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.
Pair of British Colonial Style Tole and Rope Double Palm Tree Lamps
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Pair of British Colonial-Style Tole and Rope Double Palm Tree Lamps A charming and highly decorative pair of British Colonial-style double palm tree table lamps, crafted in painted ...
Metal
$1,050Sale Price|30% Off
Maitland Smith Bronze Marble Tooled Leather Equestrian Horse Table Lamp 24"
Located in Dayton, OH
Vintage figural horse bronze table lamp by Maitland Smith featuring a mare and foal in tableau on a charcoal black marble clad base. Includes hard and rectangular tooled / gilded lea...
Marble, Bronze
Waterford Style Small Petite Cut Glass Brass Boudoir Table Lamp by Great Creator
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Waterford Style Small Petite Cut Glass & Brass Boudoir Table Lamp by Great Creator. Circa Late 20th Century. Measurements: 8" H x 3.5" W x 3.5" D. {3-Way (Yes)}, (Location: Section 2...
Glass
$2,399Sale Price|63% Off
Rare! Early Maitland Smith Custom English Brass Table Lamp Spears Motif
Located in Peoria, AZ
Gorgeous! Maitland Smith Custom Brass Speat Tripod Table Lamp Amazing British Colonial Style! This one of a kind Maitland Smith lamp is an iconic example of British Colonial Style...
Brass, Steel
20 Th Century 3 Light Bouillotte Lamp Style Silvered
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A very popular design of Bouillotte lamp made of brass and finished in Hi-polished silver plate. Has 3 candelabra sockets. All new wiring and sockets. Ht of 22" and the base is 7 1/2...
Brass
$385Sale Price|30% Off
Maitland Smith Bronze & Shell Mosaic Footed Ginger Jar Urn Table Lamp 30"
Located in Dayton, OH
Vintage Maitland Smith table in the shape of a tall ginger jar / urn featuring a white shell mosaic in a scalloped feather or leaf vein pa...
Bronze
$943Sale Price|65% Off
Maitland-Smith Snail Shell Table Lamp in Pen Shell & Bronze, 1980s
Located in Glasgow, GB
A sculptural and rare statement lamp by Maitland-Smith, crafted in the 1980s and exemplary of the firm’s signature blend of luxury materials and organic form. This dramatic design ...
Bronze
$490Sale Price|30% Off
Maitland Smith Tessellated Faux Tortoise Chrome Candlestick Buffet Table Lamp
Located in Dayton, OH
Vintage Maitland Smith 1996 modern candlestick table lamp featuring four chrome legs bound with brass wire, supporting an ovoid / egg shape of tessellated horn, topped with brass can...
Brass, Chrome
Tall English Barley Twist Brass Candlestick Wired as Electric Table Lamp
Located in New York, NY
Impressive brass barley twist candlestick, converted to an electric table lamp. The candlestick was made in England, it was later drilled for the wire, and mounted on a wood plint...
Brass
Mid-century solid brass obelisk lamp after Chapman
Located in Allentown, PA
This is a handsome mid-century vintage library style solid brass obelisk lamp. This obelisk lamp has a pedestal with four ball feet, holding up the obelisk with a metal black lacquer...
Brass
Antique Kashmiri Painted Table Lamp 19th Century Indian
Located in Hastings, GB
A late 19th century barley twist Kashmiri table lamp (originally a candlestick but now updated as a lamp), with the original intricate hand painte...
Wood
$3,350 / set
Pair of Midcentury Mother of Pearl Table Lamps
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Pair of midcentury table lamps with a rectangular form featuring alluring mother of pearl mosaic bodies presented on Lucite bases.
Mother-of-Pearl
A Pair of Large Bronze Coloured Toleware Table Lamps
Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight
A Pair of Large Bronze Coloured Toleware Table Lamps These Large Stunning Lamps have an Armorial Crest theme they have matching shades, both lamps and shades have a crackle glaze fi...
Tin
$3,950 / set
Pair of Horn Veneer Table Lamps
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Dashing pair of midcentury table lamps featuring Horn veneer mosaic bodies and finished with Classic nickel plated metal tops and feet.
Nickel
Pair of Antique Porcelain Lamp
Located in Dallas, TX
This listing features a pair of porcelain plug-in lamps that are mostly like from the 20th century and likely originate from the United Kingdom or similar areas in Europe. On one l...
Brass
Pair of British Colonial Style Bronze Palm Tree Lamps with Carved Tribal Motifs
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Pair of British Colonial-Style Bronze Palm Tree Lamps with Carved Tribal Motifs A striking and highly decorative pair of British Colonial-style palm tree lamps, executed in a richly...
Bronze
$5,700 / set
Pair of Rattan Lamps and Shades
Located in East Hampton, NY
A beautiful pair of rattan and brass lamps in the style of Gabriella Crespi....
Brass
Pair Coastal Bronze Pineapple Lamps, Custom Rattan Shades & Pineapple Finials
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Pair of Coastal Bronze Pineapple Lamps with Custom Rattan Shades and Pineapple Finials A striking pair of coastal bronze pineapple-form table lamps, executed in the enduring decorat...
Bronze
English Country Brass Horn Bouillotte Lamp with Black Tole Shade
Located in Elkhart, IN
A classic bouillotte lamp rendered in warm brass, distinguished by its sculptural double horn base and clean, tailored black tole shade. The form traces back to 18th-century French c...
Metal, Brass
Large Vintage Handwoven Rattan and Cane Urn Form Table Lamp
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
A striking large-scale vintage table lamp featuring an intricately handwoven rattan and cane body in an elegant urn-form silhouette. Sculptural and beautifully textural, the lamp is...
Metal
$822Sale Price / set|30% Off
2 Maitland Smith Shell Mosaic Stacked Ball Candlestick Buffet Table Lamps 36"
Located in Dayton, OH
Pair of two Maitland Smith buffet / table lamps featuring round bronze bases and urn shaped finials with factory distressed patina / verdigris, w...
Bronze
$7,500 / set
Pair of Brass Palm Tree Table Lamps
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Chic mid century modern pair of table lamps crafted in brass in a stylized palm tree form on an octagon ebonized wood base. Best of the genre.
Brass
Mid-Century Pair of Italian Metal Palm Tree Table Lamps
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Chic pair of vintage Italian table lamps crafted in iron or metal in a modern stylized design with an aged metal finish.
Metal
$1,550 / set
Vintage Boho Gilt Tipped Monkey Lamps - a Pair
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Illuminate your space with whimsical charm using this pair of Vintage Boho gilt-tipped monkey lamps. With their playful design and luxurious gold accents, these lamps blend quirky el...
Metal
$2,900 / set
Vintage Pair of Deer Hoof Table Lamps
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Vintage pair of custom English deer hoof table lamps with silver plated candle cups and hardware, presented on custom double plinths. Newly wired. Poss...
Animal Skin
$555Sale Price|66% Off
H 16 in Dm 7 in
Maitland Smith Tesselated Stone Table Lamp, Brass Accent, Square Base
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Maitland Smith Tesselated stone table lamp, brass accent, square base. Lampshade NOT included.
Stone, Brass
Maitland Smith Bronze Golfer Table Lamp
Located in Lake Worth, FL
For FULL item description click on More Details below. Offering One Of Our Recent Palm Beach Estate Fine Lighting Acquisitions Of A Maitland Smith Bronze...
Bronze
$495
H 18 in W 12.5 in D 12.5 in
Waterford “Lismore” Round Cut Crystal Table Lamp-Customized Shade, Brass Base
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
“Lismore” pattern cut crystal round shaped lamp marked Waterford on the socket. It has an off white shade with customized trim by Blanche Fields of Boston. The brass base is marke...
Crystal, Brass
$1,250
H 29.5 in W 17.5 in D 7.25 in
Maitland Smith Bronze Elephant Table Lamp, 1980s Good Fortune Design
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Large bronze elephant lamp with trunk up for good fortune.
Bronze
$2,240Sale Price|46% Off
H 36 in W 22 in D 22 in
Palatial Pair of Maitland Smith Bronze Table Lamps with Illuminated Orbs
Located in Hopewell, NJ
Impressive ornate pair of very fancy table lamps having shell orbs that are an additional source of light with a primary single socket above. Bronze lions with rings in their mouths adorn the spheres and the bases have elaborate tripod shapes...
Marble, Bronze
Shell Decorated and Filled Ginger Jar Lamp
Located in Hudson, NY
A glass ginger jar filled with specimen sea shells on a custom made sand encrusted base with scallop shell feet. The rim of the jar is also sand encrusted and the top of the lamp is...
Shell, Glass
Midcentury Pair of Monumental Palm Tree Table Lamps
Located in Water Mill, NY
Pair of Mid Century Monumental Palm Tree Lamps.
Metal
$2,150 / set
H 35 in W 7 in D 7 in
Pair of Maitland-Smith Barley Twist Style Table Lamps with Gilt Metal Mounts
Located in Morristown, NJ
An elegant pair of Maitland-Smith table lamps featuring richly detailed barley twist style standards with scrolling foliate carving and warm faux bois decoration accented by gilt met...
Metal
Waterford Herringbone Cut Crystal Column Lamp
Located in New York, NY
Herringbone pattern cut crystal column lamp with circular brass base and faceted lucite finial. Measures 22.3" height to top of finial x 5" di...
Crystal
$1,250Sale Price / set|21% Off
H 31.5 in Dm 7.5 in
Cut Crystal Table Lamps, Chrome Bases, Waterford Crystal Ireland Attributed
Located in Miami, FL
Cut Crystal Table Lamps with Metal Bases Attributed to Waterford Crystal Ireland Offered for sale is a pair of cut crystal table lamps with chrome metal bases attributed to the Wate...
Crystal, Metal, Chrome
$1,200 / set
H 27.5 in W 7.19 in D 5.25 in
Waterford Cut Crystal "Overture" Lamps, Polished Brass, Shades, Pair
Located in Miami, FL
Waterford Cut Crystal "Overture" Lamps, Polished Brass, Shades, Pair Offered for sale is an elegant, traditional pair of Waterford cut crystal "Ouverture" lamps with polished brass ...
Crystal, Brass, Wire
Pair of Cut Crystal & Glass Boudoir Lamps
Located in New York, NY
Pair of cut crystal & glass boudoir lamps. Cleaned and restored with all new brass fittings, sockets, wiring, includes new harps and finials. 23" to to...
Crystal
Antique Kashmiri Painted Table Lamp 19th Century
Located in Hastings, GB
A late 19th century barley twist Kashmiri table lamp (originally a candlestick but now updated as a lamp), with the original intricate hand painte...
Wood
Antique British Leather Coat of Arts Cordite Gunpower Bucket Desk Lamp 35"
Located in Dayton, OH
Vintage British Cordite bucket carry case. Made of leather featuring A cordite bucket, also called a Clarkson Case, is a flash-proof container, typically made of cork, leather, an...
Leather
Frederick Cooper Bronze Lucky Indian Elephant Howdah Table Lamp 32"
Located in Dayton, OH
Vintage late 20th century Frederick Cooper bronze table lamp in the shape of an Indian elephant draped with gilt saddle blankets with a lucky r...
Bronze
Vintage Maitland Smith Tooled Leather Oxbow Star Foiled Lamp Shade 20"
Located in Dayton, OH
Late 20th century lamp shade by Maitland Smith - Rectangular form with oxbow ends; brown tooled leather with star design at the center and gilt foliate trim. Black and gold foiled in...
Leather
Maitland-Smith Pair of Vintage Coconut Shell Table Lamps
Located in Palm Beach, FL
British colonial style mid century pair of table lamps handcrafted with wrapped twine and a mosaic of coconut shell on a burnt bamboo base with three splayed legs. Signed Maitland-Sm...
Coconut
Pair of British Colonial Style Table Lamps with Elephants
Located in Palm Beach, FL
British Colonial style pair of porcelain table lamps with classic ginger jar form hand decorated with elephants and floral motifs.
Porcelain
Pair of Ancient Zoomorphic Carving Lamps
Located in Los Angeles, CA
These beautifully carved temple fragments, were converted into table lamps in the style of Billy Haines.
Iron
Vintage Maitland Smith Oval Leather Faux Caiman Pattern Lamp Shade 20"
Located in Dayton, OH
Vintage Maitland Smith leather lamp shade featuring a tapered oval form with faux Caiman / animal pattern and black gold foiled interior. Dimensions: 20" x 13" x 11"h
Leather
Large Green Hand-Painted English Tea Canister Lamps (Pair)
Located in San Francisco, CA
A pair of late 1800s tole tea tin canisters made into table lamps. They are green with gold trim and finely hand-painted genre scenes in the centers. Newly rewired with dimmers on th...
Metal
Sold
H 39 in W 20 in D 13 in
Vintage Maitland Smith Bronze Monkey Riding Ostrich Table Lamp Leather Shade 39"
Located in Dayton, OH
A charming late 20th century table lamp by Maitland Smith. Features a bronze Ostrich carrying a Monkey. The bronze is over a round tessellated marble base and includes a embossed ost...
Bronze
Pair of Lost Wax Bronze Pineapple Lamps from the Cote d'Ivoire
Located in North Miami, FL
These pineapples were made from the lost wax process in early 20th C. Pineapples are a traditional Western symbol of welcome. They are heavy solid bronze pineapples mounted on a sta...
Bronze
Sold
H 13.25 in W 11 in D 6.5 in
Maitland Smith Bronze Marble Tooled Leather Equestrian Horse Table Lamp 21"
Located in Dayton, OH
Late 20th century figural horse bronze table lamp by Maitland Smith featuring a mare and foal in tableau on a charcoal black marble clad base. Includes hard and rectangular tooled / ...
Marble, Bronze