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 Style Burnt Bamboo and Cane Freestanding Cheval Floor Mirror
By Ralph Lauren, Bloomingdale's
Located in St.Petersburg, FL
A wonderful British colonial style floor mirror with faux burnt bamboo frame and cane details. Great geometric pattern up top. Would work well in a variety of interiors Mirror only ...
Faux Bamboo, Cane
$7,135Sale Price|20% Off
Extra Large Early 19th Century English Mirror
Located in Faversham, GB
An exceptional early 19th century mirror from the historic Chatham Dockyards in Kent, England. The heavily foxed mercury plate is twelve millimeters in thickness and supported by th...
Mercury Glass, Mirror, Oak, Pine
19th Century Indian Tabletop Vanity Mirror
Located in Topanga, CA
A charming teak tabletop vanity mirror with scrolled side supports, original arched top mirror frame and a drawer at the bottom. The mirror surface reveals the passage of time with a...
Glass, Wood
$3,840Sale Price|20% Off
British Colonial Tradewinds Rattan & Copper Grandfathers Clock Bonnet Mirror
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
British Colonial tradewinds Rattan & copper Grandfathers clock Bonnet mirror Modeled after the bonnet of a tall case clock, with turned hardwood finials, applied engraved copper fretwork...
Copper
Vintage Cane Wrapped Frame Mirror
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
This exquisite vintage wall mirror is a masterclass in coastal sophistication, featuring a wide frame masterfully wrapped in natural woven cane. The intricate canework provides a ric...
Rattan, Mirror
19th C. Mahogany Table Vanity
Located in Topanga, CA
An early 19th-century mahogany vanity mirror stand of impressive scale, originating from a palace collection. This piece features exceptional carved details and retains its original ...
Mahogany
Italian Rococo Giltwood Tabletop Mirror, Hand-Carved, Mid-19th Century
Located in Stamford, CT
Venetian Rococo style tabletop mirror for a vanity. Exuberantly carved with a double layer of acanthus leaf decoration, a tour de force of carving. Mid 19th century. 16 inches high...
Wood, Giltwood
1940s Mahogany Tabletop Vanity Mirror with Drawer
Located in Tarrytown, NY
1940s Mahogany Tabletop Vanity Mirror with Drawer Beveled Mirror Edges
Mirror, Mahogany
A French rattan mirror, C 1970.
Located in Philadelphia, PA
The large rectangular frame has cut corners and leaf designs inset in all 4 sides. This natural and neutral mirror will work in and enhance a variety of interiors, but especially in ...
Rattan, Mirror
$2,313
H 23.63 in W 16.34 in D 1.78 in
Spanish Colonial Oval Mirror in Carved Wood with Copper Metal Flowers
Located in Barcelona, ES
Hand carved pine wood oval wall mirror with copper flower details, Spain, 1940s. This wall mirror features a wooden scalloped frame surrounding a central oval glass with a twisted co...
Metal, Copper
Late 19th Century French Vanity Bronze Mirror
Located in Plainview, NY
An exquisite late 19th century French Louis XV vanity mirror. The bronze carved mirror features impressive details with two cherubs. The mirror ...
Bronze
1970's Hollywood Regency Giltwood Cheval Floor Mirror
Located in Doylestown, PA
Fabulous 1970's giltwood cheval mirror. Sturdy and well crafted, the mirror sits on a graceful base with ball finials and feet. It features fine trim with decorative brass corner acc...
Brass
$3,150
H 77 in W 35.5 in D 4.5 in
Large Early 19th Century Austrian Biedermeier Mahogany Framed Mirror
Located in San Francisco, CA
Beautiful large architectural neoclassical Biedermeier mahogany and mahogany veneer wall mirror. Original mirror plate. Austria, circa 1830. Measures: 77" T x 35.5" W x 4.5" D. ...
Mirror, Mahogany
$725Sale Price|50% Off
H 19.8 in W 14 in D 5 in
Vintage Charles Hollis Jones Lucite Tabletop Vanity Mirror
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Vintage Charles Hollis Jones style Lucite and brass tabletop vanity mirror. 1960's era classic Mid-Century Modern double sided mirror. This gla...
Aluminum
$1,900
H 65 in W 32 in D 19 in
Vintage Campaign-Style Florentine Painted Cheval Faux Bamboo Floor Mirror
Located in W Allenhurst, NJ
Unique Campaign style Cheval Floor Mirror with Florentine Faux Bamboo detail. Painted to an excellent vintage patina. Curbside to NYC/Philly $300.
Metal
Vintage Boho Barley Twist Cheval Floor Mirror
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A fabulous vintage Cheval floor mirror. A chic and simple Barley Twist wood frame with gilt detail along the border. Acquired from a Palm Beach estate.
Mirror, Wood
Italian Rattan Mirror
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
1950's Italian bamboo mirror in oval shape with brass accents.
Rattan, Mirror
Vintage Faux Gilt Plastic Framed Mirror
By Syroco
Located in Denton, TX
Nice beveled mirror with Syroco style plastic frame in the style of Louis xv. The frame is molded plastic with a faux gold finish with wear that reveals the red primer that is used i...
Glass, Plastic
Sold
H 29.5 in W 26.75 in D 7 in
Vintage Boho British Colonial Faux Bamboo & Rattan Weave Wall Mirror With Shelf
Located in North Fort Myers, FL
Vintage faux bamboo wall mirror featuring a woven rattan panel surround and integrated shelf, showcasing classic boho and coastal influences. The scorched bamboo-style frame adds war...
Rattan, Mirror, Wood
Sold
H 40.5 in W 40.5 in D 3 in
Tropical Regency Mosaic Mirror With Hand-Painted Jungle Motif With Rattan Trim
Located in North Fort Myers, FL
This tropical mirror has been thoughtfully reimagined and restored to preserve its exuberant jungle character while reinforcing its longevity and struc...
Mirror, Wood, Paint
British Colonial Style Burnt Bamboo and Cane Wall Mirror
By Ralph Lauren, Bloomingdale's
Located in St.Petersburg, FL
Wonderful British colonial style wall mirror framed in faux bamboo and cane. Great mirror that could be used in a variety of applications and alongside various interior decor styles
Faux Bamboo, Cane
British Colonial Style Faux Bamboo and Grasscloth Wall Mirror
Located in Palm Beach, FL
British colonial style wall mirror having a rectangular frame crafted in faux burnt bamboo with brass caps, a chippendale style crest, and grasscloth panels around an oval beveled lo...
Grasscloth, Faux Bamboo
19th Century Indian Tabletop Vanity Mirror
Located in Topanga, CA
An elegant teak tabletop vanity mirror. The combination of the turned supports, original mirror frame, and drawer create a harmonious blend of form and function.
Wood, Glass
Large British Colonial Style Faux Bamboo and Grasscloth Wall Mirror
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Large and impressive mid century British colonial style wall mirror with faux bamboo having a faux tortoise finish over grasscloth panels around a rectangular beveled mirror.
Grasscloth, Faux Bamboo, Glass
Pair of Bamboo and Grasscloth Wall Mirrors
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Standout pair of British colonial style wall mirrors featuring a bamboo frame with campaign style clips on the corners, grasscloth mats, faux tortoise inner frame, and beveled glass ...
Grasscloth, Bamboo
1970s Brighton Style Rattan Mirror
Located in Marietta, GA
Wonderful, rattan mirror in the Brighton style. Nice size, and was custom made, for an American family, living in the Philippines. When they returned ...
Rattan
Bamboo Wall Mirror
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Large scale mid century wall mirror crafted in bamboo in an ambitious geometric composition with reed wrapped joints.
Bamboo, Reed
British Colonial Style Tole Palm Tree Wall Mirror
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Italian tole or painted metal wall mirror with a dramatic composition having two palm trees joined by an arched top.
Metal
Mid-Century Bamboo Sun Ray Wall Mirror
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Colonial style wall mirror with bamboo sun rays affixed with wrapped reed emanating around a circular looking glass.
Bamboo
Sold
H 20 in W 17.5 in D 5 in
British Colonial Antique 1910 Sheffield England Oval Vanity Mirror Pedestal
Located in Miami, FL
Silver plate oval vanity mirror or table mirror with ornate pedestals circa 1910 Sheffield, England. The back is made of solid wood. Makers trade...
Silver