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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
19th Century Model Field Gun on Carriage, Cast Iron Porch Cannon
Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight
19th century Model Field gun on carriage, cast iron porch cannon A good and well made piece, the field gun is made in good detail, this piece has spent m...
Category

Mid-19th Century Antique British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Iron

Bronze Style Safari-Themed End Table
Located in Brooklyn, NY
This side table features a heavy rounded glass top that sits upon an elaborately sculpted bronze colored base. The base uses a palm tree to hold up the table's top, and two small ele...
Category

Mid-20th Century British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Composition

Antique English Staffordshire Porcelain Figurine Girl Seated on Waterfall Bird
Located in Dayton, OH
Antique 19th century staffordshire porcelain figure showing a young woman seated on the rocks above a waterfall with two birds.
Category

19th Century Antique British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Porcelain

Italian Majolica Ceramic Bowl in the Shape of a Lion's Head 1960
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Vintage Italian handcrafted Majolica ceramic bowl, ashtray in the shape of a lion's head. Decorate a shelf or a kitchen counter with this elegant Majolica bowl hand painted and is be...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Ceramic

A View of Cape Rouge, Quebec, Canada, Mazell after Capt. Hervey Smyth, c.1760s
Located in Savannah, GA
A View of Cape Rouge, or Carouge, on the Saint Lawrence River, north of Quebec. Engraving by Peter Mazell after a drawing by Captian Hervey Smyth, published c.1760's, London. T...
Category

1760s Canadian Antique British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Paper

Pair of Sea Fan Sculptures
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Pair of sea fan sculptures crafted or dipped in silvered metal with amazing accuracy and presented on classic form lacquered stands. Signed Eduardo Garza...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary American British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Metal

British Colonial Style Coffee Table with Inset Bronze, Christie's Auction Label
Located in Miami, FL
British Colonial Style coffee table with inset bronze. Christie's auction label. Offered for sale is a British Colonial-style coffee table with an inset bronze grate...
Category

Late 20th Century British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Bronze

Pair of English Country Mahogany Carved Floral Wall Plaques
Located in Queens, NY
PAIR of English Victorian Country style mahogany rectangular carved floral wall plaques (PRICED AS PAIR).
Category

20th Century British British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Mahogany

Antique English Campaign Chest of Drawers
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Handsome 19th century British colonial five drawer campaign chest handcrafted in mahogany with dramatic grains, brass hardware, and classic bracket feet.
Category

19th Century English Antique British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Brass

20th Century British Colonial Bookcase with Bottom Storage
Located in Chicago, IL
This impressively-scaled book cabinet was made from solid Teak wood and dates to the 1940's. During the late British empire in India and Burma much furniture was made in the Art Deco...
Category

Early 20th Century Burmese British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Teak

British Colonial Grass Cloth and Faux Bamboo Three-Tiered Cabinet and Desk
Located in Palm Beach, FL
British Colonial style three-tiered cabinet desk with a gallery at the top over three step down compartments covered with grass cloth and framed with faux bamboo. The upper and lower...
Category

20th Century Philippine British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Faux Bamboo

Exceptional Palace Carpet - British Royal important Order, Hand-woven - N 1571
Located in Paris, FR
Period: 19th century Style: English antiques Condition: Perfect condition Material: Wool Length: 225 cm Width: 142 cm Exceptional Palace Carpet, British Royal Commission, Woven in t...
Category

19th Century Caucasian Antique British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Wool

British Colonial Style Bamboo Recliner Chair with Ottoman
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Mid century recliner chair crafted in bamboo and bent bamboo with caned seating featuring a pull out ottoman and Morris style reclini...
Category

Mid-20th Century Philippine British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Bamboo

Zabihi Collection Navy Blue Antique Persian Sarouk Manchester Wool Rug
Located in New York, NY
Stunning late 19th century Persian Sarouk Manchester Wool rug. 4'1'' x 6'6'' Before the 1920s the Sarouk design was the most popular of Persian rugs worldwide. Most of them consist...
Category

Late 19th Century Persian Antique British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Wool

18th Century Pair of Orange Tall Indian Teak Wood Pillars
Located in San Marino, CA
These pair of orange painted tall Indian teak wood pillars are topped with classical acanthus leaf capitals and come in three parts.
Category

18th Century Indian Antique British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Teak

British Colonial Faux Bamboo and Grasscloth Square Coffee Table
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Midcentury British Colonial style coffee table with a faux bamboo frame and two grasscloth tiers over splayed feet.
Category

20th Century American British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Faux Bamboo

Vintage Ficks and Reed Rattan Chaise Lounge
Located in Bellport, NY
A newly upholstered Ficks and Reed chaise longue, indoor outdoor fabric, new fill in cushions, zippers installed. Lovely condition, easily placed in mos...
Category

1970s American Vintage British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Upholstery, Rattan, Paint

Faux Bamboo British Colonial Style Occasional Table by Maitland-Smith
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Vintage occasional table or stand crafted in faux bamboo featuring a faux tortoise finish, brass caps and two tiers of tooled leather tops. As...
Category

20th Century Philippine British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Brass

British Ceylon Style Specimen Round Tilt-Top Table , 19th Century
Located in Charleston, SC
This British Colonial center table uses exotic wood veneers to create a spectacular spiral, fanning clockwise with contrasting exotic specimen woods ...
Category

Mid-19th Century Sri Lankan Antique British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Rosewood, Mahogany

Rustic Antique Indian Architectural M-o-p Inlaid Teak Window
Located in Forney, TX
A beautiful antique Indian architectural m-o-p inlaid carved teak window. India, late 19th / early 20th century, primitive hand-crafted ...
Category

Early 20th Century Indian British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Mother-of-Pearl, Teak

Beautiful Persian Floral Pattern Fine Carpet
Located in New York, NY
Fine quality Northwest Persian rug with a floral all-over design set on a tomato red field, accents in hot pink, gray and apricot, and a light blue border Measures: 10'1” x 13'5”.
Category

Early 20th Century Persian British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Wool

Antique Framed Orientalist Print of "Midday in Algiers" After James Greig 1926
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Antique Framed Orientalist Print of "Midday in Algiers" after James Greig original dated circa 1900. This piece, is a print from the original Orientalist masterpiece, it showcases th...
Category

Early 20th Century Algerian British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Wood, Paper

19th C, 'Hen & Newborn Chicks' Oil on Canvas Style of William Baptiste Baird
By William Baptiste Baird
Located in Atlanta, GA
American or Continental School, 19th century. Signed lower left. Oil on Canvas in giltwood frame. Measures: 17" w x 13" h. A finely observed oil on canvas depicting a domesti...
Category

19th Century French Antique British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Canvas, Giltwood, Paint

British Colonial Style Pair of Bamboo and Grasscloth Stands or Tables
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Impressive pair of mid century stands crafted in grasscloth and bamboo with four transforming foldout trays or surfaces, can be used with one,...
Category

20th Century Philippine British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Grasscloth, Bamboo

Bamboo Lounge Chair
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Vintage lounge chair crafted with bent bamboo and woven rattan in an elegant modern form featuring pullout footrest and adjustable back. Extended depth 60".
Category

Mid-20th Century Philippine British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Bamboo, Rattan

18th Century English Walnut Tilt-Top Table
Located in Dallas, TX
18th Century English Walnut Tilt-Top Table is a truly timeless design, made with an ingenious tilting top allowing it to be tucked against the wall when not in use, then deployed and...
Category

Late 18th Century English Antique British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Walnut

Late 19th C. English Mahogany Chaise with Heavy Woven Guatemalan Fabric
Located in North Miami, FL
An early 19th century antique sculptural mahogany chaise lounge with turned wood stretchers and elegantly curved backrest. The heavy woven fabric is new and provides an additional p...
Category

Late 19th Century English Antique British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Fabric, Mahogany

Safari style Giraffe Wall Bracket
Located in Boca Raton, FL
Safari style giraffe head wall bracket set honed by the artist.
Category

1970s American Vintage British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Composition

Vintage Welsh Cupboard ~ Sideboard
Located in Dallas, TX
Vintage Welsh Cupboard ~ Sideboard is a clever design originating in what is now called the UK, providing means to store cups, saucers and linens, while displaying some of the family...
Category

Mid-20th Century English British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Steel

19th Century Indian Tabletop Vanity Mirror
Located in West Hollywood, CA
A charming teak tabletop vanity mirror with scrolled side supports, original arched top mirror frame and a drawer at the bottom. The mirror surface reveals the passage of time with a...
Category

19th Century Indian Antique British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Glass, Wood

Coromandel Lacquer Cabinet On A Giltwood Console, England, early 18th century fl
Located in Honnelles, WHT
Coromandel Lacquer Cabinet On A Giltwood Console, England, early 18th century flag
Category

18th Century French Antique British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Wood

Bamboo and Grasscloth Chest of Drawers
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Gentlemen's chest of eight drawers with a casual elegance and featuring a bamboo frame, grasscloth panels, stylized sunrise designs on the sides and splayed legs.
Category

20th Century Philippine British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Grasscloth, Bamboo

English Fall-Front Secretary Desk in Carved Oak, Circa 1800
Located in North Miami, FL
This piece just took our breath away - all the carved wood details and medallions are master craftsman quality. See all detail images to truly appreciate what an excellent antique pi...
Category

Early 19th Century English Antique British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Brass

Carved Wood Colorful Life Size Palm Tree Sculpture
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Extraordinary tall vintage palm tree sculpture handcrafted in wood carved and paint decorated with leaves, coconuts, trunk, and weighted terra firma base.
Category

20th Century Balinese British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Hardwood, Paint

British Colonial Secretary Cabinet from Indonesia
Located in New York, NY
A tall Indonesian antique secretary with twin glass panel doors, mid-19th century. British Colonial style. Polychromed teak wood in two tones of red, plus gilt accents. Three shel...
Category

Late 19th Century Indonesian Antique British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Glass, Wood

Pair of British Colonial Terracotta Lions
Located in Atlanta, GA
A pair of British colonial terracotta lions. This majestic pair of painted terracotta lions from the early 20th century will bring an air of regalness to any room.
Category

20th Century Indian British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Terracotta

Pair of Ebonised Anglo-Indian Side Tables, circa 1860
Located in London, GB
India, circa 1860 A beautiful pair of turned ebonised Anglo-Indian side tables with stretched cowhide. Wonderful style and patina. Dimensions: H 30cm x W 37cm X D 37cm.
Category

1850s Indian Antique British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Wood

British Royal Officers Uniform
Located in Buchanan, MI
Exceptional royal officers uniform, royal blue wool hand embroidered with gold metallic thread. Hand chased belt buckle and sword guard. Please contact...
Category

19th Century English Antique British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Wool

British Royal Officers Uniform
British Royal Officers Uniform
$5,200 Sale Price
20% Off
Antique English Pewter Plate
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Pewter plate made in England by unknown manufacturer. An good original condition, with minor wear consistent with age and use, preserving a beautiful p...
Category

Late 18th Century English Antique British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Metal

Antique English Pewter Plate
Antique English Pewter Plate
$489 Sale Price
40% Off
1900s English Mahogany Canterbury/ Magazine Rack/Record Holder
Located in Waxahachie, TX
Antique English Mahogany Canterbury magazine rack. Four spacious divisions over a good sized single dove tail drawer with original brass pu...
Category

Early 20th Century English British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Brass

Vintage Bamboo Chinese Style Demi-Lune Center Table with Open Fretwork Design
Located in North Fort Myers, FL
Introduce an element of refined elegance to your space with this Vintage Bamboo Chinese style demi-lune low profile center table. The table features a distinctive open fretwork design...
Category

Mid-20th Century Unknown British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Bamboo

Vintage Faux Bamboo and Grasscloth Two Tiered Table
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Handsome British colonial style mid century table crafted in faux bamboo with a faux tortoise finish having an octagon form top and lower tier covered in grasscloth with reed wrapped...
Category

20th Century Philippine British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Grasscloth, Bamboo

Maitland Smith Post Modern Zebra Hide Box 1980's
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Large Post Modern 1980s Maitland Smith decorative box made of a square wood bottom covered in brown leather and top lid covered with zebra hide with a round polished brass and hyde p...
Category

Late 20th Century Philippine British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Leather, Zebra Hide

Very Large Bronze Elephant Sculpture, Near Life Size
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Rare and remarkable elephant sculpture expertly crafted in bronze with a lush patina, ambitious attention to detail, and a dramatic near life size scale.
Category

20th Century American British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Bronze

Pair of Antique Porcelain Lamp
Located in Dallas, TX
This listing features a pair of porcelain plug-in lamps that are mostly like from the 20th century and likely originate from the United Kingdom or similar areas in Europe. On one l...
Category

20th Century English British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Brass

19th Century Ebonized Jackwood British Colonial Box on Stand from British Ceylon
Located in Richmond, VA
19th century ebonized jackwood British Colonial box on stand from British Ceylon (Modern day Sri Lanka). Two part box on Stand is made of Jackwood with eb...
Category

19th Century British Indian Ocean Territory Antique British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Wood

Zabihi Collection Room SizeAntique Persian Sarouk Rug
Located in New York, NY
An authentic room size full pile antique Persian Sarouk rug. Measures: 7'10'' x 11'9''.
Category

1920s Persian Vintage British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Wool

19th Century Black Lacquered Wood Pedestal with Red Stone Inset
Located in New York, NY
A black lacquered pedestal/stand in elm wood, with red root stone top, cabriole legs and base stretcher, Beijing, 19th century.
Category

Mid-19th Century Chinese Antique British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Stone

Antique Luggage Crocodile Skin Leather Suitcase, Colonial
Located in Antwerp, BE
Antique suitcase made of crocodile leather handstitched with leather lacing and secured with tacks, an attractive antique reptile skin suitcase with a...
Category

Early 1900s British Antique British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Faux Leather

Scarce Anglo Indian British Colonial Brass Mounted Wooden Log Pail Bucket
Located in Forney, TX
A rare and most charming antique Anglo Indian British Colonial brass bound hand turned hollowed log bucket. Early 19th century, India, handmade during the British rule on the Indian...
Category

Early 19th Century Indian Antique British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Brass

Complete Set of Pink Cloth Napkins and Faux Bamboo Brass Place Setting Set of 4
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
Make hosting and entertaining easy, with a vintage British Colonial style place setting. Over a year in the making, we’ve sourced hundreds of table settings from all over the globe and paired our favorites in a set. (See our other listings for more beauties in an array of different colors, styles and place settings from 4, 6, 8, 10, 12 and 16.) This set features a faux bamboo brass charger from India. It does have a slight patina to it, which makes it look even more storied. We’ve had these custom cloth napkins created just for this set. We’ve brought over this fabulous pink block print fabric from India and created 4 16” x 16” cloth dinner napkins...
Category

20th Century Indian British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Brass

John Somers Brazilian Pewter Round 11.5 Inches Serving Plate
Located in Raleigh, US
John Somers Pewter Plate – Brazilian Craftsmanship at Its Finest Celebrate the artistry of John Somers, one of the most distinguished pewter craftsmen of the 20th century. Hailing f...
Category

Mid-20th Century Brazilian British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Pewter

Antique Faux Candle Floor Lamp Side Table
Located in Delray Beach, FL
Discover timeless elegance with this Antique Faux Candle Floor Lamp Side Table. Featuring two faux candle stick lamp heads and a colonial wooden base, this piece serves both as a flo...
Category

20th Century American British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Wood

Cast Iron Umbrella Stand with Dog or Retriever
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Charming antique English umbrella stand cast in iron with a top bracket supported by a stylized tree over a hunting dog with a water tray.
Category

Early 20th Century English British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Iron

Pair of English Brown Leather Boots with Shoe Trees
Located in Queens, NY
PAIR of English brown leather riding boots with shoe trees
Category

20th Century British British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Leather

Antique English Axminster Rug. 14 ft 10 in x 20 ft 3 in
Located in New York, NY
Oversized Antique English Axminster Rug, Country of Origin: England, Circa date: 1900. Size: 14 ft 10 in x 20 ft 3 in (4.52 m x 6.17 m)
Category

20th Century English British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Wool

Pair of English 19th-20th Century Gilt-Bronze Brig - Tall Ship Marine Lanterns
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A Pair of English 19th-20th Century Gilt-Bronze 'Brig - Tall-Ship' Marine Lanterns with Putti Corner Caryatids. The single-light tapered square cast-bronze body surmounted with alleg...
Category

Early 1900s English Antique British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Bronze

Antique Caribbean Watercolor
Located in Palm Beach, FL
19th century tropical West Indies watercolor on paper depicting a moment in time on a quiet street complete with houses, palm trees, flowers and a woman carrying a bundle on her he...
Category

Mid-19th Century Caribbean Antique British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Paint

Extra Large Early 19th Century English Mirror
Located in Faversham, GB
An exceptional early 19th century mirror from the historic Chatham Dockyards in Kent, England. The heavily foxed mercury plate is twelve millimeters in thickness and supported by th...
Category

Late 18th Century British Antique British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Mercury Glass, Mirror, Oak, Pine

Chinese Bamboo Altar Console Table With Brighton Pavilion Fretwork
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Just in, This spectatorial late 19th century Chinese Bamboo Altar Console in the well known Brighton Pavilion Fretwork style. This antique Chinese bamboo altar table has everted end...
Category

1890s British Indian Ocean Territory Antique British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Bamboo, Rosewood

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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