Spanish Colonial Benches
After the conquest of Mexico in 1521 and the Philippines in 1565, Spain dictated a global culture. The colonization of territories in the Americas, Western Europe, Africa, Oceania and the Pacific imposed the values of Spain, including Catholicism, while the extraction of resources reinforced the empire’s wealth and power. Unlike many styles that came out of European colonialism, such as British Colonial, Spanish Colonial furniture and architecture frequently mixed local heritage with the artistic traditions of Spain.
Spanish Colonial furniture was informed by the shifting styles of Europe as well as Indigenous culture. There were Inca tapestries depicting Spanish coats of arms and Baroque chairs adorned with tropical flora. The butaca, a low easy chair popular in the Caribbean, was inspired by Rococo’s curving forms and the shape of precolonial seating. In New Mexico, Pueblo artisans carved chests with patterns reminiscent of Anasazi art.
Even within the homes of the wealthy, furniture was usually restricted to necessities like benches, desks, cupboards and chests. These were often ornately designed and especially important for storing prized goods like textiles. Spanish Colonial houses were built with adobe and clay and tended to be minimally decorated, so the style’s heavily carved wooden furniture pieces stood out against a home’s white stucco walls.
The Spanish Colonial period mostly came to an end after the territories achieved independence from Spain. However, its aesthetics continued to influence Southwestern style and Spanish Colonial Revival style after Spanish Colonial style was used extensively at San Diego’s 1915 Panama-California Exposition.
Find a collection of antique Spanish Colonial chairs, tables, bedroom furniture and other furniture on 1stDibs.
18th Century Antique Spanish Colonial Benches
Walnut
Mid-18th Century Peruvian Antique Spanish Colonial Benches
Wood
Late 19th Century Spanish Antique Spanish Colonial Benches
Cane, Walnut
Late 19th Century Spanish Antique Spanish Colonial Benches
Oak
1780s Peruvian Antique Spanish Colonial Benches
Wood
20th Century Spanish Spanish Colonial Benches
Brass
21st Century and Contemporary American Spanish Colonial Benches
Paint, Wood
21st Century and Contemporary American Spanish Colonial Benches
Walnut
Late 19th Century Spanish Antique Spanish Colonial Benches
Cane, Walnut
1970s American Vintage Spanish Colonial Benches
Brass, Iron
Early 18th Century Peruvian Antique Spanish Colonial Benches
Wood
21st Century and Contemporary American Spanish Colonial Benches
Walnut
Late 19th Century Spanish Antique Spanish Colonial Benches
Walnut
1920s Peruvian Vintage Spanish Colonial Benches
Wood
Late 20th Century European Spanish Colonial Benches
Hardwood
Late 19th Century Peruvian Antique Spanish Colonial Benches
Mahogany
19th Century Spanish Antique Spanish Colonial Benches
Upholstery, Wood
16th Century Spanish Antique Spanish Colonial Benches
Brass
1960s Spanish Vintage Spanish Colonial Benches
Wrought Iron
Mid-19th Century Mexican Antique Spanish Colonial Benches
Wood
1950s Spanish Vintage Spanish Colonial Benches
Iron
Early 19th Century Spanish Antique Spanish Colonial Benches
Wood
Early 19th Century Spanish Antique Spanish Colonial Benches
Linen, Walnut
Late 18th Century Peruvian Antique Spanish Colonial Benches
Wood
Mid-18th Century Bolivian Antique Spanish Colonial Benches
Wood
Late 19th Century European Antique Spanish Colonial Benches
Oak
19th Century Spanish Antique Spanish Colonial Benches
Wood
Late 18th Century French Antique Spanish Colonial Benches
Pine
1980s American Vintage Spanish Colonial Benches
Metal
18th Century Spanish Antique Spanish Colonial Benches
Walnut
1790s Spanish Antique Spanish Colonial Benches
Pine
Early 20th Century French Spanish Colonial Benches
Leather
Mid-18th Century Italian Antique Spanish Colonial Benches
Giltwood
2010s Italian Spanish Colonial Benches
Leather, Wood
2010s English Spanish Colonial Benches
Mahogany
Mid-20th Century French Spanish Colonial Benches
Cane, Wood
Mid-19th Century Spanish Antique Spanish Colonial Benches
Wood
1920s Peruvian Vintage Spanish Colonial Benches
Wood
Late 19th Century Spanish Antique Spanish Colonial Benches
Cane, Walnut
1930s Peruvian Vintage Spanish Colonial Benches
Wood
17th Century Spanish Antique Spanish Colonial Benches
Wood
1970s American Vintage Spanish Colonial Benches
Faux Leather, Wood, Cedar
2010s Spanish Spanish Colonial Benches
Iron
1920s Spanish Vintage Spanish Colonial Benches
Cane, Bentwood
19th Century Spanish Antique Spanish Colonial Benches
Wood
Early 20th Century Spanish Spanish Colonial Benches
Walnut
19th Century Spanish Antique Spanish Colonial Benches
Wood, Walnut
19th Century Antique Spanish Colonial Benches
Walnut
1950s Spanish Vintage Spanish Colonial Benches
Iron