British Colonial Rugs and Carpets
BRITISH COLONIAL STYLE
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.
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Style: British Colonial
Semi-Antique Anatolian Distressed Turkish Rug 3'6" x 5'6"
Located in Atlanta, GA
Turkish, early 20th century.
A soft wool pile rug with vibrant hues of red, brown and tan. This carpet has a unique design and perfect for designer use!
Category
Early 20th Century Turkish British Colonial Rugs and Carpets
Materials
Wool
Zabihi Collection Exceptional Red Antique Mohajeran Persian Sarouk Rug
Located in New York, NY
an early 20th Century Persian Red Sarouk Rug
Details
rug no. 9061
size 4' 4" x 6' 6" (132 x 198 cm)
Before the 1920s the Sarouk design was the most po...
Category
Early 20th Century Persian British Colonial Rugs and Carpets
Materials
Wool
Large Blue Wildebeest Antelope Carpet / Rug from Kenya, British Colonial Era
Located in New York, NY
A noble and elegant African blue wildebeest rug or carpet from the British Colonial era in Kenya. Blue Wildebeest are known beautiful and subtle color r...
Category
Mid-20th Century Kenyan British Colonial Rugs and Carpets
Materials
Animal Skin, Felt
Vintage African Tapestry Wall Hanging with British Colonial Safari Style
Located in Dallas, TX
77336, vintage African rug tapestry. Reminiscences of an exotic journey and worldy sophistication, this vintage African tapestry wall hanging ...
Category
Mid-20th Century Kenyan British Colonial Rugs and Carpets
Materials
Wool
Lovely Pair of Bright Red Wool Rugs
Located in Chillerton, Isle of Wight
A lovely pair of bright red wool rugs
The carpets haves a wonderful bright colour with an attractive pattern and a wide border, they are both 1n good a...
Category
Mid-20th Century British Colonial Rugs and Carpets
Materials
Wool
Antique English Axminster Rug. 14 ft 10 in x 20 ft 3 in
Located in New York, NY
Oversized Antique English Axminster Rug, Country of Origin: England, Circa date: 1900. Size: 14 ft 10 in x 20 ft 3 in (4.52 m x 6.17 m)
Category
20th Century English British Colonial Rugs and Carpets
Materials
Wool
Persian Shiraz Gallery Size Rug
Located in New York, NY
An early 20th century Persian Shiraz Gallery size rug
Measures: 4'11'' x 11'8''.
Category
Late 19th Century Persian Antique British Colonial Rugs and Carpets
Materials
Wool
Beautiful Persian Bakhtiari Gallery Size Rug
Located in New York, NY
an early 20th century Persian Bakhtiari Gallery size rug
Measures: 5'8'' x 11'4''.
Category
Early 20th Century Persian British Colonial Rugs and Carpets
Materials
Wool
Antique Needlepoint English Rug. Size: 7 ft 5 in x 9 ft 7 in
Located in New York, NY
Antique English Needlepoint, Country of Origin: England, Circa: 18th Century –Size: 7 ft 5 in x 9 ft 7 in (2.26 m x 2.92 m).
Category
Late 18th Century English Antique British Colonial Rugs and Carpets
Materials
Wool
Beautiful Persian Floral Pattern Fine Carpet
Located in New York, NY
Fine quality Northwest Persian rug with a floral all-over design set on a tomato red field, accents in hot pink, gray and apricot, and a light blue border
Measures: 10'1” x 13'5”.
Category
Early 20th Century Persian British Colonial Rugs and Carpets
Materials
Wool
Elegant Terracotta Antique Mohajeran Persian Sarouk Rug
Located in New York, NY
Stunning early 20th century Persian Sarouk Mohajeran Rug with a terracotta field, accents in robin egg blue, green, the border is navy.
circa 1910. Measures: 3'5" x 4'7"
Before...
Category
Early 20th Century Persian British Colonial Rugs and Carpets
Materials
Wool
Zabihi Collection Room SizeAntique Persian Sarouk Rug
Located in New York, NY
An authentic room size full pile antique Persian Sarouk rug.
Measures: 7'10'' x 11'9''.
Category
1920s Persian Vintage British Colonial Rugs and Carpets
Materials
Wool
Persian Pictorial Nain Rug
Located in New York, NY
Very finely woven Pictorial Persian Nain rug featuring a pictorial design on a crispy blue colored field.
Nain is a small village located in central Iran that has relatively recen...
Category
20th Century British Colonial Rugs and Carpets
Materials
Wool, Silk
Traditional Turkish Oushak Pillow
Located in New York, NY
Pillow made from a vintage Turkish Oushak rug.
19'' x 20''
Category
20th Century British Colonial Rugs and Carpets
Materials
Wool, Cotton, Foam
Antique Persian Bakhtiari Cypress Tree Runner with British Colonial Style
Located in Dallas, TX
53253, antique Persian Bakhtiari Cypress Tree Runner with British Colonial style. With a subdued appearance and cypress tree design in neutral hues, this hand knotted wool antique Pe...
Category
Early 20th Century Persian British Colonial Rugs and Carpets
Materials
Wool
Antique Persian Branched Pole Medallion Shiraz Rug
Located in Dallas, TX
53233 Antique Persian Branched Pole Medallion Shiraz rug. Balancing tribal style and traditional sensibility, this hand knotted wool distressed antique Persian Shiraz rug charms with...
Category
Early 20th Century Persian British Colonial Rugs and Carpets
Materials
Wool
Navy Blue Antique Persian Sarouk Rug
Located in New York, NY
Stunning early 20th century Persian Sarouk rug.
Before the 1920s the Sarouk design was the most popular of Persian rugs worldwide. Most of them consist of deep red fields with nav...
Category
Early 20th Century Persian British Colonial Rugs and Carpets
Materials
Wool
English Antique Axminister Rug, 1870 Handmade Carpet Runner Wool Hallway Runner
Located in Hampshire, GB
This high-quality rare English Axminister rug Features asymmetrical repeat pattern, woven in beige pink and cream. Revealing meandering scrolls and floral motifs.
This beautiful Ant...
Category
Late 19th Century British Antique British Colonial Rugs and Carpets
Materials
Wool, Cotton, Organic Material
Antique Chinese Oval Accent Rug with Pictorial Phoenix Design
Located in Dallas, TX
71754, antique Chinese oval accent rug with Pictorial Phoenix design. This hand knotted wool antique Chinese oval rug features a pictorial oval medallio...
Category
Early 20th Century Chinese British Colonial Rugs and Carpets
Materials
Wool
Distressed Antique Turkish Rug with British Colonial Style
Located in Dallas, TX
74991, distressed antique Turkish rug with British Colonial style 10'03 x 15'07.?? With its casual elegance and lovingly timeworn appear...
Category
Early 20th Century Turkish British Colonial Rugs and Carpets
Materials
Wool
Distressed Antique Persian Shiraz Design Rug with British Colonial Style
Located in Dallas, TX
52631, distressed antique Persian Shiraz design rug with British Colonial style. Warm and inviting combined with the right amount of necessary aesthetic elements, this hand knotted w...
Category
Early 20th Century Turkish British Colonial Rugs and Carpets
Materials
Wool
Distressed Vintage Turkish Kilim Rug with Southern Living British Colonial Style
Located in Dallas, TX
50769, distressed vintage Turkish Kilim rug with Southern Living British Colonial style. This handwoven wool vintage Turkish Kilim rug features a central diamond surrounded by additi...
Category
Mid-20th Century Turkish British Colonial Rugs and Carpets
Materials
Wool
Royal Blue Antique Mohajeran Persian Sarouk Rug
Located in New York, NY
Stunning early 20th century Persian Sarouk Mohajeran rug.
7'1'' x 10'6''
Before the 1920s the Sarouk design was the most popular of Persian rugs worldwide. Most of them consist of ...
Category
Early 20th Century Persian British Colonial Rugs and Carpets
Materials
Wool
Gold Brown Vintage Inspired Turkish Runner
Located in New York, NY
Turkish runner in warm colors with a geometric garrus design derived from late 19th century Persian Bidjar rugs.
3' x 14'7''
Category
Late 20th Century Turkish British Colonial Rugs and Carpets
Materials
Wool
Zabihi Collection Navy Blue Persian Traditional Room Size Sarouk Rug
Located in New York, NY
Rare navy field high-quality antique Persian Sarouk room-size rug. The piece is in mint condition as the previous owner kept it in storage for a long period of time.
Measures: 8'4" ...
Category
Early 20th Century Persian British Colonial Rugs and Carpets
Materials
Wool
Antique Agra Carpet
Located in New York, NY
An oversize late 19th-early 20th century antique Indian Agra carpet. Large-scale Pigeons can be spotted on green colored ground.
Agra carpets combine the grandeur and grace of well-known Persian court antique carpet designs with new motifs of their own creation. Overall designs or central medallions of spiraling vinery are frequently combined with small animal forms, sometimes including birds, elephants or people. This particular piece has humans using bow and arrows...
Category
19th Century Indian Antique British Colonial Rugs and Carpets
Materials
Wool
Exceptional Blue Antique Mohajeran Persian Sarouk Rug
Located in New York, NY
Stunning early 20th century Persian Sarouk Mohajeran Rug.
4'3'' x 6'7''
Before the 1920s the Sarouk design was the most popular of persian rugs worldwide. Most of them consist of ...
Category
Early 20th Century Persian British Colonial Rugs and Carpets
Materials
Wool
Zabihi Rug Collection Turkish Sivas Throw Rug
Located in New York, NY
A finer quality early 20th century Turkish Sivas rug.
3' x 4'9''
Category
Early 20th Century Turkish British Colonial Rugs and Carpets
Materials
Wool
Feminine Persian Antique Kerman Brown Pink Rose Accent Room Size Rug
Located in New York, NY
A highly decorative floral Persian rug with a formal presence. Caramel ground with hints of soft blues, raspberries, cinnamon and pinks,
circa 19...
Category
Early 20th Century Persian British Colonial Rugs and Carpets
Materials
Wool
Antique Persian Senneh Bibikabad Rug
Located in New York, NY
Spectacular antique Bibikabad Persian Senneh rug from the 1st quarter of the 20th Century
Measures: 4'7'' x 6'6''.
Category
20th Century Persian British Colonial Rugs and Carpets
Materials
Wool
British Colonial rugs and carpets for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a broad range of unique British Colonial rugs and carpets for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the Late 20th Century, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage rugs and carpets created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include rugs and carpets, wall decorations, more furniture and collectibles and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with fabric, wool and other materials. If you’re shopping for used British Colonial rugs and carpets made in a specific country, there are Asia, West Asia, and Iran pieces for sale on 1stDibs. It’s true that these talented designers have at times inspired knockoffs, but our experienced specialists have partnered with only top vetted sellers to offer authentic pieces that come with a buyer protection guarantee. Prices for rugs and carpets differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $159 and tops out at $88,000 while the average work can sell for $4,800.
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