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.
Vintage Faux Bamboo Wood British Colonial Wall Floor Full Length Mirror
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Beautiful vintage British Colonial faux bamboo wood floor length, full size, wall mirror. Comes with hanging hardware on back. Original vintage finish. Dimensions: 86 H x 46 W x 2 D.
Faux Bamboo, Mirror
$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 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
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
English , Vintage wood mirror , adjustable . 50, s-60, s
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A very popular design used thru out England in the 50,s and 60,s . It was purchased from an Antique shop in upper London in the 1988. Has been well kept here in an Antique shop il L...
Wood
Petite Pierced Brass Girandole with Beveled Mirror
Located in Johns Island, SC
A lovely petite or small round solid brass Girandole with two candle holders. This mirror originally made its way from London, England to The Bahamas to Charleston, SC. The brass t...
Brass
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
$6,769
H 34.65 in W 15.56 in D 0.99 in
Mid Century Modern Vintage Oval Brass Wall Mirror Full Length Mirror 1950s Italy
By Gio Ponti
Located in Vienna, AT
Mid Century Modern vintage oval wall mirror from brass and facetted mirror glass 1950s Italy. Amazing wall mirror with thick solid brass frame and two brass clasps as decor, while th...
Brass
$704
H 11.62 in W 12.21 in D 6.3 in
Midcentury Brass French Adjustable Table Mirror with a Two-Sides Stand, 1950s
Located in Roma, IT
Beautiful midcentury brass table mirror, the article was produced in France during the 1950s. This amazing piece is made of brass wit...
Brass
$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
1940s Mahogany Tabletop Vanity Mirror with Drawer
Located in Tarrytown, NY
1940s Mahogany Tabletop Vanity Mirror with Drawer Beveled Mirror Edges
Mirror, Mahogany
$1,833Sale Price|20% Off
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
$15,000
H 44 in W 21.5 in D 2 in
English Chippendale Gilt Carved Wood Floral and Shell Motif Mirror. Circa 1770
Located in Charleston, SC
English Chippendale gilt carved wood and gesso mirror with acanthus floral and shell motif. Mirror retains the original glass. Late 18th Century
Glass, Giltwood
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
Italian Rattan Mirror
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
1950's Italian bamboo mirror in oval shape with brass accents.
Rattan, Mirror
Italian Adjustable Table Vanity Mirror in Brass, Italy, 1950s
Located in Roma, IT
Elegant Italian Mid-Century adjustable table mirror entirely made in solid brass. This charming and unique piece was produced in Italy during the 1950s. Fully original and in amazin...
Brass
$4,318 / set
H 1.58 in Dm 17.33 in
Pair of Spanish Colonial Round Wall Mirrors in Carved Wood and Copper Flowers
Located in Barcelona, ES
Pair of Hand carved pine wood round wall mirrors with copper flower details, Spain, 1940s. These mirrors feature wooden scalloped frames surrounding a central round glass with a twis...
Metal, Copper
French Art Deco Adjustable Chrome Table Mirror
Located in Queens, NY
French Art Deco chrome plated dressing table mirror characterized by a piece of round, frameless mirrored glass positioned above a smaller round chrome base with a stylish adjustable...
Mirror
Sold
H 69 in W 28 in D 22 in
British Colonial Style Burnt Bamboo and Cane Freestanding Cheval Floor Mirror
By Bloomingdale's, Ralph Lauren
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
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
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
British Colonial Style Burnt Bamboo and Cane Wall Mirror
By Bloomingdale's, Ralph Lauren
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
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
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