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.
Antique Pine Welsh Hutch/Cabinet with Shelves (Welsh Dresser)
Located in Pomona, CA
An Antique Pine Welsh Dresser (Hutch). The base with 2 cupboards and 2 drawers fitted with original Victorian porcelain pulls. Great patina on the top of the base, see pics. Hand car...
Pine
$8,928Sale Price / item|20% Off
21st Century Harrison Sideboard Oak Handmade in Portugal by Wood Tailors
Located in RIO TINTO, PT
Even though established in cosmopolitan, chaotic cities, gentlemen’s exclusive clubs can provide an “oasis of tranquility” inside its robust, opulent walls. So, inspired by that pres...
Rattan, Walnut, Oak
Vintage West Indies Style Server or Sideboard by Baker
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Handsome vintage British colonial style server crafted in mahogany in a West Indies style featuring a dramatic ocean inspired gallery with two shelves on a case with two beaded drawe...
Mahogany
$8,928Sale Price / item|20% Off
21st Century Harrison Sideboard Wood Handmade in Portugal by Wood Tailors
Located in RIO TINTO, PT
Even though established in cosmopolitan, chaotic cities, gentlemen’s exclusive clubs can provide an “oasis of tranquility” inside its robust, opulent walls. So, inspired by that prestigious experience, Harrison sideboard...
Rattan, Oak, Walnut
$10,494Sale Price / item|20% Off
21st Century Elliott Sideboard Walnut Wood Handmade in Portugal by Wood Tailors
Located in RIO TINTO, PT
Denholm Mitchell Elliott, a much-loved character actor, who served in the Royal Air Force During the Second World War. His career spanned nearly 40 years with more than 120 movie tel...
Walnut, Oak
$3,200Sale Price|44% Off
British Colonial Teak Wood Display Counter
Located in Chicago, IL
This teak wood display counter was once found in a retail store in Rangoon, Burma. It dates to the early 20th century, c. 1910. During the colonial era, business boomed throughout w...
Glass, Teak
Vintage Bamboo Wall-Mounted Bar Cabinet With Accordion Doors & Mermaid Handles
Located in North Fort Myers, FL
A truly exceptional and highly unique vintage bamboo wall cabinet, designed to make a statement while offering functional storage. This one-of-a-kind piece features beautifully craft...
Bamboo, Wood, Plywood
Antique Mahogany Sideboard Buffet with Bevel Mirror, 1900
Located in Boca Raton, FL
Antique carved mahogany wood side board buffet , two tiered shelving with two upper drawers. Top decorated with bevel mirrored glass condole.
Mahogany
Antique British Colonial Inlaid Server from the Philippines
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Rare and remarkable 19th century British colonial two drawer server from the Philippines, handcrafted in mahogany with a lush grain, featuring pegged construction, brass hardware, seashell inlays and elegant turned and beaded legs.
Brass
British Colonial Style Sideboard or Server
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Antique William IV style sideboard reminiscent of a West Indies British Colonial server or buffet crafted in indigenous mahogany with a gr...
Mahogany
$5,149Sale Price|55% Off
Faux Bamboo Four Door Sideboard with Cane Fronts by American Martinsville
Located in Reading, Berkshire
American of Martinsville Bergere and Faux Bamboo Sideboard With Cane sectional fronts and brass handles. The two central door sections have a dist...
Brass
18th Century Welsh Dresser
Located in Greenwich, CT
Fine 18th century English or welsh oak dresser, having richly molded crest over scalloped fascia, the divided shelves with plate grooves and standing on molded top over three drawers...
Oak
Antique American Pine Cabinet with 4 Shelves
Located in Freehold, NJ
This antique cabinet features solid wood construction, original knotty pine finish, cabinet door with wood latch, and four interior shelves. Dimensions: 23.25w 12.5d 49h Condition ...
Pine
Baker Banded Walnut Credenza Server
Located in Southampton, NJ
Stunning and classic server credenza by Milling Road of Baker Furniture. This Asian inspired cabinet has brass accents including brass caps on feet. Cabinet top and sides have been r...
Wood
$29,560
H 31.5 in W 86.62 in D 21.66 in
Contemporary Sistelo Sideboard, Oak Root, Brass, Handmade Portugal by Greenapple
Located in Lisboa, PT
Sistelo Contemporary Sideboard, Contemporary Collection, Handcrafted in Portugal - Europe by Greenapple. The Sistelo sideboard draws inspiration from the terraced landscapes of the ...
Brass, Stainless Steel
19th C English Pine Dresser Base
Located in Staffordshire, GB
Circa 1860 19thC English pine dresser base with sliding doors and original brass hardware Measures: W 183 x D 64 x H 106 cm.
Pine
Baker Furniture Style Federal Carved Mahogany Sideboard Credenza
Located in South Bend, IN
A gorgeous Federal or Hepplewhite style sideboard buffet or credenza In the manner of Baker Furniture USA, Mid-20th Century Gorgeous mahogany, with original brass hardware. Meas...
Brass
$5,995
H 36.25 in W 72.25 in D 18.63 in
Baker Furniture French Empire Flame Mahogany Sideboard or Bar Cabinet
Located in South Bend, IN
A gorgeous French Empire or French Regency Louis XVI style sideboard, credenza, or bar cabinet By Baker Furniture USA, Circa Late 20th Century Stunning flame mahogany, with satinw...
Brass
Fine Vintage Baker Mahogany Sideboard
Located in Bridgeport, CT
Beautiful construction with a shaped bow front case. Three frieze drawers, the center one with felt lined flatware insert (lacking a key), side doors, and double middle doors, all wi...
Brass
$926Sale Price|20% Off
H 77.96 in W 18.12 in D 18.12 in
Tall freestanding 1960 vintage teak corner cabinet with 3 shelves and a cupboard
Located in Markington, GB
Tall freestanding 1960s vintage teak corner cabinet featuring a beautifully simple Scandinavian-inspired design with clean architectural lines and warm richly grained teak throughout...
Teak
$2,450
H 29.5 in W 55.75 in D 15.75 in
English stained dark pine dresser base with 3 drawers, brass handles, + shelf.
Located in Atlanta, GA
English late Victorian pine dresser base stained dark to look like oak. c. 1900. The color is great and the brass hardware looks super with the color of the wood. The drawers ...
Pine
Teak Museum Display Cabinet
Located in Topanga, CA
A gorgeous teak museum display cabinet featuring glass panels on the sides and a pair of sliding glazed doors at the front. The cabinet has a wooden back panel and sturdy shelves in...
Teak
$5,200Sale Price|20% Off
H 66 in W 42 in D 21 in
British Colonial Teak Filing Apothecary Cabinet wt Metal Pulls & Lock Mechanism
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
Rare solid teak multi-drawer apothecary/file cabinet with locking mechanism and hardware in original patina. Beautifully aged metal pulls. Authentic and fu...
Teak
Art Deco Style Burl Cabinet Sideboard Server
Located in Pasadena, TX
Art Deco style burl cabinet server. Measure: 39". Beautiful burl is paired with contrasting ebony legs and finished back. Nickel pulls. Top drawer and a 2 door cabinet that opens...
Burl
Osvaldo Borsani Italian Sideboard /Display Cabinet, circa 1950
By Osvaldo Borsani, Minagalli
Located in Westport, CT
Osvaldo Borsani Italian (1911-1985) unusual mahogany Burgundy red glass and decorative front Lighted mirrored interior, two hidden draws sideboard.
Bronze
Early 20th Century Edwardian Walnut Hunt Sideboard or Server
Located in Germantown, MD
An Early 20th Century Edwardian Walnut Hunt Sideboard or Server. Measures 48" in width and 32" in height and 16" in depth.
Walnut
Vintage British Colonial Style Bamboo and Cane Sideboard
By Ralph Lauren, Dal Vera, Bloomingdale's
Located in St.Petersburg, FL
A very nice sideboard consisting of a bamboo frame with cane clad panels. Features four doors, each set revealing shelves. On the left is one adjustable shelf, and the right side has...
Bamboo, Cane
1980s Faux Bamboo and Cane Sideboard
By Ficks Reed, Maitland Smith, Ralph Lauren
Located in St.Petersburg, FL
A gorgeous faux bamboo, cane, and wicker sideboard or dresser. Unique dimensions allow for a variety of uses such as tv strand, credenza, sideboard, or dresser. The right side consi...
Faux Bamboo, Cane
British Colonial Style Faux Bamboo and Reed Sideboard Cabinet
Located in Southampton, NJ
Exceptional Basketweave Rattan and faux bamboo sideboard with two drawers, spacious lower cabinet and single loose shelf. Beautifully maintained, ready for use.
Brass
Vintage 1970's Lacquered Bamboo Cane Sideboard Cabinet
Located in Las Vegas, NV
A exceptional multipurpose cabinet, circa 1970s. Top has 4 large woven cane "caged" doors opening to 3 spacious shelfs for books, knick knacks etc. Bottom case has 4 large drawers do...
Bamboo, Mahogany
Sold
H 38.5 in W 80.5 in D 21.5 in
Maitland-Smith British Colonial Style Coconut Shell and Leather Sideboard
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Impressive midcentury Maitland-Smith sideboard or wine cabinet with a textured bronze top in a coconut border on a four door case having bronze elephant head handles in coconut panel...
Leather, Coconut
Sold
H 32 in W 66 in D 21 in
Nicholas James Neoclassic Mahogany Sideboard with Curtains and Mesh Doors
Located in Germantown, MD
A custom Nicholas James Mid-Century English neoclassical Walnut Side board / Buffet / credenza with Curtains and wire Mesh Doors in good vintage condition.Features three large compar...
Metal, Wire
Antique British Colonial Caribbean Mahogany Server
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Rare and Remarkable 19th century British colonial server handcrafted in mahogany with a dark lush finish featuring a classic gallery on the top...
Brass
Two Door Cabinet or Server with Elephants and Coconut Veneer
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Handsome vintage British colonial style cabinet or chest with a polished coconut frame, featuring tooled leather top and sides, two mahogany doors with bronze elephant reliefs...
Coconut
Sold
H 41.5 in W 72 in D 22 in
20th Century Ralph Lauren British Colonial Mahogany Buffet Sideboard or Server
By Ralph Lauren
Located in Dayton, OH
An impressive late 20th Century large-scale mahogany British Colonial inspired server or sideboard. Features a rectangular form topped with an elegant gallery over three drawers. The...
Mahogany
Burnt Bamboo and Grasscloth Credenza or Sideboard
Located in Palm Beach, FL
British colonial style bow front buffet with plenty of storage and high decorative appeal having a burnt bamboo frame and grasscloth panels all around under geometric bamboo designs.
Grasscloth, Reed
British Colonial West Indies Server or Writing Table
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Transporting 19th century British Colonial West Indian writing table or server crafted in mahogany with gallery at the top, two drawers with cast brass hardware, and turned legs.
Mahogany
British Colonial Bowfront Teak Dresser Base
Located in Bedfordshire, GB
An extremely charming late 18th century, or possibly early 19th century, British colonial teak dresser base, of extremely rare bowfronted shape, having well figured top over three dr...
Teak
Antique English Bleached Oak Sideboard Sofa Table Farmhouse Credenza
Located in Choudrant, LA
Antique English bleached oak sideboard sofa table 5.5 ft. Farmhouse Credenza ~Direct from England~ ~Large, 5.5 ft. antique English sideboard/cre...
Oak
Antique Étagère or Server with Cabinet
Located in Palm Beach, FL
William IV English étagère or server, hand crafted in well grained mahogany having two shelves with turned and carved supports with a lower cabinet featuring a zinc lined wine cellar...
Mahogany
Baker Furniture Welsh Inlaid Oak Sideboard Credenza
Located in South Bend, IN
An exceptional welsh style sideboard, credenza, or console By Baker Furniture USA, 20th century Carved oak, with inlaid starburst marquetry and original brass hardware. M...
Brass