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
Returnable Items Only
Pair of Wooden and Leather Armchairs
Located in Tourcoing, FR
Pair of solid wood and tawny leather armchairs: subtle wood work for the structure, rounded and contoured lines, the cushions are removable and dressed in fawn leather. All in beauti...
Category
20th Century European British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Leather, Wood
19th Century English Colonial Satinwood and Ebony Linen Press
Located in Southampton, NY
Early 19th century English Colonial satinwood and ebony linen press. Cabinet is composed of solid Satinwood with solid ebony trim and inlay.
Handmade in Sri Lanka, where both satinw...
Category
19th Century Sri Lankan Antique British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Ebony, Satinwood
Antique Agra Carpet
Located in New York, NY
An oversize late 19th-early 20th century antique Indian Agra carpet. Large-scale Pigeons can be spotted on green colored ground.
Agra carpets combine the grandeur and grace of well-known Persian court antique carpet designs with new motifs of their own creation. Overall designs or central medallions of spiraling vinery are frequently combined with small animal forms, sometimes including birds, elephants or people. This particular piece has humans using bow and arrows...
Category
19th Century Indian Antique British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Wool
18th Century Cherry Candle Stand Tea Table Tripod Pedestal Scallop Carved Top
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Antique 18th century maple and cheerywood candle stand with tripod pedestal base and scallop carved top. Item features remarkable aged patina and desirable worm holes, tripod base, Q...
Category
18th Century American Antique British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Cherry, Maple
Gold Brown Vintage Inspired Turkish Runner
Located in New York, NY
Turkish runner in warm colors with a geometric garrus design derived from late 19th century Persian Bidjar rugs.
3' x 14'7''
Category
Late 20th Century Turkish British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Wool
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
Antique Persian Senneh Bibikabad Rug
Located in New York, NY
Spectacular antique Bibikabad Persian Senneh rug from the 1st quarter of the 20th Century
Measures: 4'7'' x 6'6''.
Category
20th Century Persian British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Wool
A stack of six antique wood trays with bone inlays
Located in Atlanta, GA
A fantastic set of six antique trays that fit into a stack, likely from British India turn of the 20th century. The wood is likely rosewood with attractive grains and the trays are i...
Category
1890s Indian Antique British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Wood, Bone
Pair of Eclectic 20th Century British Colonial Terracotta Elephants in Pale Pink
Located in Atlanta, GA
A pair of British colonial terracotta elephants from the early 20th century, India, with nicely rendered details. These eclectic statues have a very subtle, nicely aged, layer of pal...
Category
20th Century Indian British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Terracotta
Large Hammered Copper and Steel English Bucket
Located in Bellport, NY
Hammered copper English bucket with steel handle, good for logs, magazines or plants. The shape narrows nicely at the base.
Category
20th Century British British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Steel, Copper
British Colonial Carved Teak Column with Granite Base
Located in Somis, CA
This extraordinary 88" tall column has its original granite base, is made out of solid teak wood featuring an elaborately carved crown. The crown is carved on all four sides with eac...
Category
19th Century Indian Antique British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Granite
Zabihi Collection Navy Blue Persian Traditional Room Size Sarouk Rug
Located in New York, NY
Rare navy field high-quality antique Persian Sarouk room-size rug. The piece is in mint condition as the previous owner kept it in storage for a long period of time.
Measures: 8'4" ...
Category
Early 20th Century Persian British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Wool
British Colonial Crocodile Case on Custom Stand from the 1920s
Located in Atlanta, GA
A custom stand supporting a crocodile case from India in the 1920s. This case features a crocodile skin exterior with a cloth interior and numerous pockets. On the front are two basi...
Category
Early 20th Century Indian British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Crocodile, Wood
Andrianna Shamaris Shell Inlay Teak Wood Colonial Chair
Located in New York, NY
Colonial reclining plantation chair. Perfect for inside or outside relaxation.
The St. Barts collection features an exciting new line of organic white wash and natural weathered tea...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Shell, Wood, Teak, Reclaimed Wood
Tall Antique Indonesian Secretary with Glass Panels
Located in New York, NY
A tall Indonesian antique secretary with twin glass panel doors, mid 19th century. Polychromed wood, three shelves, two drawers. Ornately carved cabriole legs and trim with ball and ...
Category
Late 19th Century Indonesian Antique British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Glass, Wood
Colonial Made Occasional Table, circa 1820
Located in Bradford-on-Avon, Wiltshire
An Indian Colonial occasional table in padouk wood on a carved stem and with three claw feet.
Category
Early 19th Century Indian Antique British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Padouk
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
Feminine Persian Antique Kerman Brown Pink Rose Accent Room Size Rug
Located in New York, NY
A highly decorative floral Persian rug with a formal presence. Caramel ground with hints of soft blues, raspberries, cinnamon and pinks,
circa 19...
Category
Early 20th Century Persian British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Wool
Pair of Vintage Brass Frederick Cooper Table Lamps, Monkeys in a Palm Tree
Located in San Francisco, CA
Pair of collectible vintage Frederick Cooper brass lamps of palm trees with hanging monkeys are enchanting and in great condition. ...
Category
1990s American British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Brass
Vintage 1939 Map of the Philippines and 1939 Cenus
Located in Van Nuys, CA
This vintage piece is a 1939 map of the Philippines accompanied by a census, sourced from Volume V of a book containing historical statistical information. Encased in a stylish black...
Category
1930s Vintage British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Paper
Vintage Maitland Smith Tooled Leather Round Somno Faux Book Side Table Cabinet
Located in Dayton, OH
A colorful tooled leather faux book "Somno Table" or cabinet by Maitland Smith, circa last quarter 20th century. Features two round stacks of books with titles such as; Fine Art, Poe...
Category
Late 20th Century British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Leather, Hardwood
Vintage Bamboo and Grass Cloth Desk
Located in New York, NY
Beautiful British Colonial style writing desk or vanity with two working drawers for storage and reed wrapped joints. Lovely design and a great addition to any space. Very good condi...
Category
1970s Unknown Vintage British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Grasscloth, Bamboo, Rattan
Vintage rustic classical style bookcase/cabinet
Located in Allentown, PA
This is a large late 20th century rustic classical style bookcase/cabinet. This bookcase has a classical form with fluted style columns on oth...
Category
1980s Indonesian Vintage British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Wood
Vintage President's Stick Reed Rattan "Nantucket" Lounge Chair with Ottoman
Located in Weymouth, MA
President's stick reed rattan lounge chair with cup holder section and magazine section in arms. with ottoman. Both chair and ottoman have comfortable cushion padding. Timeless light...
Category
Late 20th Century American British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Wicker
A Tall British Colonial Bookcase
Located in Chicago, IL
This large antique book cabinet was made from solid teak wood and dates to the early 1900's. During the British Empire in India and Burma much fu...
Category
Early 20th Century Burmese British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Glass, Teak
Teak Museum Vitrine Counter
Located in West Hollywood, CA
An exceedingly handsome teak museum vitrine, featuring a glass top and a set of three drawers below. The glass top allows for easy visibility, making it perfect for displaying collec...
Category
19th Century Indian Antique British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Teak, Glass
Fanciful 19th Century Teak Cabinet From an Indian Palace
Located in West Hollywood, CA
An elegant 19th century teak sideboard from a palace, retaining its original makers’ label on the door panel. This piece has its original polish and a graceful patina that adds char...
Category
19th Century Indian Antique British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Teak
19C Tortoise Bamboo Hall Tree w/ Storage Cabinet
Located in Marietta, GA
Very unusual , English tortoise bamboo hall tree. Functional, and good looking, the piece retains a brass tag, from a London hotel. The piece, has a cabinet for hat storage, a drawer for gloves, brass hooks for coats and scarves, and a stick rack, with a drip pan , for umbrellas. Japanned panels accent the cabinet. The top of the cabinet, is painted black. The interior of the cabinet has 1 shelf. The copper drip pan...
Category
Early 1900s British Antique British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Brass
Luxurious Large George Smith Chesterfield Sofa Upholstered in Purple Mohair
By George Smith
Located in Hopewell, NJ
An iconic symbol of traditional British design and craftsmaship, the tufted Chesterfield sofa as sumptuously upholstered in new plum purple mohair and finished with brass nailheads.
...
Category
Early 2000s English British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Mohair
Antique British Colonial Anglo Indian Teak Distressed Plantation Armchair
Located in Dayton, OH
Early 20th century British Colonial Anglo Indian plantation chair. Made from teak in mortise and tenon joinery with a relaxed lounged frame and long arms. Features a curved crest rai...
Category
Early 20th Century British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Teak
Nicholas James Neoclassic Mahogany Sideboard with Curtains and Mesh Doors
Located in Germantown, MD
A custom Nicholas James Mid-Century English neoclassical Walnut Side board / Buffet / credenza with Curtains and wire Mesh Doors in good vintage condition.Features three large compar...
Category
Mid-20th Century English British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Wire, Metal
Early 19th Century William IV Ornate Rosewood Library Table on Scrolling Feet
Located in STOKE ON TRENT, GB
Early 19th century, William IV, Ornate Rosewood Library table on scrolling brass feet above castors with a large drawer to the front.
This high-qual...
Category
Early 19th Century British Antique British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Rosewood
19th Century Chest Wrapped in Iron Straps with Brass Studs, India
Located in San Francisco, CA
Of Indian origin, this beautiful teak trunk is wrapped in iron and studded with brass accents in an intricate yet simple pattern. Fully functional for storage or use as a coffee or c...
Category
19th Century Indian Antique British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Brass, Iron
Ship Captain's Style Chest
Located in Bradenton, FL
This fanciful copy of a ship captain's chest was hand-painted in the late 19th Century for the cottage furniture market. 2 over 3 drawers, turned feet, na...
Category
19th Century English Antique British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Wood
Baker Furniture Welsh Inlaid Oak Sideboard Credenza
Located in South Bend, IN
An exceptional welsh style sideboard, credenza, or console
By Baker Furniture
USA, 20th century
Carved oak, with inlaid starburst marquetry and original brass hardware.
M...
Category
Late 20th Century American British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Brass
Large British Colonial Style Rattan and Wicker Urn
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Large British Colonial style rattan and wicker urn, with carved wood finial, the domed top with intricate woven rattan, reed, willow and wicker, with a conf...
Category
Late 20th Century Unknown British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Wicker, Rattan, Reed, Wood, Willow
19th Century British Ceylonese Handblown Etched ‘Glow Lamp’ Bell Jar Lantern
Located in Southampton, NY
19th century British Ceylonese handblown etched ‘Glow Lamp’ bell jar lantern. These lanterns were handblown in Sri Lanka for the British expats. They were re...
Category
Early 20th Century Sri Lankan British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Brass
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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