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British Colonial Furniture

BRITISH COLONIAL STYLE

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.

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Style: British Colonial
Pair of Woven Reed Pillows
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Pair of pillows handcrafted in woven reed in a herringbone pattern with discrete side zippers. Exclusively designed and offered by F. S. Henemader antiques ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Mexican British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Reed

Antique English Gaming Wheel
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Transporting antique English gaming wheel crafted in pine darkened by aged shellac with leather stopper and decoupaged numbers 1 through 30 and se...
Category

19th Century English Antique British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Pine

English Country Carved Royal Peacock Wall Plaque
Located in Queens, NY
English Country (20th Century) style stripped and carved Royal Peacock wall plaque/sign
Category

20th Century British British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Wood

Zabihi Collection Antique Persian Bibikabad Rug
Located in New York, NY
Spectacular accent-size antique Bibikabad Persian Rug from the 1st quarter of the 20th Century Measures: 4'2'' x 6'9''.
Category

20th Century Persian British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Wool

1910s Vintage 2 Tiered Brass Trefoil Lazy Susan Dumbwaiter
Located in Waxahachie, TX
Antique 2 tiered trefoil silent butler/ lazy susan/ dumbwaiter. Full of character and patina. This guy is more than 37" tall and weighs close to 30 pounds. Lazy susan functionality o...
Category

1910s Unknown Vintage British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Brass

American Country Iron and Glass Ship's Lantern
Located in Queens, NY
American Country style (19th Century) iron and glass half round ships embarkment lantern with scroll handle.
Category

19th Century American Antique British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Glass

English Country-Style Pine Wood Kneehole Desk
Located in Queens, NY
English Country (late 19th Century) pine wood kneehole desk having a scalloped gallery, three drawers in the frieze on the front side, a bank of three drawers below with brass pull h...
Category

20th Century British British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Brass

19th Century Anglo-Indian Trunk
Located in Petworth,West Sussex, GB
A superb-looking late 19th-century Anglo-Indian trunk with original ribbed iron fittings, brass-bound with decorative mounts, and carrying handles. Traditionally used as patio storag...
Category

Late 19th Century British Antique British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Hardwood

Vintage Impressionist Oil Painting of a Harbor Scene
Located in Palm Beach, FL
In the tradition of 1930s impressionist, here is a painting by H. A. Burnham of a harbor scene, displaying confident brushstrokes and a striking tropical palette. This oil painting c...
Category

20th Century Caribbean British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Paint

18th C. Federal Cherry Candle Stand Tea Table Tripod Pedestal Scallop Carved Top
Located in Philadelphia, PA
18th Century Cherry Candle Stand Tea Table Tripod Pedestal Scallop Carved Top. Item features remarkable aged patina and desirable finish, tripod base, Queen Anne legs, and carved sca...
Category

18th Century Unknown Antique British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Cherry

Pair of White Terracotta Lions
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Whimsical pair of Italian midcentury terracotta male and female lions with a white glaze and painted details. Although hardly ferocious these seated big c...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Terracotta

Oil Painting on Canvas of Parrots
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Striking oil painting on canvas of three parrots in a natural rain forest setting executed with hyper realism technique. Signed by noted American artist Andre Lange...
Category

Late 20th Century American British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Paint

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...
Category

19th Century Antiguan Antique British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Mahogany

English Brown Leather Valise
Located in Queens, NY
English brown leather valise
Category

20th Century British British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Leather

Vintage Set of Six Moth Watercolors
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Lofty set of six watercolors on paper depicting the surprising diverse beauty of moth species. Presented in wood frames, matted and under glass.
Category

Mid-20th Century American British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Paint, Wood, Paper

English Country Brick House Acrylic Painting
Located in Queens, NY
English Country style (20th Cent) acrylic on board painting, depicting a brick house, within faux wood and decorated frame. (7 Similar pieces: 057835A, 057835B, 057835C, 057835E, 057...
Category

20th Century British British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Wood

Pair of Tray Tables or Stands
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Vintage pair of folding tray or serving tables with woven rattan tops ambitiously crafted with galleries on folding X style bases.
Category

20th Century Philippine British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Rattan

English Brown Leather Valise
Located in Queens, NY
English dark brown leather small valise with 2 strapes and initials HB
Category

20th Century British British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Leather

Vintage London Tower Bridge Print Charcoal Drawing Thames
Located in Potters Bar, GB
You are viewing a vintage print of London's famous Tower Bridge Printed from the original charcoal drawing Really captures the mood and atmosphere of London Bridge Piece is signed in...
Category

1980s Vintage British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Paint

Antique Football Player Photograph
Located in Queens, NY
Antique sepia photograph of a 19th Century football player in a rectangular walnut frame.
Category

19th Century British Antique British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Glass

Monkeys Prints, 12 Engravings from "Le Règne Animal" Georges Cuvier, France 1816
Located in Firenze, IT
Set of 3 glassed framed panels of 12 engraving depicting monkeys and lemur studies from "Le Règne Animal" by Georges Cuvier. France, 1816 Le Règne Animal (The Animal Kingdom) i...
Category

Early 19th Century French Antique British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Paper

English Country Man and Bicycle Portrait
Located in Queens, NY
English Country style walnut framed photograph portrait of 19th Century man standing next to bicycle
Category

19th Century British Antique British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Walnut

Lovely Pair of Bright Red Wool Rugs
Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight
A lovely pair of bright red wool rugs The carpets haves a wonderful bright colour with an attractive pattern and a wide border, they are both 1n good a...
Category

Mid-20th Century British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Wool

Pair of Canvas Flamingo Throw Pillows, Priced Individually
Located in Palm Beach, FL
British Colonial style pair of canvas throw pillows with flamingos over antique style maps of the Caribbean. Priced Individually
Category

21st Century and Contemporary American British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Linen

American Country Style Brass and Iron Ladle
Located in Queens, NY
American Country-style (19th Century) brass ladle with wrought iron handle
Category

19th Century American Antique British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Brass

English Brown Leather Valise
Located in Queens, NY
English brown leather valise
Category

20th Century British British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Leather

American Country Brass and Iron Ladle
Located in Queens, NY
American Country-style (19th Century) brass ladle with wrought iron handle
Category

19th Century American Antique British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Brass

Antique Rustic Anglo-Indian Candleholder
Located in Sheffield, MA
The large sculptural antique rustic Anglo-Indian candleholder made from architectural element. Carved hardwood with an indented metal disk and spike or pricket for candles with extra...
Category

Late 19th Century Indian Antique British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Hardwood

Mid-Century Pair of Italian Metal Palm Tree Table Lamps
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Chic pair of vintage Italian table lamps crafted in iron or metal in a modern stylized design with an aged metal finish.
Category

20th Century Italian British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Metal

English Country Scene of Musicians
Located in Queens, NY
Walnut framed photograph of 19th Century genre scene of men drinking and playing musical instruments. (Companion Pieces: 052554B-E)
Category

19th Century British Antique British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Walnut

English Country Brick House Acrylic Painting
Located in Queens, NY
English Country style (20th Cent) acrylic on board painting, depicting a brick house, within faux wood and decorated frame. (7 Similar pieces: 057835A, 057835C, 057835D, 057835E, 057...
Category

20th Century British British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Wood

Vintage Unique Folk Art Made Metal and Cold-Painted Colonial Canon Model
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
This Folk Art constructed model canon was made in Canada by a retired millwright in 1984 in the British Colonial style. This model canon loosely resembles...
Category

Late 20th Century Canadian British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Aluminum, Brass

Zebra Hide Desk Set
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Rare and remarkable vintage campaign zebra desk set with a blotter, a notepad, and a pen holder. Possible Hermes. Blotter H: 12 W: 23 D: .5 Notepad H: 5.5 W: 8 D: 1 Penholde...
Category

20th Century English British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Zebra Hide

19th Century Tobagonian Specimen Wood Tripod Table Made for 1885 Exhibit
Located in Charleston, SC
An intriguing cedrela and rosewood tripod pedestal table from Tobago, circa 1885, featuring a specimen top with labeled exotic woods. The handwritten labels underneath catalog each o...
Category

19th Century Trinidadian Antique British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Mahogany, Rosewood, Satinwood, Cedar

*Two British Colonial Style Zebra Print Pillows, Priced Individually
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Enticing pillows crafted in cowhide with printed zebra stripes each with its own form and organic patterns. Priced Individually. From left to right: H: 13 ...
Category

20th Century American British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Cowhide

English Country Brick House Acrylic Painting
Located in Queens, NY
English Country style (20th Cent) acrylic on board painting, depicting a brick house, within faux wood and decorated frame. (7 Similar pieces: 057835A, 057835B, 057835C, 057835D, 057...
Category

20th Century British British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Wood

Old English Silver Plate over Nickel Ornate Rectangular Serving Tray Handles
Located in Miami, FL
British Colonial style old English silver plate over nickel rectangular serving tray, platter with ornate border. It is in original vintage condition and has some stains and is tarni...
Category

1940s English Vintage British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Silver Plate, Nickel

Racing Bicyclist Photograph
Located in Queens, NY
Walnut framed photograph of 19th Century racing bicyclist.
Category

19th Century British Antique British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Walnut

Pair of Midcentury Mother of Pearl Table Lamps
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Pair of midcentury table lamps with a rectangular form featuring alluring mother of pearl mosaic bodies presented on Lucite bases.
Category

20th Century American British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Mother-of-Pearl

English Country Brick House Acrylic Painting
Located in Queens, NY
English Country style (20th Cent) acrylic on board painting, depicting a brick house, within faux wood and decorated frame. (7 Similar pieces: 057835A, 057835B, 057835D, 057835E, 057...
Category

20th Century British British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Wood

English Country Brick House Acrylic Painting
Located in Queens, NY
English Country style (20th Cent) acrylic on board painting, depicting a brick house, within faux wood and decorated frame. (7 Similar pieces: 057835A, 057835B, 057835C, 057835D, 057...
Category

20th Century British British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Wood

American Country Brass and Iron Ladle
Located in Queens, NY
American Country-style (19th Century) brass ladle with wrought iron handle
Category

19th Century American Antique British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Brass

Beautiful Persian Bakhtiari Gallery Size Rug
Located in New York, NY
an early 20th century Persian Bakhtiari Gallery size rug Measures: 5'8'' x 11'4''.
Category

Early 20th Century Persian British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Wool

Early 20th Century Hand Carved Antique Wooden Oak Chair
Located in West Hollywood, CA
Art Nouveau Spiral Spindle Antique Chair. Made from walnut, American-made from the 1930's. Hand-carved. Purchased at an antique store in New Orleans.
Category

1930s British Vintage British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Oak

Dressed Navy Sculpture, Floor Lamp A Fibreglass mannequin in 19th Century dress
Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight
Dressed Navy Sculpture, Floor Lamp A Fibreglass mannequin in 19th Century dressed uniform, set on a pipework frame and topped with a hanging brass light, the mannequin is dated 1805...
Category

1960s Vintage British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Fiberglass

Reverse Drawing of Moorish Architecture by Cathy Wiggs
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Bold image of Moorish architecture executed with a unique technique, a reverse drawing on a sheet of Mylar or plastic. The effect is quite alluring and very much in the manor of the ...
Category

20th Century English British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Plastic, Mylar

English Antique Axminister Rug, 1870 Handmade Carpet Runner Wool Hallway Runner
Located in Wembley, GB
This high-quality rare English Axminister rug Features asymmetrical repeat pattern, woven in beige pink and cream. Revealing meandering scrolls and floral motifs. This beautiful Ant...
Category

Late 19th Century British Antique British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Wool, Cotton, Organic Material

Carved Coral Bowl or Planter
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Here is a large piece of bowl coral with its bleached white color and sea inspired texture, carved and repurposed as a bowl or planter. Available only in the United States of Americ...
Category

20th Century American British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Coral

Tole Military Hat Trade Sign on Lucite
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Trade sign depicting an 18th century British officer's hat with a weathered finish and presented on a custom Lucite stand.
Category

20th Century English British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Tôle

Pair of Midcentury Bamboo End Tables
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Here is a pair of tables with a top composed of travertine blocks set in a herringbone pattern, in a maple frame with one drawer that seems to float on the unexpected bamboo base.
Category

20th Century American British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Bamboo

Pair of Fanciful Paintings on Canvas of Monkeys
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Whimsical acrylic paintings on canvas, one depicting a monkey peeling a banana and the other of a monkey holding an ice cream soda and both are wearing Asian Style hats and lounging on leopard print...
Category

20th Century American British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Acrylic

Three Antique Hand Colored Engravings of Birds
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Three 18th century hand colored engravings of parrot specimens as depicted by Peter Brown, an artist and naturalist, working in London England. Originally published in 1776 in a foli...
Category

18th Century English Antique British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Paper

Zabihi Collection Turkish Oushak Pillow
Located in New York, NY
Pillow made from a vintage Turkish Oushak rug. 19'' x 20''
Category

20th Century British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Wool, Cotton, Foam

WWw11, Tiny Leather Attaché Case First Aid Medical Equipment
Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight
WW11, tiny leather attaché case first aid medical equipment This is a superb piece and is in excellent condition almost unused, the case is mad...
Category

Early 20th Century British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Leather

John Somers Brazilian Pewter Serving Bowl with Lid/Extra Bowl
Located in Raleigh, US
John Somers Pewter Serving Dish with Lid – Elegant & Versatile This exquisite pewter serving dish by renowned 20th-century Brazilian pewtersmith John Somers is both functional and c...
Category

Mid-20th Century Brazilian British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Pewter

Zabihi Rug Collection Turkish Sivas Throw Rug
Located in New York, NY
A finer quality early 20th century Turkish Sivas rug. 3' x 4'9''
Category

Early 20th Century Turkish British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Wool

Oil on Canvas The Smoke 0f Battle signed J.C.Ambrose
Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight
Oil on Canvas The Smoke 0f Battle signed J.C.Ambrose This is a Large Oil Painting on canvas, it is framed and has a brass plaque with the title of the painting Painted in the 20th C...
Category

1960s Vintage British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Canvas

19th Century Jamaican Regency Mahogany Tilt-Top Breakfast Table
Located in Charleston, SC
This West Indies tilt-top breakfast table was created in Jamaica in the early 19th century, circa 1800. The table is made of solid mahogany from the Caribbean and is mounted on a sta...
Category

Early 19th Century Caribbean Antique British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Brass

Oceanic Pendant, White, Large, Davey Lighting & Original BTC, United Kingdom.
By Peter Bowles (Original BTC), Davey & Co.
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Oceanic Pendant, White, Large, Davey Lighting & Original BTC, United Kingdom. Large Oceanic Pendant A contemporary twist on an original design from the ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary British British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Aluminum, Steel

Ensemble de salon en bois sculpté – Circa 1880
Located in NEUILLY-SUR-SEINE, FR
Ensemble de salon en bois sculpté – Circa 1880 Superbe ensemble de mobilier de salon en bois patiné, finement sculpté de masques grotesques, comprenant : Un canapé Une paire de fau...
Category

1880s Antique British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Wood

British Colonial furniture for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique British Colonial furniture for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the 21st Century and Contemporary, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage furniture created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include tables, case pieces and storage cabinets, seating and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with wood, metal and other materials. If you’re shopping for used British Colonial furniture made in a specific country, there are Europe, Asia, and United Kingdom pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original furniture, popular names associated with this style include Maitland Smith, Baker Furniture Company, Bloomingdale's, and Ralph Lauren. It’s true that these talented designers have at times inspired knockoffs, but our experienced specialists have partnered with only top vetted sellers to offer authentic pieces that come with a buyer protection guarantee. Prices for furniture differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $80 and tops out at $88,000 while the average work can sell for $3,161.

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