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.
Vintage Boho Coastal Rattan & Pencil Reed Rolling Bar Cabinet With Gallery Rail
Located in North Fort Myers, FL
xceptional vintage coastal bar cabinet crafted in rattan and pencil reed with a beautifully curved front profile and classic woven panel accents. This sculptural rolling bar embodies...
Faux Bamboo, Rattan
Vintage British Colonial Style Bamboo and Grasscloth Serving Bar
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Standout mid century serving bar handcrafted with a mahogany top over a bamboo and bent bamboo frame having grasscloth woven in a herringbone pattern on the sides and front. The back...
Grasscloth, Bamboo
Maitland-Smith Vintage British Colonial Style Bar Cabinet
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Impressive mid century bar cabinet featuring an upper case crafted in coconut shell with two doors having bronze elephant head handles and an illuminated interior lined in mahogany w...
Bronze
Vintage British Colonial Style Bamboo and Grasscloth Serving Bar
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Impressive vintage British colonial style bar crafted with a bamboo frame having grasscloth panels on top and all around, storage cabinet, leather wrapped joints and a removable wine...
Leather, Grasscloth, Bamboo
Midcentury British Colonial Style Bamboo Bar Cart
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Midcentury bar cart or tea cart with a bamboo frame wrapped with reed.
Bamboo
Midcentury Curved Bamboo Portable Bar Italian Design 1950s
Located in Palermo, Sicily
Midcentury curved bamboo portable bar Italian Design 1950s.
Bamboo
$3,850
H 32 in W 36 in D 19.63 in
1970s British Colonial Style Burnt Bamboo & Grasscloth Chest of Drawers
By Ralph Lauren
Located in St. Louis, MO
1970s British Colonial style 3 drawer chest of drawers or dresser, with faux burnt / tortoise bamboo & grasscloth with all panels having applied diamond geometric design. Design is...
Grasscloth, Bamboo, Rattan
Baker Styled Walnut Mahogany Bar / Sever Cabinet
Located in Cincinnati, OH
A very well crafted two piece four door cabinet with book matched wood grained fronts opening to revel two glass and two wooden adjustable shelves with two smaller drawers one with d...
Brass
Vintage Rattan Tiki Bar Set with two Rattan Stools
Located in Baambrugge, NL
Vintage rattan Tiki bar set with two rattan stools. Charming bamboo dry bar / cocktail bar with black top. bar dimensions: h 100 x w 107 x d 46 cm dimensions bar stools: h 78 x diam...
Bamboo, Rattan
1980s British Colonial Style Bamboo and Cane Corner Cabinet
By Bloomingdale's, Ralph Lauren
Located in St.Petersburg, FL
Unusual British colonial style bamboo and rattan corner cabinet attributed to Ralph Lauren for Bloomingdale’s. Great size and unique shape. Could be used as a small sideboard, consol...
Faux Bamboo, Cane
Maitland-Smith Lift-Top Corner Cabinet/ Bar
Located in Bridgeport, CT
A handsome Maitland-Smith corner cabinet in richly figured mahogany. With curved top consisting of a double flip-top opening hinged to reveal storage. The exterior of the body showca...
Brass
Milo Baughman Style Burl Cabinet or Dry Bar
Located in San Francisco, CA
Milo Baughman style two door cabinet or dry bar featuring burl olive wood doors supported by a cast aluminum floating base and a stained walnut case. Fitted interior consists of a si...
Aluminum
Vintage Boho Rattan and Grasscloth Dry Bar
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
This sophisticated dry bar cabinet is an excellent representation of mid-century tropical design fused with Hollywood Regency flair. The piece features a dramatic, flared profile con...
Stone
Bamboo Two Tier Bar Cart
Located in Bradenton, FL
A bamboo and rattan bar cart with bentwood bamboo corners. Two tray like shelves are made with bamboo pieces with bamboo sides. Corners are secured wi...
Bamboo, Rattan
Vintage Chinoiserie Bar or Small Media Cabinet
Located in Locust Valley, NY
A vintage chinoiserie style cabinet that brings warmth, craftsmanship, and subtle glamour to any space. Crafted in richly toned wood, this compact cabinet features hand-applied gilt ...
Wood
Bamboo and Cane British Colonial Style Small Chest
By Bloomingdale's, Ralph Lauren
Located in St.Petersburg, FL
A versatile small three drawer chest / nightstand in the British colonial style. Compromised of bamboo skeleton and cane clad drawer fronts, sides, and top. Overall very good conditi...
Bamboo, Cane
George Nelson Style Mid Century Oak Bar Cart
Located in Franklin Park, IL
George Nelson Style Mid Century Oak Bar Cart This bar cart measures: 36.5 wide x 18.5 deep x 26 inches high We take our photos in a controlled lighting ...
Brass
Sold
H 27 in W 31 in D 15 in
Maitland Smith Carved Mahogany & Rattan Queen Anne Plant Stand Beverage Chiller
Located in Dayton, OH
A beautiful late 20th Century plant stand / planter by Maitland Smith. Made from mahogany with a rectangular form over swooping cabriole legs and scrolled feet. Features scallop carv...
Brass
19th Century Oak Bookcase Dry Bar Cabinet
Located in Surrey, BC
Beautiful heavy oak two piece cabinet with adjustable shelving, decorative panels and arched glass doors. This is a well built cabinet originally...
Brass
British Colonial Style Bamboo and Grasscloth Bar
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Vintage bar crafted in bamboo and rattan with a mahogany top and side panels and herringbone grasscloth, French polished in the traditional old world manner. The back service area ha...
Grasscloth, Bamboo
Antique English Oak Brass Banded Barrel Bar Wine Liquor Cabinet Pub Decanter
Located in Tyler, TX
Unique antique English oak brass banded barrel wine or liquor bar cabinet pub decanter~~c. 1920s Sturdy oak barrel with brass banding and hinged doors~~ Interior bar with cutouts holds 8 bottles~~ Round oak serving tray can be placed over lid to create a flat surface or used separately Measures: 21 1/4" tall (add 2" when brass handle is upright). Top of barrel is approximately 14" round/diameter Middle of barrel is approximately 16" round/diameter Add this wonderful conversation piece to your home or commercial bar...
Brass
Sold
H 34.5 in W 20.75 in D 15.13 in
19th Century English Bamboo Cabinet with Chinoiserie Lacquered Panels
Located in Houston, TX
Lovely 19th century English bamboo cabinet with chinoiserie panels on three sides and the top. Beautiful motif’s of birds and floral lacquered panels on all three sides and top. The ...
Bamboo
British Colonial Style Bamboo Bar
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Midcentury bamboo and bent bamboo bar with turned finials, two glass storage shelves, a work station, two drawers, mahogany wine rack and elegant...
Bamboo, Mahogany
Rattan Gondola Bar
Located in Palm Beach, FL
With a striking reference to a hot air balloon gondola this lofty bar features a brass top work surface bordered in faux crocodile leather, a rattan case, rope handles, leather straps, and a service area in the back. Signed Bauer International...
Rattan
British Colonial Barrister's Bookcase
Located in Chicago, IL
Made to store ledgers, books, and other documents, this petite cabinet features three glass plated pull doors on rollers, once lifted, they slide back into the cabinet and can be lef...
Wood
Sold
H 34.63 in W 108 in D 20.88 in
Monumental English Banded Inlaid Flame Mahogany Sideboard or Bar Cabinet
Located in South Bend, IN
An exceptional monumental banded inlaid mahogany sideboard or bar cabinet by Norfolk Manor Furniture Limited of England. The sideboard features gorgeous flame mahogany wood grain and...
Mahogany
Bamboo Bar on a Folding Stand
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Dashing midcentury bamboo bar featuring a removable serving tray with a bottle rack and glass working surface over a grasscloth background. The ...
Bamboo, Glass, Grasscloth
British Colonial Teak Wood Bar Cabinet
Located in Chicago, IL
This British Colonial modern bar cabinet is from Mandalay and is made from teak wood. It features sliding glass doors and ample storage.
Glass, Teak
Vintage Tea Serving Cart
Located in Dallas, TX
This charming tea serving cart was fashioned from solid walnut and cut glass and features a removable tray! Tailored lines ensure it will blend with m...
Glass, Walnut