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.
$2,885Sale Price / set|20% Off
Pair of English Armchairs in Velvet and Walnut Wood
Located in Milano, IT
Gorgeous pair of velvet armchairs of English manufacture of the late 1800s. The beautiful armchairs have a walnut wood structure and have been lined with sand colored velvet tending...
Velvet, Walnut
English Country Mahogany Ladderback Roundabout Corner Arm Chair Seat
Located in Dayton, OH
Mid to early 20th century English Country roundabout corner armchair. Made of mahogany featuring rounded form with ladderback supports over turned posts and supports, vinyl seat and ...
Upholstery, Mahogany
$2,723 / item
H 31.11 in W 26.375 in D 25 in
Teak Wood Armchair with Curved Seat and Back – Velo Collection
Located in Miami, FL
The Velo armchair by Uultis embodies sculptural simplicity, crafted entirely from sustainably sourced teak veneer. Defined by its dynamic silhouette, the Velo features an organically...
Teak
$1,917
H 33.08 in W 21.07 in D 16.54 in
Antique Dutch Armchair Triangular Turned Bobbin Corner Chair Rush Seat Rustic
Located in Ijzendijke, NL
Late 19th century bobbin turned wood armchair with rush seat, ca 1900 Manufactured in The Netherlands. Beautiful antique bobbin/ knitting chair with t...
Wicker, Oak
Mid-18th Century Mahogany Corner Chair
Located in Lincolnshire, GB
A large example of a mid 18th century mahogany corner chair with vase shaped back splat, good cpouor and patination.
Louis XV Style Walnut and Caned French Provincial Bergere
Located in Montreal, QC
This shapely corner armchair has unusually positioned legs. The curving arms ,legs and caned sides and seat all contribute a sense of lightness , the carving is excellent.
Cane, Walnut
From $2,550 / item
+ 16 moreH 27.96 in W 31.11 in D 31.5 in
Colony Armchair in Black Legs, Walnut Structure, Upholstered Cushions, by Skrivo
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Colony armchair with metal base varnished is offered here in black, however, also available in white, silk grey, dusty grey, intense blue or bronze. Th...
Wood
$2,502 / set
H 23.63 in W 17.72 in D 19.69 in
Mid-Century Modern Italian Pair of Faux Leather and Fabric Armchairs, 1970s
Located in Prato, IT
Mid-Century Modern Italian pair of faux leather and fabric little armchairs or poufs. The armchairs have been reupholstered using a vintage Rubelli fabric from seventies.
Fabric, Faux Leather
$1,050
H 30.5 in W 16.59 in D 16.5 in
Antique Corner Chair, Spindle Back, Cane Seat, England, Ca. 1880s
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Wonderful antique corner chair with spindle back and stretchers. Add your own cushion to the cane seat.
Cane
American Georgian Walnut Upholstered Corner Chair, Circa 1770
Located in Charleston, SC
American Georgian walnut corner chair with carved splat backs, carved decorative molded edge, scrolled arms, turned ringed columns, carved corner fret...
Upholstery, Walnut
Calvet armchair in wood heart shape by Antoni Gaudi
By Antoni Gaudí
Located in Barcelona, ES
Armchair in solid varnished oak. A company that has always attributed such great importance to the author of the designs could never forget the great figures in history. That is wh...
Oak
English Chippendale Oak Splat Back Outset Corner Chair, Circa 1770
Located in Charleston, SC
English Chippendale oak corner chair with a carved molded centered edge, flanking carved splat backs, scrolled outset rounded arms, turned bulbous ringed columns and terminating on t...
Fabric, Oak, Upholstery
English George III Mahogany Upholstered Corner Chair
Located in Germantown, MD
English George III mahogany corner chair, mid 20th century. Clean upholstery. This is a shining example that is an excellent desk chair or pull up chair. Measures: H. 33.25?, W. 2...
Upholstery, Mahogany
English Oak Bobbin Corner Chair
Located in Faversham, GB
A superb oversized Victorian bobbin corner chair in oak with a freshly upholstered calico seat cushion. The double railed ladder back rest with si...
Calico, Oak
British Bobbin Turned Corner Chairs, Pair
Located in Astoria, NY
Antique British bobbin turned corner chairs, pair, stained elm wood with rush seats, circa 1900, in the manner of William Morris (English, 1834-1896) and the "English Revival...
Rush, Elm