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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
British Colonial Rosewood Chest of Drawers w/ Egg-n-Dart Trim, Early 20th C
Located in Atlanta, GA
A British Colonial rosewood chest of drawers from the early 20th century. This antique chest from India is made of rosewood, giving it a beautifully ...
Category

Early 20th Century Indian British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Rosewood

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

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

5 Antique Cecil Aldin 1st Ed Chromolithograph Hunting Prints Fallowfield Hunt
Located in Dayton, OH
A beautiful collection of 1901 chromolithographic prints from the work of equestrian and sporting artist Cecil Aldin (1870-1935). Includes 3 scenes from the The Fallowfield Hunt Re...
Category

Early 20th Century British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Wood, Paper

19th Century British Colonial Brass Bound Teak Campaign Chest
Located in Richmond, VA
Great quality late 19th century British colonial brass bound teak campaign chest in 2 parts.
Category

19th Century Antique British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Brass

Red Lacquered Chest on Stand 19th Century, British India, 1860
Located in Epfach, DE
Red lacquered chest on stand 19th century, British India, 1860 Very charming 19th century chest with wonderful lacquered and gilt flower dec...
Category

Mid-19th Century British Indian Ocean Territory Antique British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Wood

Mahogany console desk, English, 19th century
Located in Nice, FR
This desk is solid mahogany, it dates from the 19th century, English origin. It is in good condition. Two drawers on the front with original entry. It can be used as a console or ser...
Category

1880s English Antique British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Bentwood

British Colonial Planter
Located in Boynton Beach, FL
Vintage British Colonial style burnt bamboo planter. Made well and kept in great condition. Bamboo panels have been hand bu...
Category

Mid-20th Century Unknown British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Bamboo

Pair of Metal and Cast Iron Monkey and Palm Sconces
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Pair of wall sconces with a slightly oxidized finish, five candle cups in palm leaf clusters, and featuring cast iron monkeys in a familiar, taunting ...
Category

20th Century Italian British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Iron

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

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

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

Turn of the Century English Hotel Front Desk Mail Cabinet
Located in North Miami, FL
This whimsical curiosity cabinet from an English Hotel, used for guests to receive their mail. Roman numerals on enamel tags to windowed doors. The wood is lovely aged and the cabi...
Category

Early 20th Century English British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Enamel

Antique Persian Bakhtiari Cypress Tree Runner with British Colonial Style
Located in Dallas, TX
53253, antique Persian Bakhtiari Cypress Tree Runner with British Colonial style. With a subdued appearance and cypress tree design in neutral hues, this hand knotted wool antique Pe...
Category

Early 20th Century Persian British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Wool

Andrianna Shamaris Raffles Teak Wood Console Table
Located in New York, NY
Rare. This beautiful teak wood colonial console has a single slab 2.5” beveled top. The antique raffles console table is part of the antique collection, which represents an elegant line of antique teak...
Category

1810s Antique British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Wood, Teak, Reclaimed Wood

Mother of Pearl French Colonial Vietnamese 2-Door Cabinet
Located in San Marino, CA
A solid rosewood cabinet with the front richly inlaid with mother of pearl depicting birds and a delicate floral motif. Made in Vietnam for the export market. The two doors open to r...
Category

20th Century Vietnamese British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Mother-of-Pearl, Rosewood

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

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

Vintage Teakwood Low Bookcase / Display Cabinet with Sliding Glass Doors
Located in Chicago, IL
Vintage teakwood low bookcase / display cabinet with sliding glass doors This vintage teak bookcase or display cabinet was handmade i...
Category

Late 20th Century American British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Glass, Teak

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

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

Maitland-Smith Pair of Vintage Coconut Shell Table Lamps
Located in Palm Beach, FL
British colonial style mid century pair of table lamps handcrafted with wrapped twine and a mosaic of coconut shell on a burnt bamboo base with three splayed legs. Signed Maitland-Sm...
Category

Mid-20th Century Philippine British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Coconut

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

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

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

French Vintage Bouillotte Tole Lamp Festooned Shade
Located in Boca Raton, FL
French buoliotte vintage metal tole table lamp with painted festooned shade.
Category

1960s American Vintage British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Metal

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

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

Black Lacquer English Antique Campaign Style Desk
Located in Chicago, IL
Black Lacquer English Antique Campaign Style Desk. Believe this to be from the 19th Century. Please contact for additional photos and condition report.
Category

19th Century English Antique British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Wood

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

Sterling Navette Form Dutch Scene Gilt Interior Tea Caddy British Import Mark
Located in Ottawa, Ontario
A sterling silver navette form Dutch scene gilt interior tea caddy with British import mark, makers mark SBL for Samuel Boyce Landeck, (Sheffield 1897). Decorated with couples in a t...
Category

1890s English Antique British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Sterling Silver

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 Anglo Indian Wood Double Arm Sconces
Located in Locust Valley, NY
This pair of Anglo-Indian wood and brass double-arm sconces features a carved wooden backplate with a shell motif, complementing two curved brass arms extending outward. The arms are...
Category

Mid-20th Century Unknown British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Brass

Indian Brass and Silver Embroidered Velvet Wedding Parasol on Stand
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Delicate textile that is in remarkable condition.
Category

Early 20th Century Indian British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Silver, Brass, Iron

Safari style Giraffe Wall Bracket with Tassel
Located in Boca Raton, FL
Safari style giraffe head wall bracket with glass beaded tassel.
Category

1970s American Vintage British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Composition

Mahogany Corner Cabinet/Étagère From the Early 20th Century With Openwork Sides
Located in Opole, PL
Mahogany Corner Cabinet/Étagère From the Early 20th Century With Openwork Sides An original corner cabinet/étagère with openwork sides, richly decorated with woodcarving. A single-l...
Category

Early 20th Century English British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Mahogany

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

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...
Category

20th Century Burmese British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Glass, Teak

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

20th Century British British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Leather

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

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

Set of Four Hand Colored Humming Bird Prints
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Here are four framed hand colored humming bird species published in the early 20th century representing the original 19th century work of Scottish naturalist, Sir William Jardine. Presented under glass with marbleized mating...
Category

20th Century English British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Hardwood

Vintage Wicker and Rattan Hand Fans
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Unusual pair of vintage fans with plenty of decorative appeal hand crafted with stick wicker leaves over rattan ribs.
Category

20th Century Philippine British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Wicker, Rattan

Anglo Indian Bronze Serving Bowl on a Palm Tree Stand with Camel
Located in Palm Beach, FL
British colonial style cast bronze fruit or serving bowl on a palm tree stand over a camel on a faux terra firma base.
Category

Late 20th Century Indian British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Bronze

Two Antique English Bookcases
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Near pair of British colonial bookcases crafted in mahogany in a step down form with brass campaign style side handles, one lower drawer and turned legs on brass casters. From le...
Category

Early 20th Century English British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Mahogany

19th Century Anglo Indian Carved Rosewood Console Table
Located in Petworth,West Sussex, GB
A mid 19th century beautiful and highly decorative British colonial rosewood console table supported by four profusely carved legs terminating into mythical animal faces at the table...
Category

Mid-19th Century Indian Antique 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

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

A 19th Century Brass Bound Mandalay Teak Campaign Dressing Box, Burma Circa 1860
Located in Ottawa, Ontario
These boxes were made for British military officers who were posted in Burma (now Myanmar) & India during the days of British rule. The brass & copper bound teak case is profusely ...
Category

Mid-19th Century Burmese Antique British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Brass, Copper, Iron

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

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

Majolica Boot Umbrella or Cane Stand
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Whimsical midcentury Majolica or glazed terra cotta umbrella or cane Stand in the form of Italian military boots complete with tassels and spurs.
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Porcelain

British Colonial Art Deco Teak Bench or Sofa
Located in Vienna, AT
Unique original Colonial Art Deco teak bench/sofa made in Myanmar around 1930. The bench stands on six feet with brass sleeves that have a wonderful original...
Category

1930s Burmese Vintage British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Brass

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

19th Century Wooden Ship Wheel
Located in Queens, NY
Wooden ship wheel with brass trim (19th Cent)
Category

19th Century British Antique British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Wood

Antique Oak Wood Bowed Windsor Dining Side Chair by Northwestern Mfg.
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Antique Oak Wood Bowed Windsor dining side chair by Northwestern Mfg. Item features black vinyl upholstered seat (originally cane), turn carved legs, ...
Category

Early 20th Century British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Oak

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

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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