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 British Colonial Coastal Scorched Bamboo Stool or Decorative Piece
Located in North Fort Myers, FL
Charming vintage bamboo stool featuring a classic scorched finish and clean, versatile lines. Perfect as a decorative accent on a dresser, layered with stacked books, or used as a pe...
Bamboo
19th Century Tufted Leather Foot Stool or Bench, with Raising Capabilities
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Here is a fine, 19th century, brown leather, button tufted foot stool with mahogany frame and brass tacks over turned legs and brass wheels. Having t...
Mahogany
Vintage Grasscloth Footstool
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
This charming vintage footstool is a testament to timeless traditional design with a tactile, organic twist. The base is expertly crafted from solid wood with a warm mahogany-toned f...
Wood, Natural Fiber, Seagrass
$2,575
H 15.36 in Dm 16.54 in
Art Deco Vintage Pouf or Stool Stellar Blue Velvet Beech, 1930s, Austria
Located in Vienna, AT
Art Deco vintage pouf or stool stellar - like from beech and velvet cover with blue cords 1930s Vienna. An amazing vintage pouf or stool or footstool in beautiful stellar shape new ...
Upholstery, Beech
Leopard Vintage Stool, 1960s
Located in 05-080 Hornowek, PL
Stool from the turn of the 1960s and 1970s. Beautiful soft velvet leopard print upholstery. The stool consists of an upholstered part, a seat and wooden legs narrowing downwards, cha...
Velvet, Beech
Leopard Vintage Stool, 1960s
Located in 05-080 Hornowek, PL
Stool from the turn of the 1960s and 1970s. Beautiful soft velvet leopard print upholstery. The stool consists of an upholstered part, a seat and wooden legs narrowing downwards, cha...
Velvet
Burgundy Vintage Stool, 1960s
Located in 05-080 Hornowek, PL
Stool from the turn of the 1960s and 1970s. Beautiful soft velvet burgundy upholstery. The stool consists of an upholstered part, a seat and wooden legs narrowing downwards, characte...
Vintage British Colonial Style Caned Sofa or Settee
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Standout British colonial style sofa crafted in mahogany in classic form featuring a caned back and seat under a removable upholstered cushion, rolled arms with carved medallions and...
Brass
Wonderful Transitional Chrome Velvet Stool Nickel Bamboo Jansen Bench
Located in Roslyn, NY
Perfect seating for the transitional or Classic rooms, this chrome / nickel stool with purple velvet fabric top done in bamboo chinoiserie design are so versatile that can be used in...
Nickel
The Moreton Footstool, an English Howard-Style footstool
Located in London, GB
The Moreton Footstool, modelled on the design of late 19th Century stools by Howard & Sons, is traditionally hand made in England to the highest standard. The beech frame is raised on hand turned oak legs and traditionally upholstered. Fitted with solid brass cup castors. Wonderfully versatile and comfortable, made to the perfect height for resting legs and generously sized for a tray. This model is available as shown upholstered in 'Fez Weave' by Guy Goodfellow...
Linen, Oak, Down, Feathers
Oval Zebra Footstool
Located in Saint Louis, US
A charming miniature footstool featuring bold zebra-patterned upholstery, accented with a row of classic nail head trim. Its gently curved legs and richly dark-stained wood base add ...
Zebra Hide, Foam, Wood
Bamboo Ottoman or Pouf
Located in New York, NY
Nice circular bamboo footrest, ottoman. Comes with upholstered pad top, in black fabric. Measures: Diameter at top 19" x diameter at bottom 16".
Upholstery, Bamboo
Faux Bamboo (English, 19th Centunry) Stool/Bench
Located in Queens, NY
Faux bamboo (English, 19th century) ebonized and gilt trimmed round stool/bench with a needlepoint seat.
Faux Bamboo, Wood, Giltwood
English Chinese Chippendale Giltwood Faux Bamboo Stool
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
English Chinese Chippendale style gilded faux bamboo stool from the mid-19th century, its square crown seat with canted corners upholstered with a leopard print cut velvet in orange ...
Upholstery, Wood
$738 / item
H 17.72 in Dm 13.78 in
Airisto Side Table and Stool, a Modern Scandinavian Wooden Design Piece
Located in Halikko, Finland
Airisto side table with Joanna Laajisto. The Airisto collection's furnishings are multifunctional – they can be used as a side table, stool and a b...
Ash
British Union Jack Design Footstool
Located in New York, NY
A rectangular footstool or low seat stool bench with British Union Jack flag design, circa late-20th century. Stool is a great size, not too bi...
Upholstery, Wood
Pair of British Colonial Style Bamboo Ottomans
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Pair of British colonial ottomans or footstools crafted in bamboo and bent bamboo with grasscloth tops and reed wrapped joints.
Bamboo
Antique English Foot Stool, 1890s
Located in Bellport, NY
An English bun footed upholstered foot stool, circa 1895.All new upholstery in an animal print, chenille, velvet by Robert Allan. Click through to see our pairing with the English H...
Chenille, Wood