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.
Rattan British Colonial Style Plantation Planters Chair, Woven Seat
Located in Miami, FL
Rattan British Colonial Style Plantation Planters Chair, Woven Seat Offered for sale is an elegant rattan framed plantation chair created in the British Colonial style. The chair ha...
Rattan, Wood
Antique British Colonial Caned and Carved Planters Chair
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Impressive British Colonial plantation chair crafted in mahogany in a graceful form with dramatic carved ocean and floral motifs on the back and rolled ...
Cane, Mahogany
Pair of Large Early 20th Century Teak & Cane Colonial Plantation Chairs
Located in Petworth,West Sussex, GB
A Handsome Matched Pair of Original Anglo-Indian Teak and Cane Plantation Chairs, circa 1910–1920. Crafted in solid teak with finely woven cane, these generous colonial lounge cha...
Cane, Teak
Vintage Ralph Lauren Left Bank Safari Chair
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Elevate your interior with this iconic "Left Bank" Safari Lounge Chair from the Ralph Lauren Home collection. This piece beautifully balances the rugged spirit of exploration with hi...
Brass
Pair of British Colonial Style Carved Caned Plantation Chairs
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Amazing pair of hand-carved plantation chairs crafted in the British colonial taste. The chairs feature large frames decorated with reeded, scrolled seats having delicate acanthus de...
Cane, Rattan, Wood
$6,360Sale Price|20% Off
19th Century British Colonial Tea Plantation Teak & Leather Lounge Chair
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
Circa 1890 Rare Teak and leather lounge chair that was formerly used in a Tea Estate in India. Hand made with pull out leaves that transform into leg rests and can be tucked back ...
Teak
Bamboo and Rattan Chair and Ottoman
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Vintage British colonial style chair and ottoman crafted with a bamboo frame and having herringbone woven rattan on the seat, arms and ottoman, ce...
Bamboo, Rattan
$1,645Sale Price|30% Off
Antique British Colonial Anglo Indian Teak Split Reed Rattan Plantation Chair
Located in Dayton, OH
Early 20th century British Colonial Anglo Indian plantation chair. Made from teak in mortise and tenon joinery with a relaxed lounged frame and long arms. Features a curved crest rail and split reed bent rattan seat. There's nothing better than putting your feet up after a day's backbreaking work. In the 19th century, plantation owners used a specific chair. Called, naturally enough, the planter...
Teak
British Colonial Style Bamboo Recliner Chair with Ottoman
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Mid century recliner chair crafted in bamboo and bent bamboo with caned seating featuring a pull out ottoman and Morris style reclini...
Bamboo
Vintage Stick Rattan Lounge Chair in Stockwell Performance “Martinique”
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Embrace the timeless glamour of the "California Look" with this exceptional vintage stick rattan lounge chair. Drawing significant influence from 1940s Hollywood Regency and British ...
Fabric, Rattan
19th C. Anglo-Indian Tub Chair with House of Hackney Velvet Seat
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Anglo-Indian tub chair constructed in solid hardwood with a light natural finish that shows the wood's grain and knotting throughout. Seven vertical flat spindles form the curved bac...
Wood, Olive
Great Pair of Vintage Mahogany Planters Chairs
Located in Richmond, VA
Great pair of vintage mahogany planters chairs with canvas.
Canvas, Mahogany
Pair of Painted Caned Faux Bamboo British Colonial Style Lounge Chairs
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Pair of tub style lounge chairs in the British Colonial style, each having a white-painted, molded frame of faux bamboo surrounding thye caned back and sides, its bowed crestrail dow...
Upholstery, Cane, Wood
Ralph Lauren English New Bohemian Artist’s Chair in Blue Velvet
By Ralph Lauren
Located in Rio Vista, CA
An elegant labeled English "New Bohemian Artist’s Chair", designed by Ralph Lauren. The large shelter wing chair is upholstered in a striking Italian riding velvet in a dramatic deep...
Nickel
Pair of Lounge Chairs, Italy, Mid-20th Century
Located in New York, NY
Pair of lounge chairs with elegantly curved armrests and brass sabots. The wooden walnut frames have been meticulously polished, and the seats newly upholstered in a high-quality whi...
Brass
Ralph Lauren Italian Aran Isles Leather Mahogany Club Chair
By Ralph Lauren
Located in Rio Vista, CA
A handsome Italian "Aran Isles” club or lounge chair upholstered in supple aniline leather and corduroy cushions designed in the traditional English Equestrian Country style by Ralph...
Brass
Ralph Lauren London Club Lounge Chair in Italian Red Velvet
By Ralph Lauren
Located in Rio Vista, CA
An elegant "London" lounge or club chair in stunning Italian red riding velvet designed by Ralph Lauren. The tailored and luxurious chair features a tight upholstered back, broad rol...
Velvet, Hardwood, Mahogany, Down
Chinese Plantation Lounge Chair
Located in Kastrup, DK
An antique Chinese reclining plantation lounge chair. Features a nicely curving body made of linden wood with bamboo slats. In original condition with...
Bamboo, Wood
$6,800 / set
H 32.88 in W 26.38 in D 25.6 in
Pair of Danish Antique Armchairs, Reupholstered in Velvet, Early 20th Century
Located in Odense, DK
A pair of elegant antique early 20th century lounge chairs executed in a style reminiscent of the Victorian period, made by a Danish cabinetmaker in the 1900-1920s. The chairs featur...
Velvet, Oak
Ralph Lauren Modern Penthouse Chrome and Leather Lounge Chair
By Ralph Lauren, Henredon
Located in Rio Vista, CA
A sophisticated modernist cantilevered lounge chair designed by Ralph Lauren for Henredon. Known as the "Modern Penthouse" lounge chair it combines contrasting cognac-toned burnished...
Metal, Chrome, Steel
1980's Philippe Starck "Pratfall" Leather Lounge Chair
Located in Dallas, TX
Iconic armchair model "Pratfall" by Philippe Starck for Italian manufacture Driade Aleph, circa 1985. The distinctive three-legged chair slightly larger, deeply comfortable wraps the...
Steel
Pair of Michael Taylor Style Woven Rattan Wicker Lounge Chairs
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Grand pair of oversized woven rattan wicker cube shaped lounge chairs or club chairs made in the fabulous organic modern manner and style of Michael Taylor...
Fabric, Wicker, Rattan
British Colonial Ceylonese Solid Satinwood & Hand Cane Armchair
Located in Southampton, NY
British Colonial Ceylonese Solid Satinwood & Hand Caned Armchair Made entirely out of satinwood. Gentle curved back. Hand caning seat - still in good condition. Spiral arms are a un...
Satinwood
Ralph Lauren Chesterfield Sofa
By Ralph Lauren
Located in North Canton, OH
Gorgeous Vintage Chesterfield Sofa with Deep Button Tufts, Rolled arms and Brass Casters. Finished in a Cognac leather. Unsigned, believed to be Ralph Lauren.
Leather
Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
Located in Raleigh, NC
Low profile and extremely comfortable pair of Jens Risom style lounge chairs. Soft velvet upholstery with contrasting black wood frame.
Upholstery, Hardwood
British Colonial Style Plantation Lounge Chair with Ottoman
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Gorgeous Anglo-Indian plantation lounge chair with matching ottoman made in the Grand British Colonial style. The chair features a gracefully carved teak frame with large scrolled ar...
Cane, Teak
Vintage Boho Palm Tree Lounge Chair and Ottoman
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Experience the perfect marriage of classic comfort and exotic flair with this handsome vintage club chair and ottoman set. The chair is crafted in the timeless English roll-arm style...
Fabric, Upholstery, Wood
Sold
H 40 in W 28 in D 43 in
Antique plantation chair with handwoven cane and fold out footrests, circa 1920S
Located in Houston, TX
Antique plantation chair with handwoven cane and fold out footrests, circa 1920s(30s?). This reclining lounge chair has an adjustable rattan b...
Teak
British Colonial Style Plantation Lounge Chair with Ottoman
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Gorgeous Anglo-Indian plantation lounge chair with matching ottoman made in the Grand British Colonial style. The chair features a gracefully carved teak frame with large scrolled a...
Cane, Teak
Sold
H 35.44 in W 29.14 in D 25.6 in
Pair of Soren Lund Lounge Chairs / Arm chairs in Wicker / Cane and leather
Located in Copenhagen, DK
A pair of Søren Lund armchairs in cane and leather. The chairs are from the 1960s and have a really good seating comfort. The huge leather cushion is soft and great to sit on. Bo...
Leather, Cane
Sold
H 41.75 in W 37 in D 34 in
Baker Furniture British Colonial Bamboo Rattan Wingback Lounge Chairs, Pair
By Ralph Lauren, Baker Furniture Company
Located in South Bend, IN
A gorgeous pair of British Colonial or Organic Modern wingback lounge chairs In the manner of Ralph Lauren By Baker Furniture, "Milling Road" Collection USA, Circa Late 20th Centu...
Upholstery, Bamboo, Rattan
Sold
H 35.04 in W 29.14 in D 25.6 in
Pair of Soren Lund Lounge Chairs / Arm chairs in Wicker / Cane and leather
Located in Copenhagen, DK
Set of two Danish Søren Lund armchairs from the 1960s. Both chairs are in great condition and made of wicker and leather. The chairs themselves are in wicker while the armrests and ...
Leather, Wicker, Rattan
Pair of 19th Century Ceylonese Satinwood & Caned Lounge Chairs
Located in Southampton, NY
Pair of 19th Century Ceylonese Satinwood & Caned Lounge Chairs. These are a pair of British Colonial Ceylonese satinwood and cane chairs. Made in the Late 19th in Ceylon (now Sri La...
Cane, Satinwood
Sold
H 36.5 in W 28.75 in D 39 in
Baker Furniture Hollywood Regency Bamboo Rattan and Cane Lounge Chair
Located in South Bend, IN
A gorgeous Hollywood Regency Organic Modern lounge chair By Baker Furniture, "Milling Road" Collection" Circa Late 20th Century Rattan frame in bamboo form, with cane seat and bac...
Bamboo, Rattan, Cane
Campeche Lounge Chair and Ottoman
Located in Chicago, IL
Anglo-Indian plantation lounge chair and ottoman, made in the Grand British Colonial style. The chairs features large scrolled arms with caned seat and ottoman. The chairs have a des...
Mahogany
Sold
H 35 in W 38 in D 32 in
Vintage President's Stick Reed Rattan "Nantucket" Lounge Chair with Ottoman
Located in East Freetown, MA
President's stick reed rattan lounge chair with cup holder section and magazine section in arms. with ottoman. Both chair and ottoman have comfortable cushion padding. Timeless light...
Wicker
Sold
H 33.08 in W 27.56 in D 30.32 in
Antique 19th Century Lounge Chair in Rattan, Bouclé & Beech, British Colonial
By Kaare Klint
Located in Odense, DK
Step into a world of timeless elegance and sophistication with this exquisite 19th Century British Colonial lounge chair, a true testament to the craftsmanship of a bygone era. This ...
Bouclé, Rattan, Beech