British Colonial Furniture
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.
Mid-20th Century Philippine British Colonial Furniture
Grasscloth, Faux Bamboo
1920s Indian Vintage British Colonial Furniture
Teak
Early 1900s English Antique British Colonial Furniture
Copper
21st Century and Contemporary American British Colonial Furniture
Walnut
Late 20th Century American British Colonial Furniture
Maple
2010s Indian British Colonial Furniture
Fabric, Cotton, Down
Early 20th Century European British Colonial Furniture
Cane, Teak
20th Century American British Colonial Furniture
Faux Bamboo
Late 20th Century Unknown British Colonial Furniture
Hardwood
19th Century Indian Antique British Colonial Furniture
Wood, Cane
Mid-20th Century English British Colonial Furniture
Bamboo
Early 19th Century English Antique British Colonial Furniture
Fabric, Wood, Paint
Mid-19th Century Antique British Colonial Furniture
Iron
20th Century American British Colonial Furniture
Mahogany
Late 20th Century British Colonial Furniture
20th Century British British Colonial Furniture
Brass
Mid-20th Century English British Colonial Furniture
Brass
20th Century English British Colonial Furniture
Wood, Paper, Glass
Late 18th Century English Antique British Colonial Furniture
Paper
Early 20th Century Algerian British Colonial Furniture
Wood, Paper
Mid-20th Century Kenyan British Colonial Furniture
Wool
1960s American Vintage British Colonial Furniture
Mahogany
19th Century British Antique British Colonial Furniture
Porcelain
Late 20th Century American British Colonial Furniture
Maple
Late 20th Century Philippine British Colonial Furniture
Bronze
Early 20th Century Indian British Colonial Furniture
Hardwood
21st Century and Contemporary American British Colonial Furniture
Wood
20th Century Italian British Colonial Furniture
Brass
19th Century Caribbean Antique British Colonial Furniture
Mahogany
19th Century British Antique British Colonial Furniture
Hardwood
1970s Philippine Vintage British Colonial Furniture
Fabric, Bamboo, Cane, Reed
Late 18th Century English Antique British Colonial Furniture
Walnut
Early 20th Century Unknown British Colonial Furniture
Brass
20th Century British British Colonial Furniture
Paint
1850s Indian Antique British Colonial Furniture
Wood
1910s Indian Vintage British Colonial Furniture
Silver
Early 20th Century Swedish British Colonial Furniture
Leather, Paper
19th Century Chinese Antique British Colonial Furniture
Wood
Late 20th Century Philippine British Colonial Furniture
Leather, Zebra Hide
20th Century English British Colonial Furniture
Brass
19th Century Indian Antique British Colonial Furniture
Glass, Teak
19th Century English Antique British Colonial Furniture
Paint
Mid-20th Century American British Colonial Furniture
Cane, Wood
Early 19th Century Indian Antique British Colonial Furniture
Mahogany
Early 1900s English Antique British Colonial Furniture
Mahogany
Early 20th Century British Colonial Furniture
Teak
Early 19th Century Indian Antique British Colonial Furniture
Brass
18th Century English Antique British Colonial Furniture
Hardwood
Early 20th Century Indian British Colonial Furniture
Mother-of-Pearl, Teak
Mid-19th Century British Antique British Colonial Furniture
Metal
Early 20th Century Persian British Colonial Furniture
Wool
Late 20th Century Philippine British Colonial Furniture
Brass, Gold Leaf
18th Century and Earlier Italian Antique British Colonial Furniture
Bronze
20th Century British British Colonial Furniture
Mahogany
21st Century and Contemporary Spanish British Colonial Furniture
Linen, Bamboo, Cane
Late 19th Century British Antique British Colonial Furniture
Other
Mid-20th Century English British Colonial Furniture
Steel
1970s Moroccan Vintage British Colonial Furniture
Metal