Spanish Colonial Seating
After the conquest of Mexico in 1521 and the Philippines in 1565, Spain dictated a global culture. The colonization of territories in the Americas, Western Europe, Africa, Oceania and the Pacific imposed the values of Spain, including Catholicism, while the extraction of resources reinforced the empire’s wealth and power. Unlike many styles that came out of European colonialism, such as British Colonial, Spanish Colonial furniture and architecture frequently mixed local heritage with the artistic traditions of Spain.
Spanish Colonial furniture was informed by the shifting styles of Europe as well as Indigenous culture. There were Inca tapestries depicting Spanish coats of arms and Baroque chairs adorned with tropical flora. The butaca, a low easy chair popular in the Caribbean, was inspired by Rococo’s curving forms and the shape of precolonial seating. In New Mexico, Pueblo artisans carved chests with patterns reminiscent of Anasazi art.
Even within the homes of the wealthy, furniture was usually restricted to necessities like benches, desks, cupboards and chests. These were often ornately designed and especially important for storing prized goods like textiles. Spanish Colonial houses were built with adobe and clay and tended to be minimally decorated, so the style’s heavily carved wooden furniture pieces stood out against a home’s white stucco walls.
The Spanish Colonial period mostly came to an end after the territories achieved independence from Spain. However, its aesthetics continued to influence Southwestern style and Spanish Colonial Revival style after Spanish Colonial style was used extensively at San Diego’s 1915 Panama-California Exposition.
Find a collection of antique Spanish Colonial chairs, tables, bedroom furniture and other furniture on 1stDibs.
20th Century Spanish Spanish Colonial Seating
Wood, Pine
Mid-20th Century Spanish Spanish Colonial Seating
Metal
20th Century Spanish Spanish Colonial Seating
Wood, Pine
1940s Spanish Vintage Spanish Colonial Seating
Goatskin, Linen
Late 20th Century Spanish Colonial Seating
Upholstery, Hardwood
19th Century Spanish Antique Spanish Colonial Seating
Animal Skin, Leather, Wood
Late 19th Century Spanish Antique Spanish Colonial Seating
Walnut, Leather
1940s Mexican Vintage Spanish Colonial Seating
Leather, Wood
1950s European Vintage Spanish Colonial Seating
Brass, Wrought Iron
Early 20th Century Spanish Spanish Colonial Seating
Leather, Oak
1970s Unknown Vintage Spanish Colonial Seating
Brass
Late 19th Century Spanish Antique Spanish Colonial Seating
Walnut
1920s Spanish Vintage Spanish Colonial Seating
Leather, Mahogany
Late 19th Century Spanish Antique Spanish Colonial Seating
Velvet, Walnut
1990s American Spanish Colonial Seating
Textile, Walnut
Late 19th Century Spanish Antique Spanish Colonial Seating
Walnut
Late 19th Century Spanish Antique Spanish Colonial Seating
Leather, Oak
20th Century American Spanish Colonial Seating
Upholstery, Oak
1970s Unknown Vintage Spanish Colonial Seating
Velvet, Wood
Late 19th Century Spanish Antique Spanish Colonial Seating
Cane, Walnut
Mid-18th Century Peruvian Antique Spanish Colonial Seating
Wood
20th Century Spanish Spanish Colonial Seating
Leather, Wood, Pine
1920s Spanish Vintage Spanish Colonial Seating
Cane, Bentwood
Late 19th Century Spanish Antique Spanish Colonial Seating
Leather, Oak
Early 20th Century Spanish Spanish Colonial Seating
Leather, Oak
Late 19th Century Spanish Antique Spanish Colonial Seating
Velvet, Walnut
Mid-20th Century Spanish Spanish Colonial Seating
Brass, Enamel
Early 20th Century Spanish Spanish Colonial Seating
Upholstery, Walnut
Late 19th Century Spanish Antique Spanish Colonial Seating
Cane, Walnut
Mid-20th Century Spanish Spanish Colonial Seating
Bamboo
Late 19th Century Spanish Antique Spanish Colonial Seating
Cane, Walnut
Mid-20th Century Unknown Spanish Colonial Seating
Brass
Mid-19th Century Spanish Antique Spanish Colonial Seating
Wood
Mid-20th Century European Spanish Colonial Seating
Brass
Mid-19th Century Mexican Antique Spanish Colonial Seating
Wood
1970s Spanish Vintage Spanish Colonial Seating
Iron
Late 19th Century Spanish Antique Spanish Colonial Seating
Cane, Walnut
20th Century Spanish Colonial Seating
Leather
Early 20th Century Spanish Colonial Seating
Upholstery, Mahogany
1970s American Vintage Spanish Colonial Seating
Brass, Iron
1950s Mexican Vintage Spanish Colonial Seating
Iron
Early 20th Century Spanish Spanish Colonial Seating
Upholstery, Walnut
16th Century Spanish Antique Spanish Colonial Seating
Brass
Late 19th Century Spanish Antique Spanish Colonial Seating
Walnut
21st Century and Contemporary American Spanish Colonial Seating
Walnut
20th Century Spanish Spanish Colonial Seating
Wood
1960s American Vintage Spanish Colonial Seating
Leather
Late 19th Century Peruvian Antique Spanish Colonial Seating
Mahogany
20th Century Mexican Spanish Colonial Seating
Leather, Walnut
1940s Mexican Vintage Spanish Colonial Seating
Brass
20th Century Spanish Spanish Colonial Seating
Wood, Walnut, Oak
Late 19th Century Spanish Antique Spanish Colonial Seating
Iron
20th Century Spanish Spanish Colonial Seating
Leather, Wood, Pine
1950s Mexican Vintage Spanish Colonial Seating
Fabric, Wood
Late 19th Century Spanish Antique Spanish Colonial Seating
Oak
Late 19th Century Spanish Antique Spanish Colonial Seating
Cane, Walnut
Late 19th Century Spanish Antique Spanish Colonial Seating
Leather, Walnut
Mid-20th Century French Spanish Colonial Seating
Velvet, Walnut