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.
19th Century American Antique British Colonial Furniture
Brass
2010s American British Colonial Furniture
Upholstery, Wood
Mid-20th Century Philippine British Colonial Furniture
Steel, Brass
1810s English Antique British Colonial Furniture
Brass
20th Century American British Colonial Furniture
Mother-of-Pearl
19th Century American Antique British Colonial Furniture
Iron
20th Century American British Colonial Furniture
Coral
Early 19th Century English Antique British Colonial Furniture
Mahogany
19th Century British Antique British Colonial Furniture
Mahogany
21st Century and Contemporary American British Colonial Furniture
Metal
Mid-18th Century German Antique British Colonial Furniture
Wood, Paint
1940s Vintage British Colonial Furniture
Brass
18th Century Unknown Antique British Colonial Furniture
Cherry
Early 20th Century Asian British Colonial Furniture
Teak
20th Century British Colonial Furniture
Leather, Textile
20th Century Philippine British Colonial Furniture
Faux Bamboo
20th Century English British Colonial Furniture
Burlap, Ebony, Sycamore, Walnut
1950s Unknown Vintage British Colonial Furniture
Brass
20th Century American British Colonial Furniture
Leather
Early 20th Century Thai British Colonial Furniture
Glass, Wood, Teak
19th Century British Antique British Colonial Furniture
Walnut
19th Century American Antique British Colonial Furniture
Glass
1860s British Antique British Colonial Furniture
Mahogany
20th Century British British Colonial Furniture
Leather
1920s Burmese Vintage British Colonial Furniture
Teak
Mid-20th Century British British Colonial Furniture
Upholstery
1980s Philippine Vintage British Colonial Furniture
Bronze
Late 19th Century English Antique British Colonial Furniture
Wrought Iron
20th Century English British Colonial Furniture
Ostrich Eggshell
20th Century American British Colonial Furniture
Glass
1970s Vintage British Colonial Furniture
Hardwood
Late 19th Century British Antique British Colonial Furniture
Wool, Cotton, Organic Material
19th Century Caribbean Antique British Colonial Furniture
Coconut, Mahogany, Rosewood, Satinwood
1880s English Antique British Colonial Furniture
Brass
19th Century North American Antique British Colonial Furniture
Walnut
20th Century Italian British Colonial Furniture
Metal
Late 19th Century English Antique British Colonial Furniture
Giltwood, Paint
19th Century Indian Antique British Colonial Furniture
Iron
19th Century Sri Lankan Antique British Colonial Furniture
Ebony, Satinwood
20th Century English British Colonial Furniture
Canvas, Mahogany
Mid-19th Century Indian Antique British Colonial Furniture
Cane, Mahogany
Mid-20th Century Philippine British Colonial Furniture
Bamboo, Rattan
19th Century American Antique British Colonial Furniture
Paint
20th Century English British Colonial Furniture
Wood
Late 19th Century English Antique British Colonial Furniture
Metal, Silver Plate
Late 20th Century American British Colonial Furniture
Brass
Early 20th Century British Colonial Furniture
Paper
18th Century Indian Antique British Colonial Furniture
Teak
20th Century North American British Colonial Furniture
Faux Leather
20th Century Indian British Colonial Furniture
Terracotta
20th Century English British Colonial Furniture
Plastic
1960s Italian Vintage British Colonial Furniture
Pottery
Late 20th Century Thai British Colonial Furniture
Glass, Wood, Teak
20th Century British British Colonial Furniture
Brass
19th Century Indian Antique British Colonial Furniture
Iron
1880s Antique British Colonial Furniture
Wood
Late 18th Century British Antique British Colonial Furniture
Mercury Glass, Mirror, Oak, Pine
20th Century English British Colonial Furniture
Wool