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.
Antique British Colonial Caned Day Bed
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Rare and remarkable 19th century British colonial day bed handcrafted in mahogany with an adjustable, mechanical caned back and seat, having c...
Wrought Iron
West Indies Carved and Caned Daybed or Chaise Lounge
Located in Palm Beach, FL
British colonial daybed, most likely Barbadian crafted in mahogany with a graceful form, floral carvings, handmade construction, caned seat, back and side, and turned legs with brass...
Mahogany
Modern Outdoor Hanging Swing Chair White Vegan and Eco Friendly
Located in Johannesburg, ZA
Our sling hanging chair which is crafted with Spradling Silvertex material – a highly- sustainable environmentally-friendly vegan material. The Slings can be ordered as a single bu...
Stainless Steel
Vintage Boho Italian Day Bed After Biedermeier
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Presenting a truly unique Vintage Italian Daybed, inspired by the elegant Biedermeier aesthetic and infused with a touch of Boho Chic allure. This exquisite piece features beautifull...
Upholstery, Wood
Upholstered Daybed Chaise Longues
Located in Sheffield, MA
Graceful and inviting, the recamier chaise with arched back and rolled arm. The fainting couch is upholstered but it does show some ware. Although made in the Victorian period, it ...
Upholstery
$1,500Sale Price|33% Off
H 31.5 in W 80.5 in D 38.5 in
Bromwell Custom, Down-Filled Day Bed with Pillows
Located in Bronx, NY
A Bromwell custom, down-filled daybed with pillows. It features lightly padded wraparound supports, a removable button-tufted cushion and block feet. The piece is covered with suede-...
Fabric
Elliston Daybed by West Haddon Hall
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This solid oak daybed is sure to compliment any space with its minimalist and graceful solid oak frame. The piece features a handcrafted French tufted mattress that boasts the tradit...
Mohair, Oak
Leather and Brass studded Day bed
Located in Faversham, GB
An exceptional fully reclinable brass studded daybed in a rich brown cognac leather. The daybed has two extendable arms, with four adjustable gradients for each arm. The daybed can ...
Brass
Day Bed In Wicker, 1970s
Located in Roma, RM
Day Bed In Wicker, 1970s Product Details Dimensions: 200 W x 68 H x 93 D cm The mattress/cushion is not included, the price refers to the daybed without the cushion. If you are inte...
Metal
$5,800
H 38.5 in W 78 in D 29.5 in
Antique Louis XV Style Chaise Lounge Daybed W Nancy Corzine Matelassé Fabric
Located in LOS ANGELES, CA
Antique Louis XV Style Chaise Lounge Daybed W Nancy Corzine Matelassé Fabric
Wood, Down
British Colonial Mahogany & Caned Armchair
Located in Southampton, NY
British Colonial Mahogany & Caned Armchair A low comfortable reading chair made out of Mahogany and cane. Lovely carved details on arms, ba...
Cane, Mahogany
$2,750
H 41 in W 59 in D 23 in
Thonet, a Bentwood Chaise Lounge with Wonderful Scroll Work Details & Cane Work
By Thonet
Located in London, GB
Thonet. A bentwood chaise lounge with an adjustable back with a flowing scrollwork frame with a cane work bed. Stamped to the base with serial number and ??? - Paris retailer. Dimen...
Cane, Bentwood
Martyn Lawrence Bullard Faux Fur Sheepskin Daybed Settee
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Dreamy faux-fur sheepskin or modern shearling daybed settee custom designed by Martyn Lawrence Bullard for a Kardashian installation in Hidden Hills, ...
Sheepskin
$2,690
H 24 in W 74 in D 35 in
Eileen Gray Black Daybed Leather and Chrome Modern Chaise Lounger Daybed
By Eileen Gray
Located in Rochester, NY
One of Eileen Gray's most celebrated designs, this minimalist elegant piece hosts black leather on a tubular chrome frame. Since the structure is mainly open, the piece can be sat u...
Chrome
Rustic Wood Daybed
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Vintage Teak Wood bench from Indonesia. The deep seat and low profile makes for a perfect lounging daybed. Measures: 69"L x 39"D x 27"H.
Wood, Teak
Carved Mahogany and Caned Recamier or Daybed with Cushion
Located in Nantucket, MA
A mahogany and caned recamier or daybed with carving on both sides, a caned rolled end, and reeded legs. The caning is newly done and in a very tight wov...
Cane, Mahogany
British Colonial Style Pine Daybed or Deep Bench
Located in Chireno, TX
British Colonial style daybed or deep bench in pine. Daybed or bench, with deep seat, hand-carved in pine circa 1940-1970 in India. Seat planks reused from ...
Down, Linen, Pine
Antique British Colonial Hanging Day Bed
Located in Atlanta, GA
A British Colonial hanging day bed of teak wood from the early 20th century. This antique Anglo-Indian tropical chaise daybed is made to be suspended f...
Teak
Mid-20th Century British Colonial Large Coffee Table 'or Day Bed'
Located in Atlanta, GA
A handsome black British Colonial day bed, from the mid-20th century, which makes for a wonderful modern-use coffee table. This vintage piece ...
Hardwood
Mid-20th Century British Colonial Wood Chaise Lounge Chair
Located in Atlanta, GA
A British Colonial chaise lounge from the early to mid-20th century. This sleek Anglo-Indian lounging style daybed from India features a sturdy wooden constructed slat bed, with grac...
Wood
Sold
H 39 in W 102.5 in D 35 in
Mid-20th Century Large-Sized British Colonial Cane Seat Lounger or Daybed
Located in Atlanta, GA
A large-sized British Colonial cane seat lounger or daybed from the mid-20th century. This vintage Anglo-Indian tropical chaise daybed is nicely sized at over 3 feet in width and alm...
Cane, Wood
19th Century British Colonial Chaise
Located in San Marino, CA
A lovely 19th century British Colonial chaise comprised of Jakwood and new upholstery.
British Colonial Teak Chaise Lounge or Longue
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Stunning British Colonial chaise longue or longue constructed from radiant grained teak. Beautifully made with a wave like curved frame and long graceful arms. Supported by six legs ...
Cane, Teak
British Colonial Caned Teak Daybed
Located in Nantucket, MA
A lovely teak double sided daybed with a caned seat (redone with a very tight, sturdy weave). Features turned legs and carved, reeded fronts on bot...
Cane, Teak
British Colonial Midcentury Slat Wood Daybed from India with Turned Legs
Located in Atlanta, GA
A British Colonial daybed from the mid-20th century. This vintage British Colonial style daybed from India features a sturdy wooden constructed slat bed, and four nicely turned legs, which rise slightly giving this bench low profile or open sides. This bed is a rich warm brown Jackfruit wood, which is a durable tropical hardwood, similar to teak. Topped with a cushion and a few decorative pillows, this midcentury British Colonial single daybed...
Wood, Hardwood
British Colonial Midcentury, Rectangular Carved Wood Coffee Table
Located in Atlanta, GA
This midcentury British Colonial daybed from India makes for a wonderful modern-use coffee table. This vintage piece features a 7 ft long, rectangular-shaped top with curved edges, r...
Hardwood, Wood