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
Baker Furniture 18th Century Flemish Style Mahogany Triple Dresser, Refinished
Located in South Bend, IN
A gorgeous 18th century Flemish reproduction chest of drawers, dresser, or buffet server
By Baker Furniture
USA, mid-20th century
...
Category
Mid-20th Century American British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Brass
Antique Copper Brass Nautical Maritime Gimbal Compass Binnacle Ship Oil Lamp 14
Located in Dayton, OH
Antique English nautical / maritime ship / Yacht / lifeboat binnacle gimbal compass with rare double oil lamps. Copper and brass body with double oil ...
Category
Early 20th Century British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Brass
Collection of 47 Swedish 20th Century Leather-Bound Books
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
A collection of 47 Swedish decorative antique leather-bound library books.
The books are wrapped in leather-bound covers, comprised of a selection of warm tones and gold leaf print ...
Category
Early 20th Century Swedish British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Leather, Paper
Vintage Coastal Boho Bamboo Rattan Foldable Dinning / Card Table
Located in North Fort Myers, FL
Charming vintage folding table crafted from bamboo and rattan, featuring a striking geometric parquet design on the top.
The natural beauty of the bamboo is highlighted by the warm h...
Category
1970s Unknown Vintage British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Bamboo, Wood
Ceylonese British Colonial Style Satinwood Ebony Mahogany Hutch Cupboard Cabinet
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Vintage Ceylonese British Colonial Style Satinwood Ebony Mahogany Hutch Cupboard Cabinet. Item features beautiful satinwood, ebony, and mahogany wood, 3 dovetail constructed drawers,...
Category
Mid-20th Century Unknown British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Ebony, Mahogany, Satinwood
Collection of 42 Swedish Early 20th Century Leather-Bound Books
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
A collection of 47 Swedish decorative antique leather-bound library books from the from the 1930s-1940s.
The books are wrapped in leather-bound covers, comprised of a selection of w...
Category
Early 20th Century Swedish British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Leather, Paper
Pair of Brass Palm Tree Table Lamps
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Chic mid century modern pair of table lamps crafted in brass in a stylized palm tree form on an octagon ebonized wood base. Best of the genre.
Category
20th Century Italian British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Brass
$7,500 / set
Vintage British Colonial Style Three Tiered Stand By Milling Road
By Milling Road
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Handsome vintage British Colonial style stand crafted in mahogany with a contrived aged finish having a flame grained top over two caned lower tiers with turned and twisted supports ...
Category
Mid-20th Century American British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Brass
Bamboo and Rattan Chair and Ottoman
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Vintage British colonial style chair and ottoman crafted with a bamboo frame and having herringbone woven rattan on the seat, arms and ottoman, ce...
Category
20th Century Philippine British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Bamboo, Rattan
Newly Refinished Antique Drop-leaf Tiger Oak table with Faux Bamboo Legs
Located in Fort Washington, MD
Antique tiger oak drop-leaf table with 2 leaves on hinges that can be raised or lowered and small drawer. The use of tiger oak suggests a striking grain pattern with a wavy or mottle...
Category
Late 19th Century Unknown Antique British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Oak
Palecek French Regency Style Pedestal Dining Table
Located in Southampton, NJ
A fine Palecek French Regency style center or pedestal dining table of faux bamboo & braided rope styling accented with leather joinery in excellent vintage condition. Table dimensi...
Category
20th Century American British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Leather, Glass, Wood
Safari Style British Colonial Elephant Lamp
Located in Boca Raton, FL
Vintage safari style British Colonial Stule elephant base lamp. Sculpture material.
Category
1960s American Vintage British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Synthetic
$592 Sale Price
20% Off
Coastal Marine Heavy Brass Fireplace Tool Set
Located in Boca Raton, FL
Impressive 46” high polished brass fireplace tools set in a shape of antique sailing ship named Fon Germando.
Category
1940s Dutch Vintage British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Brass
$3,500 / set
Early 19th Century Caribbean Mahogany Tilt-Top Breakfast Center Table
Located in Charleston, SC
This West Indies center table has an English influence. This piece is published in " West Indian Antique Furniture of the Lesser Antilles...
Category
Early 19th Century Bajan Antique British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Brass
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...
Category
Late 20th Century Philippine British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Bronze
20th C. Set of Four Nichols and Stone Mahogany Windsor Side Chairs by Stickley
Located in Germantown, MD
Late 20th Century Set of Four Nichols and Stone Mahogany Windsor Style Side Chairs manufactured by Stickley in Manlius New York. Great vintage condition with clean line, solid wood p...
Category
Late 20th Century American British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Mahogany
Antique Group of Three Smoke Bell Light Fixtures, Priced Individually
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Standout group of three colonial style continental smoke bell glass light fixtures hand blown in classic form with cut designs and brass hammered hardware, using candle power as orig...
Category
Early 20th Century Belgian British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Blown Glass
China, 18th Century, Blue-and-White Decorated Dish, circa 1780
Located in PARIS, FR
China, 18th Century, Blue-and-White Decorated Dish, circa 1780
This Chinese export porcelain dish, made around 1780 during the reign of Emperor Qianlong (1736-1795), illustrates the ...
Category
Late 18th Century Chinese Antique British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
Rupert Bevan Croft Bar Stool (in customer's own choice of material/leather)
By Rupert Bevan
Located in London, GB
Inspired by our Croft Dining Chair, the Croft Bar Stool was created to give the design versatility, allowing the piece to move seamlessly between the dining room and into the bar.
...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary British British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Leather, Oak, Upholstery
Maitland Smith Bronze & Shell Mosaic Footed Ginger Jar Urn Table Lamp 30"
Located in Dayton, OH
Vintage Maitland Smith table in the shape of a tall ginger jar / urn featuring a white shell mosaic in a scalloped feather or leaf vein pa...
Category
Late 20th Century British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Bronze
$440 Sale Price
20% Off
Vintage Painting Still Life with Fruit - Study of Oranges
Located in San Diego, CA
The oil on canvas painting majestically depicts a pair of oranges on a vine with a leaf, together with a cherry adjacent to them. The scene is depicted against a dark ground, however...
Category
1950s American Vintage British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Wood, Paint
Large 19th century Burmese colonial haberdashery cabinet
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
Large 19th century Burmese colonial haberdashery cabinet circa 1880.
Here we offer a fine example of where English regency style furniture...
Category
Late 19th Century Burmese Antique British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Glass, Hardwood
Antique Decorative Desk Stand, Indian, Ebony, Colonial Writer's Tidy, Victorian
Located in Hele, Devon, GB
This is an antique decorative desk stand. An Indian, ebony Colonial writer's tidy, dating to the early Victorian period, circa 1850.
Striking dark tonality with eye-catching Colon...
Category
Mid-19th Century Indian Antique British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Ebony
2 Maitland Smith Shell Mosaic Stacked Ball Candlestick Buffet Table Lamps 36"
Located in Dayton, OH
Pair of two Maitland Smith buffet / table lamps featuring round bronze bases and urn shaped finials with factory distressed patina / verdigris, w...
Category
Late 20th Century British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Bronze
$940 Sale Price / set
20% Off
British Colonial Teak Slipper Chair With Leather Upholstery
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
Circa 1920's
Hand carved Victorian Slipper chair constructed from Teak wood and re-upholstered in brown leather.
Category
1920s Indian Vintage British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Teak
$1,992 Sale Price
20% Off
Zabihi Collection Oversize Jewel Toned Traditional Persian Sarouk Rug
Located in New York, NY
an early 20th century Persian Sarouk Oversize Rug
Details
rug no. j4056
size 8' 11" x 15'
Before the 1920s the Sarouk design was the most popular of Persian rugs worldwide. Most o...
Category
Early 20th Century Persian British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Wool
Antique English Brass Planter Lion Heads Flowerpot Pub Scenes c.1930
Located in Tyler, TX
EXCELLENT Antique English Brass Planter Flower Pot Jardiniere with Lions Heads and Pub Scene~~c. 1930
Beautiful decorative brass planter~~excell...
Category
Early 20th Century English British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Brass
Colonial Rosewood Carved Hutch Linen Cabinet with Barley Twist Columns
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
Uncompromisingly hand-crafted Colonial cabinet with barley twist columns and removable shelves Circa 1880-90. Constructed from solid Rosewood and sitting on bun feet framed by hand c...
Category
Late 19th Century Asian Antique British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Rosewood
$6,000 Sale Price
20% Off
British Colonial Solid Maple Extension Dining Table, Newly Refinished
Located in South Bend, IN
A beautiful British Colonial or Early American extension harvest style dining table
USA, Circa Late 20th Century
Solid maple, with turned legs.
Measures: 72.5"W x 44"D x 30.25"H. ...
Category
Late 20th Century American British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Maple
Antique Colonial Hardwood Table, 19th Century
Located in Hele, Devon, GB
This is an antique, 19th century hardwood table.
Of immense weight, carved from a single piece of hardwood, this exotic piece makes for an interesting side or lamp table.
The s...
Category
19th Century British Antique British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Hardwood
Antique British Colonial Leather Top Partners Desk
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Handsome British Colonial partners desk hand crafted in mahogany with a brown tooled leather top, two drawers on either side and elegant turned legs on brass casters.
Category
Early 20th Century English British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Brass
18th Century East Indies Mahogany Raj Bed with Paws
Located in Charleston, SC
An 18th century Raj East Indies bed with elaborate carving, carved tiger paw feet, and a finished tester. Often copying Western or British forms, Rajput courts extracted influence fr...
Category
Late 18th Century Indian Antique British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Mahogany, Rosewood
Faux Bamboo Cane And Brass Handled Sideboard by American of Martinsville
Located in Reading, Berkshire
American of Martinsville Bergere and Faux Bamboo Sideboard With Cane sectional fronts and brass handles.
Founded in 1906, American of Martinsvil...
Category
20th Century American British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Brass
Early 20th Century Burmese Wood Chest of Drawers
Located in New York, NY
A four-drawer chest in teak wood from old Burma, now Myanmar. Early 20th Century, circa 1925.
Dark finish. Two small drawers, two large. Original brass handles.
Category
1920s Burmese Vintage British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Teak
$2,900 Sale Price
50% Off
British Colonial Style Glass Lantern or Pendant
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Vintage British colonial style three light lantern or light fixture with a hand blown glass bowl and brass hardware.
Category
Mid-20th Century American British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Brass
British Colonial Style Set of Four Safari Chairs
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Dashing set of four vintage British Colonial chairs crafted in mahogany stained maple with a pegged construction in a safari style havi...
Category
Late 20th Century American British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Maple
$5,950 / set
Victorian Pine and Iron Bound Sea Chest, Iron Bound Silver chest
Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight
A large Victorian pine and iron bound sea or silver chest.
This the heaviest and best quality box that you can imagine, it has heavy iron banding on the outside, a superb and lar...
Category
Mid-19th Century Antique British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Pine
Colonial 18th Century Vizagapatam Pen-Engraved Writing Desk with Silver Mounts
Located in Amsterdam, NL
A Vizagapatam pen-engraved veneered sandalwood portable writing desk with silver mounts
India, Coromandel coast, Visakhapatnam, circa 1875
...
Category
18th Century Indian Antique British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Sandalwood, Bone
Royal Air Force P10 Aircraft Compass No. 10489 T
Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight
A Royal Air Force P10 aircraft compass No. 10489 T
The compass has a brass body finished in black, it comes in its battleship grey painted wooden ...
Category
1930s Vintage British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Brass
Bamboo and Cane British Colonial Style Dresser or Chest
Located in Bellport, NY
A tall bamboo and cane five-drawer dresser. All drawers pull out on metal rails for easy use.
Handcrafted in Spain. Two small top drawers and three large drawers, good storage.
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Spanish British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Bamboo, Cane
British Colonial Antique 1910 Cheltenham Silver Coffee Service Sheffield England
Located in Miami, FL
1910 English silver coffee service by Cheltenham & Company, Ltd. Sheffield, England.
All 4 pieces have the same maker's marks on the bottoms complete with the engraved unicorn design...
Category
1910s English Vintage British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Silver
Pair of Painted Caned Faux Bamboo British Colonial Style Lounge Chairs
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Pair of tub style lounge chairs in the British Colonial style, each having a white-painted, molded frame of faux bamboo surrounding thye caned back and sides, its bowed crestrail dow...
Category
Mid-20th Century British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Upholstery, Cane, Wood
Pair of Mid-Century Faux Bamboo British Colonial Style Nests of Tables
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Rare pair of British colonial style nests of tables or stands each with faux bamboo frames wrapped with reed and grass cloth panels on the table tops.
Category
Late 20th Century Philippine British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Grasscloth, Faux Bamboo, Reed
Antique Two-Tier Cane and Scorched Bamboo Tiger Wood Side Table with Storage Top
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
Antique Victorian Aesthetic movement two-tier scorched bamboo and cane tigerwood side table or occasional table with box storage on top. Bamboo occasional tables like this, are a cult favorite among those in the design circle as well as discerning collectors across the globe. Evoking a tropical or British Colonial vibe, these tables are rare to find, and always a classic timeless piece for just about any room in the home.
You'll find this classic bamboo side table while flipping through the pages of nearly every design magazine. Understated, perhaps because of it’s size, it packs a big punch. It serves as both form and function with two areas for storage. Both a hidden box, as well as a bottom open shelf.
Born in the 19th century, this piece is created out of bamboo. Other terms used to describe this type of material and finish, are scorched bamboo or tortoiseshell bamboo or tiger bamboo. This particular piece is square in form and has four legs. The top of the table is square and features a box with a liftable lid for storage. Fastened with a hinge, it is a great way to hide little things that make a space feel cluttered. (TV remotes, reading glasses, etc.) When closed, the top functions as a normal tabletop. We envision a beautiful vase sitting atop a stack of well-loved books.
Under the top of the table, sits a second open tier shelf for additional storage. Again, we think this would be a great way to showcase a stack of your favorite books or a small bowl of fresh flowers.
Both the top of the table, and the sides are covered in what is sometimes called rice matt. It's more of a woven fiber much like cane or wicker, and can often be mistaken for grasscloth.
This piece would be fabulous if used in a number of ways:
1.) Our dear friend suggested using this as her "smoking box". With the inside holding the items she wouldn't necessarily want in view, but in a convenient enough place to quickly grab things should she need/want to.
2.) Entry table: To eliminate the mess of setting keys and sunglasses on a table, we think this small table box would be a great place to set keys and sunglasses inside, and then closed, to set a purse on top of.
3.) Patio: A lovely plant stand between two patio chairs...
Category
19th Century American Antique British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Metal
$960 Sale Price
20% Off
19th Century English Cupboard
Located in Dallas, TX
19th Century English Cupboard boasts a stately yet rustic presence, ideal for the casual decor. The shallow design coupled with the mitered front corners makes it exceptionally traffic-friendly for efficient floor plans. Designed to hold just-washed pots...
Category
1880s English Antique British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Brass
20th Century Maitland-Smith Faux Tortoise Bamboo Brass Pull Stand Magazine Racks
Located in Miami, FL
Maitland-Smith British Colonial Style End Table or stand with a faux tortoise finish over a turned wood faux bamboo frame.
Featuring Gold Leaf tooled brown leather panels, one drawer...
Category
Late 20th Century Philippine British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Brass, Gold Leaf
Early 20th C. Rawleys Brass and Leather Bound On Canvas Wardrobe Trunk
Located in Germantown, MD
A well kepth Late 19th Century to Early 20th Century Rawleys Brass and Leather Bound On Canvas rolling Wardrobe Trunk in great antique condition. Solid brass fitting throughout, har...
Category
Early 20th Century Unknown British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Brass
19th Century Anglo-Indian Amber Pumpkin Shape Bell Jar Lantern
Located in Southampton, NY
19th century Anglo-Indian amber pumpkin shape bell jar lantern.
Category
19th Century British Antique British Colonial Furniture
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
$3,350 / set
Mid-20th Century Rattan Tub Side Chairs by Lewittes- Pair New Uphol/refinished
Located in North Fort Myers, FL
Introducing an exquisite pair of vintage mid-20th century rattan tub side chairs by Lewittes, beautifully refinished to bring out their intricate rattan craftsmanship. Each chair is ...
Category
Mid-20th Century American British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Rattan
Hanging Wicker Monkey after Mario Lopez Torres
By Mario Torres
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
A small hanging wicker monkey holding a grouping of leaves. This cute brown monkey is created from wicker and features arms and legs which are bent so t...
Category
20th Century American British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Wicker, Rattan, Paint
$220 Sale Price
20% Off
Antique English Sheffield Silver plate & crystal Crue set Circa 1890
Located in Birmingham, AL
uality 19th Century Victorian antique silver plated cruet set. Having a silver plated stand with a shaped handle and raised on ornate fe...
Category
Late 19th Century British Antique British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Crystal
$625 Sale Price / set
50% Off
19th Century Anglo Indian Cupboard
Located in Gloucestershire, GB
Late 19th Century Anglo Indian teak cupboard.
In two parts with two doors above two, with the original inlaid slides in the top. Intricately inlaid with bone and ebony.
Category
1880s Antique British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Teak
Large Blue Wildebeest Antelope Carpet / Rug from Kenya, British Colonial Era
Located in New York, NY
A noble and elegant African blue wildebeest rug or carpet from the British Colonial era in Kenya. Blue Wildebeest are known beautiful and subtle color r...
Category
Mid-20th Century Kenyan British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Animal Skin, Felt
Lee Radziwill Inspired Block Print Down Flower Motif Pillow in Yellow, India
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
Bring a taste of the Orient to any space with one of our custom-created square Indian block print down filled pillows. Each pillow is made of soft cotton and...
Category
2010s Indian British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Fabric, Cotton, Down
$280 Sale Price / item
20% Off
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 Carved Claw Foot China Cabinet
Located in Countryside, IL
British Colonial Carved Claw Foot China Cabinet
This china cabinet measures: 62.5 wide x 19 deep x 66.75 inches high
We take our photos in a ...
Category
1980s American Vintage British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Glass, Wood
A Teak Wood Oval Dining Table
Located in Chicago, IL
The natural roughness of the material is what gives this table its authenticity. It is a stunning piece rich in texture and history, and may serve a wide variety of roles in its futu...
Category
Mid-20th Century Burmese British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Teak
$3,200 Sale Price
44% Off
Small Brighton Pavillion White Wrought Iron Settee
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Charming Miniature Brighton Pavillion style settee. This piece is finished in gloss white with a Ralph Lauren upholstered seat cushion in a chinoise...
Category
20th Century English British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Wrought Iron
Anglo Indian Colonial Teak Desk, 1890s
Located in Montelabbate, PU
Large and sturdy desk from the late 1800s. Generously thick teak material. Below the full carved profile typical of the style and period. numerous restorati...
Category
1890s Antique British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Teak
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.