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.
English Faux Tortoise Burnt Bamboo Stool or Low Side Table, 1960’s
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
1960’s Faux Tortoise Burnt Bamboo Stool Side Table. Elegant stool with both form and function. Versatile piece that looks wonderful standing alone or functional as a low side table n...
Bamboo
Ottoman in English colonial style made of solid teak wood, mid century
Located in Schwerin, MV
Rare seating option: Large ottoman made of solid teak with a cane-woven seat in the British colonial style. This generously sized stool was originally designed as a footstool for a c...
Wood, Rattan
$2,320Sale Price / set|20% Off
1970's Sculpted Cane & Rattan Bar Stools, 6 available
By Mcquire
Located in Las Vegas, NV
Sculpted twisted cane & rattan counter height bar stools. Solid and very comfortable. They swivel in the center. Made in colonial Tiawan, circa 1970's. They show little to no wear at...
Rattan
19th Century British Colonial Teak & Woven Rattan Stool
Located in Petworth,West Sussex, GB
19th Century British Colonial Teak and Woven Rattan Stool A charming late 19th-century teak and woven rattan stool or luggage stand that effortlessly combines style and functionalit...
Teak
Pair of Folding Tripod Stools in Oakwood and Leather
Located in Barcelona, ES
Elegant pair of turned oak Campaign tripod stools with leather folding seats. England, 1930s. These folding stools feature a turned oak's wood tripod foldable structure. They have a ...
Leather, Oak, Wood
$7,590
H 15.33 in W 16.33 in D 14 in
Pair of Walnut Tripod Thebes Stools in the Manner of Liberty & Co.
Located in Stamford, CT
Pair of walnut tripod Thebes stools in the manner of Liberty & Co. England. Circa 1920.
Walnut
Pair of Stools Design, Wood, Foldable, XX Th
Located in Nice, FR
Pair of stools, wood, foldable, in stained beech wood. 70s design. Modernist. Occasional stools for a living room. I take care of the packaging of the two stools. Transportation is ...
Beech
19th Century Stool Original Paint
Located in Vosselaar, BE
A 19th century mountain stool with the original faded cream paint remains. As easthetic pleasing as functional thing to have in your home.
Elm
Midcentury Bar Stool, Czechoslovakia 1970s
Located in Praha, CZ
Good original condicion Made in Czechoslovakia 1970s Seat diameter 31 cm
Metal
$2,105Sale Price / set|20% Off
H 14.97 in Dm 14.18 in
Pair of Bamboo Rattan Round Stools or Side Tables, Franco Albini Style
Located in Barcelona, ES
Italian midcentury rattan and bamboo stools, 1950s-1960s These eye-catching stools / footstools can be used as end tables, side tables or nightstands. They were entirely made by hand and have a nice construction and a clean design inspired in Michael Thonet bentwood stools...
Bamboo, Rattan, Cane
Set of custom made Gueridon Ottomans, COM fabric, Made in USA.
Located in Stratford, CT
INTRODUCTION Gueridon handmade ottomans are made to order to your liking and specifications. 100% made in USA. Following the success of its ottomans, GUERIDON launched a full line ...
Upholstery, Wood
$365
H 9 in W 17.5 in D 12.25 in
Mid-Century Nakashima Style Live Edge Side Table, Solid Wood, Sculptural Legs
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Side table from the Netherlands embodies the organic modernism of George Nakashima's design philosophy. Crafted from solid wood, the piece features a live edge top that preserves the...
Wood
$2,800 / set
H 40 in W 18 in D 17 in
Set of Four Mid Century Danish Modern Bart Stools or Counter in Teak Wood
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A sleek modern set of four stools made in Denmark circa 1970's. These feature solid teak framing with padded seats. Fabric is original and could use updating but these are perfectly ...
Fabric, Teak
$2,250
H 16.5 in W 17 in D 17 in
English 1920s Walnut Egyptian Revival Thebes Stool with Faux Bamboo Legs
Located in Atlanta, GA
An English Egyptian Revival walnut Thebes stool from the early 20th century, with slatted curving seat and faux bamboo legs. Born in England during the Roaring 1920s, this Thebes sto...
Faux Bamboo, Walnut
Rattan Style Bar Stool
Located in Paris, FR
Bar stool rattan style all in natural rattan in clear finish.
Rattan
Small Bamboo Wicker Drum Table or Vintage Plant Pot Stand Stool 1960s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Mid-20th century modern garden stool, flower pot seat or side table. Made of bamboo with wicker accents. Nice addition to your home, patio or garden. Also great as a drinks stand in ...
Wood, Bamboo
$720Sale Price / item|20% Off
H 40.56 in W 16.93 in D 16.54 in
Minimalist Style, Stool in Natural Solid Wood
By SIMONINI
Located in Vila Cordeiro, São Paulo
Our Evo collection is based in the harmonic fusion between geometrical forms in a modern interpretation of wood archetypes, combining a rational defined outcome with the warmth of or...
Textile, Upholstery, Hardwood
Vintage British Colonial Style Zebra Safari Folding Stool or Seat
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Mid century British colonial style stool with a zebra hide seat fitted to three folding ebonized legs with brass feet. As seen in the last photo of the listing, a similar stool is al...
Zebra Hide
Sold
H 19 in W 23.25 in D 18.5 in
Regency Campaign-Style X-Base Cane Stools in the Manner of Gillows of Lancaster-
By Gillows of Lancaster & London
Located in North Fort Myers, FL
A refined pair of Campaign-style stools featuring elegant X-base frames and handwoven cane seats, in the manner of Gillows of Lancaster. These stools showcase turned stretchers, scro...
Hardwood
British Colonial Tortoiseshell Bamboo Triangular Thebes Stool
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Just in, this great looking and rare English Colonial Tortoiseshell Bamboo Triangular Thebes Stool. C.1890-1900 Wonderful original patina to the Bamboo, Very good antique condition, ...
Bamboo, Wood
Theodore Alexander pair of swivel barstools in fine burgundy leather
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A pair of Vintage, Theodore Alexander domed back barstools with flared arms, 12 tufted buttons ,in fine burgundy leather, the frames are mahogany with nice carved detail.. in almost...
Brass
Antique English Root Bamboo Thebes Stool Egyptian Revival
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Just in, this great looking Antique English Root Bamboo Thebes Stool in the Egyptian Revival period This charming stool is from the early 1900s, with slatted curving seat and root ba...
Bamboo, Wood
Sold
H 43 in W 18 in D 15 in
Mid-20th Century Brighton Pavilion Scorched Bamboo Cane Bar Stools-set of 3
Located in North Fort Myers, FL
Set of three stunning Mid-20th Century Bamboo and Cane Bar Stools, designed in the manner of Brighton Pavilion. Featuring elegantly curved bamboo frames, intricate fretwork backs, an...
Bamboo, Wicker
Sold
H 15.5 in W 18.5 in D 15.5 in
English Tortoise Burnt Bamboo Stool or Low Side Table, circa 1960’s
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
1960’s Tortoise Burnt Bamboo Stool Side Table, England. Elegant and sturdy stool with both form and function. Versatile piece that looks wonderful ...
Bamboo
Zebra Hide Folding Stool
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Vintage British colonial folding stool with a zebra hide seat fitted to a three leg folding base with brass feet.
Zebra Hide
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 Chinese Glazed Terra Cotta Elephant Garden Seats
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Pair of mid-century Chinese elephant garden seats or stools crafted in terra cotta and decorated with a drip glaze technique in striking traditional colors.
Ceramic, Terracotta
Mid-Century Italian Glazed Terra Cotta Elephant Stand
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Mid-century terracotta elephant stand decorated, glazed, and ready for service.
Terracotta
Pair of British Colonial Style Zebra Folding Stools, Priced Individually
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Pair of British colonial stools with zebra hide seats supported by three black lacquered folding legs with brass feet. Priced individually. From left to right: H 23, W 13, D 1...
Zebra Hide