brass, Stainless Steel
Pair of French Wrought Iron Two-light Wall Sconces, 1930s
Located in Frankfurt am Main, DE
A pair of large hand-crafted gilt iron two-arm electrified wall sconces, France, 1930s. Both sconces are in fine vintage condition, gilt very well preserved, beautiful aged patina, ...
Wrought Iron
Pair of Anglo Indian Wood Double Arm Sconces
Located in Locust Valley, NY
This pair of Anglo-Indian wood and brass double-arm sconces features a carved wooden backplate with a shell motif, complementing two curved brass arms extending outward. The arms are...
Brass
19th C English Copper Lantern Sconce by Foster & Pullen
Located in New York, NY
Rare English copper lantern sconce by noted maker, Foster & Pullen. The lantern has hinged top, and hinged panel door to allow access to the bulb from either the top or the front. ...
Copper, Wrought Iron
Sold
H 49 in W 18.25 in D 6.75 in
Pair, Vintage Faux Bamboo 5-Arm Candle Sconces - Available French Wiring
By Serge Roche
Located in Atlanta, GA
Pair, Vintage Faux Bamboo 5-Arm Candle Sconces Available French Wiring for $200 - Please inquire before purchasing. (NOTE - Current listing is for candle sconces) These vintage faux bamboo sconces have a Serge Roche feel with their traditional yet sophisticated modern appeal. The body is constructed from plaster, iron and tole with 5 arm candle holders...
Iron
Red Colonial Shell Motif 3 Mirrors Sconces Original Paint, c 1890
Located in Firenze, Toscana
Housing 1-light each, Will be re-wired with certified UL US sockets for the United States and appropriate sockets for other countries and ready to hang. Original paint on metal. Seas...
Mirror
Pair of Tole Palm Tree Faux Bamboo Wall Sconces
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Standout pair of mid century tole or painted metal wall sconces crafted in metal having palm tree leaves with raindrops on faux bamboo trunks with one light looping arms.
Metal
Pair of Hurricane Brass and Glass Wall Sconces
By Sarreid Ltd.
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Wall sconces crafted with cast and turned brass in a Queen Anne style with hand blown glass hurricane shades. Hand polished and lacquered f...
Brass
Pair of Antique Cast Brass Seashell Wall Sconces
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Standout pair of British colonial wall sconces with cast brass seashells and three turned brass candle cups. Hand polished and lacquered for easy c...
Brass
Sold
H 14.5 in W 6 in D 10 in
Four British Colonial Style Carved Wood Elephant Head Hurricane Wall Sconces
Located in Palm Beach, FL
From the San Juan home of iconic American designer Billy Baldwin a set of four antique Italian carved wood wall sconces with carved and ebonized elephant heads, brass tusks, carved b...
Brass
Pair of Faux Red Coral Wall Sconces
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Pair of mid-century Italian faux coral wall sconces hand crafted in iron and painted with a textured coral red finish.
Iron
Pair of Oyster Shell Grotto Style Wall Sconces
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Pair of three light wall sconces composed with an elaborate oyster shell construction in a stylized classic form.
Shell
Pair of Seahorse and Penshell Wall Sconces
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Pair of wall sconces with cast brass seahorses in front of seashell form shades crafted in penshell by Maitland Smith.
Brass
Pair of Palm Tree and Faux Bamboo Tole Wall Sconces
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Pair of Italian tole or painted metal wall sconces with palm trees at the top and five faux bamboo arms supporting electrified candle cups.
Metal