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.
Late 19th Century Spanish Antique Spanish Colonial Seating
Oak
Mid-20th Century French Spanish Colonial Seating
Velvet, Walnut
Late 19th Century Spanish Antique Spanish Colonial Seating
Leather, Walnut
Late 19th Century Spanish Antique Spanish Colonial Seating
Cane, Walnut
2010s American Spanish Colonial Seating
Walnut
Early 20th Century Spanish Spanish Colonial Seating
Leather, Walnut
2010s American Spanish Colonial Seating
Silk, Walnut, Down
Late 19th Century Spanish Antique Spanish Colonial Seating
Walnut
1960s Spanish Vintage Spanish Colonial Seating
Wrought Iron
Mid-20th Century American Spanish Colonial Seating
Wrought Iron
21st Century and Contemporary American Spanish Colonial Seating
Paint, Wood
Late 18th Century Spanish Antique Spanish Colonial Seating
Leather, Ebony
Early 20th Century Spanish Colonial Seating
Leather, Oak
Early 20th Century Spanish Spanish Colonial Seating
Brass
Early 20th Century Spanish Spanish Colonial Seating
Metal
1890s Spanish Antique Spanish Colonial Seating
Walnut
Mid-19th Century Spanish Antique Spanish Colonial Seating
Rush, Oak
1920s Spanish Vintage Spanish Colonial Seating
Cane, Bentwood
18th Century Antique Spanish Colonial Seating
Walnut
1960s Spanish Vintage Spanish Colonial Seating
Wrought Iron
1930s American Vintage Spanish Colonial Seating
Fabric, Wood
Late 19th Century Spanish Antique Spanish Colonial Seating
Velvet, Walnut
2010s Peruvian Spanish Colonial Seating
Leather
21st Century and Contemporary American Spanish Colonial Seating
Walnut
1920s Spanish Vintage Spanish Colonial Seating
Cane, Bentwood
1920s Peruvian Vintage Spanish Colonial Seating
Leather, Wood
Late 20th Century European Spanish Colonial Seating
Hardwood
Early 20th Century Spanish Spanish Colonial Seating
Leather, Walnut
Late 19th Century Spanish Antique Spanish Colonial Seating
Bronze
Late 19th Century Unknown Antique Spanish Colonial Seating
Hardwood
Early 20th Century Spanish Spanish Colonial Seating
Leather, Walnut
Late 19th Century Spanish Antique Spanish Colonial Seating
Cane, Walnut
Mid-20th Century Spanish Spanish Colonial Seating
Cane, Walnut
Early 20th Century Spanish Spanish Colonial Seating
Walnut
1890s Spanish Antique Spanish Colonial Seating
Walnut
1960s Ecuadorean Vintage Spanish Colonial Seating
Leather, Jacaranda
1820s Spanish Antique Spanish Colonial Seating
Silk, Birch, Oak, Giltwood
1940s American Vintage Spanish Colonial Seating
Metal
Early 20th Century Spanish Spanish Colonial Seating
Velvet, Walnut
Early 20th Century British Spanish Colonial Seating
Upholstery
18th Century Spanish Antique Spanish Colonial Seating
Leather, Oak
Early 20th Century Spanish Spanish Colonial Seating
Fabric, Walnut
Mid-19th Century Spanish Antique Spanish Colonial Seating
Leather, Wood
1950s Spanish Vintage Spanish Colonial Seating
Iron
19th Century Spanish Antique Spanish Colonial Seating
Upholstery, Wood
1780s Peruvian Antique Spanish Colonial Seating
Wood
Early 18th Century Peruvian Antique Spanish Colonial Seating
Wood
Late 19th Century Spanish Antique Spanish Colonial Seating
Bronze
20th Century Mexican Spanish Colonial Seating
Wrought Iron
20th Century Italian Spanish Colonial Seating
Leather, Hardwood
20th Century Mexican Spanish Colonial Seating
Wrought Iron
Early 19th Century Spanish Antique Spanish Colonial Seating
Wood
1940s Mexican Vintage Spanish Colonial Seating
Leather, Hardwood
Late 19th Century Spanish Antique Spanish Colonial Seating
Cane, Walnut
1960s Ecuadorean Vintage Spanish Colonial Seating
Leather, Jacaranda
Early 20th Century European Spanish Colonial Seating
Metal
19th Century Spanish Antique Spanish Colonial Seating
Brass
1920s Peruvian Vintage Spanish Colonial Seating
Wood