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.
Pair of Mid-Century Modern Rosewood Side or Office Chairs with Upholstered Seat
Located in Nantucket, MA
Pair of Mid-Century Modern solid rosewood side or office chairs with a slightly curved back for lumbar support. Slightly tapered leg. The seat can be easily removed if you wanted to ...
Upholstery
French Antique Folding Chair, Campaign Safari
Located in Miami, FL
Wood and Black Faux Leather Antique Folding Chair, Made in France. Brass Hardware. Ready for a new home.
Brass
$1,200 / set
English Country Walnut Windsor Side Chair
Located in Queens, NY
PAIR of English Country (19th Cent) walnut Windsor side chairs with spindles and a wheel back design and having a stretcher connecting the legs. (PRICED AS PAIR) Vintage condition.
$1,290 / item
Set of 3 Rustic Windsor Back Carved Oak Side Chairs
Located in Queens, NY
3 English Country (20th Century) Windsor style dining side chairs with rounded backs and shaped seats, resting on four angled legs with stretcher bases. (carving under seat, \"HWS 17...
English Country Walnut Windsor Side Chair
Located in Queens, NY
English Country (19th Cent) walnut Windsor side chair with slat back.
$650
H 38 in W 19.5 in D 20.75 in
Painted Neoclassical Side Chair, Wood with Laurel Wreath, 20th Century
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Painted Neoclassical side or desk chair with laurel wreath & studs.
Wood
$1,856
H 29.34 in W 15.16 in D 16.54 in
Rare circa 1890 Solid Fruitwood Brass Fitting Military Campaign Folding Chair
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
We are delighted to offer for sale this very rare circa 1890 antique Military Campaign fold chair in fruitwood with brass fittings A genuine Campaign used piece, very strong and l...
Brass
Don Shoemaker Perno Safari Chair
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Leather safari lounge chair by Don Shoemaker for Señal, c.1960s, Mexico. The chair features a rosewood cocobolo frame and original patinated black leather hide. Leather showcases a s...
Leather, Rosewood, Cocobolo
$795 / item
H 33 in W 18 in D 14.5 in
Wonderful Set of Five French Gold Gilt Carved Harp Lyre Back Regency Side Chairs
Located in Roslyn, NY
Wonderful set of FIVE (5) French gold gilt carved harp lyre back regency neoclassical dining or living room ladies side chairs Sold per chair Measu...
Giltwood
Set of Vintage Oak Dining Side Chairs, France 1950's
Located in New York, NY
A set of elegantly carved oak side chairs with a lattice back.
Cotton, Oak
$840Sale Price|30% Off
H 34.25 in W 25.75 in D 22 in
Mid-Century Danish Modern Rosewood Desk Office Side Chair Armchair
Located in Wayne, NJ
Mid-Century Danish modern rosewood desk office side armchair. If you are in the New Jersey , New York City Metro Area , please contact us with your delivery zip code, as we may be ab...
Other
$2,316Sale Price|20% Off
H 36 in W 24.75 in D 35.75 in
Brass and Steel Folding Leather Campaign Chair attributed to Maison Jansen
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
This brass and steel folding leather campaign chair, attributed to Maison Jansen, is a striking example of 20th-century design that fuses classical inspiration with modern sophistica...
Brass, Steel
Mid-Century Side Chair by Frode Holm, 1950s
By Frode Holm
Located in Lejre, DK
Side chair in fabric, designed by Frode Holm. Made in Denmark, original condition.
Fabric, Elm
$840
H 30.5 in W 21.5 in D 20 in
Paul McCobb Model 1530 Mid-Century Modern Chair, Early Winchendon Label
Located in Buffalo, NY
Classic Paul McCobb Model 1530 Mid-Century Modern Chair, Retains early Winchendon Modern label. Pre Planner Group. Wonderful original condition, color, finish, patina. Functional Art...
Wood, Maple
Safari Chair by Elias Svedberg for NK
By Elias Svedberg, NK (Nordiska Kompaniet)
Located in Kramfors, SE
Safari chair by Elias Svedberg for NK – Nordiska Kompaniet in Sweden. The chair is a part of the Trivia series and was designed and manufactured during the second part of the 20th century. It is an authentic Mid-Century Modern Swedish design chair...
Hardwood
$1,950 / set
H 36 in W 18 in D 19 in
Pair of Antique English Aesthetic Movement Side Chairs with Upholstered Seats
Located in INTERLAKEN, NY
From the English Aesthetic Movement, a pair of finely-crafted side chairs in mahogany with ebonized line inlays. Featuring an exquisite choice of woods with concave high back with th...
Ebony, Mahogany
$1,193
H 32.09 in W 18.31 in D 20.48 in
Mid Century Modern Vintage Office Chair Side Chair Blond Color Franz Schuster
Located in Vienna, AT
Mid Century Modern vintage one ( 1 ) office chair or side chair or easy chair by Franz Schuster in blond color tone 1959 Vienna. A fantastic office chair in beautiful flattering blon...
Beech, Plywood
Sold
H 34.25 in W 21 in D 18 in
Mid-20th Century Restored Coastal Brighton Pavilion Bamboo Cane Side Chairs-Pair
Located in North Fort Myers, FL
This exquisite pair of Brighton Pavilion-style armchairs showcases intricate bamboo fretwork, gracefully curved arms, and a warm tortoise finish. The caned seats add texture and craf...
Bamboo
Sold
H 32.5 in W 22.25 in D 24.5 in
Mid-20th Century Rattan Tub Side Chairs by Lewittes- Pair New Uphol/refinished
By Lewittes Furniture Enterprises
Located in North Fort Myers, FL
Introducing an exquisite pair of vintage mid-20th century rattan tub side chairs by Lewittes, beautifully refinished to bring out their intricate rattan craftsmanship. Each chair is ...
Rattan
Sold
H 35.44 in W 22.84 in D 16.54 in
1960s Campaign Safari Chairs in Brass, Mahogany & Leather by Charlotte Horstmann
By Charlotte Horstmann
Located in Shepperton, Surrey
A group of three 1960s campaign chairs by renowned Hong Kong-based designer and dealer Charlotte Horstmann. In mahogany and leather with lavish brass detail, these chairs evoke co...
Brass
Pair of British Colonial Bamboo Root Side Chairs
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
British colonial bamboo side chairs with woven seats and root feet and root elements. The splat is in the shape of a hand fan. Great quality, h...
Bamboo
Pair of British Colonial Side Chairs
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Pair of British Colonial side chairs with cane seat & back. Champagne silk seat cushion.
Cane
Pair of Asian Modern Bamboo Armchairs
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Unusual pair of Asian modern armchairs with Japanese influence crafted in bamboo and featuring bent and ebonized bamboo with roots on the arms and front feet.
Bamboo
Sold
H 30.5 in W 41.5 in D 22.5 in
British Colonial Style Faux Tortoise Bamboo and Grass Cloth Desk Set
Located in Southampton, NJ
Midcentury faux tortoise bamboo and grass cloth desk with Asian modern form featuring two glove boxes, two drawers, elegant legs with support brackets...
Cotton, Bamboo, Cane, Raffia, Rattan
Sold
H 36.23 in W 16.93 in D 17.72 in
Pair of Antique British Colonial Teak and Rattan Hall Elbow Chairs, circa 1900
Located in London, GB
Pair of antique British Colonial teak and rattan hall chairs / elbow chairs, circa 1900 Good solid construction, with expected signs of age. Old his...
Rattan, Teak
Sold
H 32.5 in W 17 in L 32.5 in
Antique Late Victorian Spindle Back Accent Caned Bamboo Accent Chair Colonial
Located in Dayton, OH
Late Victorian, British Colonial inspired side chair. Made from walnut with spindled bamboo like design and cane seat.
Cane, Walnut
Pair of British Colonial Art Deco Rattan Chairs
Located in Chicago, IL
This is an exceptional set of British Colonial Art Deco teak wood and cane veranda chairs from Rangoon, Burma. It features carved armrests and its origi...
Rattan, Teak
Set of Six Antique English Leather Dining Chairs
Located in Wilton, CT
An incredible set of all original late 18th Century British oak and leather side chairs. The over all condition is excellent and includes well turned front legs, scrolled side and ba...
Oak, Leather