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.
Barbados Mahogany Leather Top Rent Table with Sand Box Feet on Casters, C. 1810
Located in Charleston, SC
Barbados mahogany leather top four drawer rent table with a turned bulbous pedestal resting on a tripod base with original sand box feet and brass casters. Early 19th Century
Brass
Dos Gallos Custom Walnut Wood Round Pedestal Dining or Center Table
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Custom beehive pedestal table in walnut with dark walnut finish. Elegant piece. Can be made to order I mahogany, walnut or oak, in a variety of ...
Walnut
Mahogany, Oval Table, circa the 19th Century
Located in Miami, FL
We present you this piece of furniture made of solid mahogany wood and partially veneered with pyramidal mahogany. The whole is dated the second half of the 19th century. The oval ta...
Wood
Impressive 19th C. Cast Wrought Iron Tripod Table With Marble Top
Located in Bridgeport, CT
an unusual and very well crafted Trefoil Stone Top Table useful for a variety of applications. The center support with fluted bell form details. With a fine brown trefoil shaped marb...
Marble, Wrought Iron
$29,700
H 38.25 in W 62.25 in D 21 in
Antique Neoclassical Mahogany Center Table with Marble Top, Circa 1810
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An antique Neoclassical Italian center table made of hand crafted shellac polished Mahogany, in good condition. The freestanding console table is composed with a white-grey marble to...
Marble
$4,678Sale Price|20% Off
H 29.93 in Dm 34.26 in
19th Century Italian Louis Philippe Inlaid Walnut Antique Round Center Table
Located in Casale Monferrato, IT
Beautiful important Louis Philippe antique round center table, 1845s. The large and solid central stem in turned walnut. The walnut inlay t...
Walnut
$2,200
H 20 in W 13 in D 13 in
Tessellated Stone Brass Inlay Square Pedestal Stand End Table Black & Grey Mint
Located in Rockaway, NJ
Tessellated Stone Brass Inlay Square Pedestal Stand End Table Black & Grey MINT.
Marble, Brass
Antique Italianate Neoclassical Paint Decorated Center Table
Located in Bridgeport, CT
The large round tabletop painted in a mottled red-brown faux marble finish with a bull nose edge. Raised on a classical carved solid tripod base with faux marble painted panels and e...
Wood
Dos Gallos Custom Walnut Wood Round Beehive Base Pedestal Table
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Beautiful custom walnut beehive pedestal table in blue. Can be made in any size and finish. Made in Los Angeles by Dos Gallos Studio. CUSTOM PRI...
Mahogany, Oak, Walnut, Wood
$17,500
H 30.5 in Dm 52.5 in
English Regency 1840s Mahogany Rent Table with Leather Top and Eight Drawers
Located in Atlanta, GA
An English Regency period mahogany drum or rent table from the early 19th century, with black leather top, eight drawers, pedestal and quadripartite base on bronze feet. Created in E...
Bronze
$12,000
H 28.5 in Dm 39.75 in
French 19th Century Mahogany Table with Marble Top and Carved Giltwood Feet
Located in Atlanta, GA
A French Napoléon III period mahogany center table from the mid 19th century with colorful marble top, pedestal base and carved giltwood lion paw feet on casters. Created in France during the reign of France's last Emperor...
Marble
$4,678Sale Price|20% Off
H 32.29 in Dm 38.98 in
19th Century Italian Charles X Solid Walnut Antique Round Center Table
Located in Casale Monferrato, IT
Beautiful important Charles X antique round center table, 1825. The large and solid central stem in turned walnut. The solid walnut top is ...
Walnut
Colonial Marble Top Pedestal Table, c. 1920
Located in Chicago, IL
This early 20th century center table bridges time periods with a Colonial-style pedestal base and a timeless, white marble tabletop. Attributed to the Peranakan Chinese communities o...
Marble
Sold
H 28.5 in W 11 in D 22 in
Pair of English Country Style House Door Entrance Outdoor Statuary Dogs
Located in Queens, NY
PAIR of English Country-style outdoor stone dogs with collars seated on rectangular pedestals with upright heads looking attentively in the distance. (PRICED AS PAIR) Condition: Go...
Stone
Early 20th-C. British Colonial Style Carved Oak Pineapple Form Pedestals -Pair
Located in Kennesaw, GA
This is an early 20th century British colonial style carved oak pineapple form pedestals. They are in very good condition and are a great size to support your statuary or plants!
Oak
Sold
H 43 in Dm 16 in
Theodore Alexander Mahogany & Tooled Leather 3 Tier Pedestal Stand Display Table
Located in Dayton, OH
An elegant display table by Theodore Alexander. Made from mahogany with elongated legs offset by a round 3 tier design of pierced heart shaped ga...
Leather, Mahogany
Pair of Antique English Carved Wood Dolphin Stands or Pedestals
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Impressive pair of antique British Colonial stands with white marble tops, crafted in mahogany and expertly carved depicting the mythological dolphins as described by ancient sailors...
Mahogany
British Colonial Art Deco Teak Wood Side Table
Located in Chicago, IL
This round side table was made in Rangoon, Burma in the early 20th century. It is an example of "British colonial" furniture; that was made in the British style from local 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.
Stone
Round Teak Foyer Entry Table
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Vintage British Colonial Anglo-Indian round foyer entry table made of teak. Large pedestal style turned spiral with a tripod carved decorative base. Lovely...
Teak
Caribbean Kingswood Gadrooned Circular Pedestal Table, Circa 1830
Located in Charleston, SC
Caribbean Kingswood circular pedestal table with carved gadrooned molded edge, floral acanthus and medallion skirt, floral bulbous and fluted p...
Leopold Stickley Cherry Valley Pedestal
Located in Asbury Park, NJ
This pedestal by Leopold Stickley for Stickley Associated Cabinetmakers is part of the cherry valley line. It harks back to early American craftsmansh...