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.
Late 18th Century Indian Antique British Colonial Furniture
Mahogany, Rosewood
Late 18th Century English Antique British Colonial Furniture
Brass
18th Century English Antique British Colonial Furniture
Hardwood
18th Century Indian Antique British Colonial Furniture
Fruitwood
Late 18th Century Antique British Colonial Furniture
Paper
1760s Canadian Antique British Colonial Furniture
Paper
18th Century and Earlier Italian Antique British Colonial Furniture
Bronze
Late 18th Century English Antique British Colonial Furniture
Porcelain
Late 18th Century English Antique British Colonial Furniture
Paper
18th Century English Antique British Colonial Furniture
Bronze
Early 18th Century European Antique British Colonial Furniture
Iron
18th Century Antique British Colonial Furniture
Pewter
1770s English Antique British Colonial Furniture
Brass
18th Century Antique British Colonial Furniture
Pewter
18th Century Antique British Colonial Furniture
Pewter
Mid-18th Century German Antique British Colonial Furniture
Wood, Paint
Late 18th Century English Antique British Colonial Furniture
Metal
18th Century English Antique British Colonial Furniture
Pine
Mid-18th Century Antique British Colonial Furniture
Paper
18th Century Antique British Colonial Furniture
Pine
18th Century English Antique British Colonial Furniture
Paper
Late 18th Century Antique British Colonial Furniture
Teak
Late 18th Century English Antique British Colonial Furniture
Pewter
Late 18th Century Dutch Antique British Colonial Furniture
Oak
18th Century Indian Antique British Colonial Furniture
Sandalwood, Bone
Late 18th Century English Antique British Colonial Furniture
Wool
Early 18th Century Indian Antique British Colonial Furniture
Ebony
18th Century Indian Antique British Colonial Furniture
Teak
18th Century American Antique British Colonial Furniture
Cherry, Maple
17th Century Italian Antique British Colonial Furniture
Marble
18th Century Italian Antique British Colonial Furniture
Wood
18th Century Dutch Antique British Colonial Furniture
Oak
18th Century French Antique British Colonial Furniture
Wood
2010s American British Colonial Furniture
Plywood
18th Century Antique British Colonial Furniture
Paper
18th Century Unknown Antique British Colonial Furniture
Glass, Wood, Paper
1860s British Antique British Colonial Furniture
Brass
18th Century Italian Antique British Colonial Furniture
Iron
Mid-20th Century American British Colonial Furniture
Mahogany
Mid-20th Century English British Colonial Furniture
Mahogany
Mid-19th Century English Antique British Colonial Furniture
Brass
Late 18th Century Antique British Colonial Furniture
Leather, Paper
18th Century Antique British Colonial Furniture
Creamware
18th Century British Antique British Colonial Furniture
Ceramic, Porcelain
Mid-18th Century British Antique British Colonial Furniture
Ceramic, Porcelain
1650s English Antique British Colonial Furniture
Leather, Walnut
Mid-18th Century Antique British Colonial Furniture
Paper
18th Century Thai Antique British Colonial Furniture
Hardwood
Late 18th Century Sri Lankan Antique British Colonial Furniture
Sterling Silver
1790s English Antique British Colonial Furniture
Canvas, Giltwood
18th Century European Antique British Colonial Furniture
Wool
18th Century English Antique British Colonial Furniture
Walnut
18th Century English Antique British Colonial Furniture
Oak