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.
English Colonial Ebony Wood Games Table
Located in Stamford, CT
A ebony English Colonial games table having a folding top on center column and four cabriole legs.
Wood, Ebony
19th Century English Victorian Rosewood Games Table
Located in Chelmsford, Essex
For sale is a good quality Victorian rosewood games table. The table has an inlaid top which swivels and folds over to reveal a chess board and backgammon. Below this is a single fit...
Rosewood
English Oak Games Table with Green Felt Top, 1930s
Located in BÉTERA, ES
Elegant English games table crafted in solid oak, dating from the early 20th century. The table features a rectangular top with green felt playing surface, ideal for card games or us...
Felt, Hardwood
19th Century English Regency Flip Top Chessboard Games Table
Located in Forney, TX
A fine quality, exquisitely handcrafted, antique English games / sewing table finished in Regency taste. Born during the third quarter of the 19th century, featuring stunning burl wa...
Leather, Satinwood, Walnut
English Edwardian Folding Games Table
Located in Hudson, NY
This fine and unusual games table is of rare form, circa 1900 and 1910, is made of mahogany and deal secondaries. The brass fittings have all been chrome-plated, a feature usually re...
Mahogany
18th Century English Chinoiserie Demi-lune Console / Games Table
Located in San Francisco, CA
Late 18th Century George II Period Games Table / Demi-Lune Console Table. Lacquer with hand painted detailed chinoiserie raised gesso village scene with figures fishing, the piece fo...
Gesso, Wood, Lacquer
Antique English Pembroke Games Table
Located in Bridgeport, CT
A very well made and well sized Antique English Games Table with banding and a dove-tail construction single drawer. The center top section slides to reveal an inlaid Backgammon boar...
Ebony, Mahogany, Satinwood
$1,320Sale Price / set|70% Off
H 29 in W 35.75 in D 17.5 in
Pair of English Edwardian Style Painted Satinwood Games Tables
Located in Laguna Beach, CA
Pair of English Edwardian style painted satinwood, demilune shaped, console games tables, mid-20th century. Paint decorated with floral and musical trophies. Inside games surface is ...
Felt, Satinwood, Paint
Chinoiserie Games Table
Located in Atlanta, GA
Chinoiserie Lacquered and Parcel Gilt Game Table, probably Chinese, at least circa 1940s, possibly much earlier. Retains warm original patina. It is a versatile size and can be used ...
Wood
Circa 1835 English William IV Period Games Table
Located in Chapel Hill, NC
Circa 1835 William IV period games table, English. Designed as a side console table when not in use for gaming. Flame mahogany veneers & solid mahogany. The swivel top reveals baized...
Baize, Wood
$15,000
H 29.75 in W 29.75 in D 25.5 in
English Chippendale Mahogany Hinged Games Table with Constantine Action, C. 1770
Located in Charleston, SC
English Chippendale mahogany hinged games table with constantine action, interior leather writing / card playing surface, flanking carved corner fret work, and resting on the origina...
Brass
English Edwardian Painted Satin Wood Games Table
Located in Laguna Beach, CA
English Edwardian painted satin wood demi lune games table, circa 1900. The demi lune top painted with a group of cupids and vines. The frieze painted with flowing vines. The square ...
Brass
$2,289
H 28.94 in W 24.02 in D 15.56 in
Antique Fold Over Games Table, English, Flame, Walnut, Card, Side, Edwardian
Located in Hele, Devon, GB
This is an antique fold-over games table. An English, mahogany card or side table, dating to the Edwardian period, circa 1910. Charmingly petite, with exquisite craftsmanship Displa...
Walnut
Sold
H 29.5 in W 37 in D 21.5 in
Antique Foyer Hall Table British Colonial Carved Wood Leather Flip Top Burmese
Located in Shreveport, LA
Antique Foyer Hall Table British Colonial Carved Wood Leather Flip Top Burmese. Direct from Europe, a stunning antique hall table, with superb...
Hardwood
Sold
H 28.35 in W 30.32 in D 32.68 in
Chessboard, Backgammon Table, Wooden Marquetry Games Table, Early 20th Century.
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Chessboard, Backgammon Table, Wooden Marquetry Games Table, Early 20th Century. Chessboard, Backgammon table, games table, early 20th century, carved wood chess pawn. h: 72cm, w: 77...
Wood
British Colonial Art Deco Round Coffee Table with Four Stools
Located in Chicago, IL
Handsome British Colonia Art Deco coffee table from Thailand made from teak wood, circa 20th Century. The table features four stools that fits underneath the coffee table when not be...
Teak
Art Deco Round Coffee Table with Four Nesting Tables
Located in Chicago, IL
This impressive British Colonial round table is from Rangoon, Burma and is made from teak wood. The veranda center table features four sma...
Teak
British Colonial Game Table
Located in Chicago, IL
This handsome Burmese British Colonial card table in the Art Deco style features unique shelving storage in addition to four hidden drawers to facilita...
Teak
British Colonial Game Table
Located in Chicago, IL
This Classic game table features a rosewood top and teakwood frame. The surface has a surrounding lip to keep dice from falling off. There are four drawers for storage, and a drink h...
Rosewood, Teak