After the conquest of Mexico in 1521 and the Philippines in 1565, Spain dictated a global culture. The colonization of territories in the Americas, Western Europe, Africa, Oceania and the Pacific imposed the values of Spain, including Catholicism, while the extraction of resources reinforced the empire’s wealth and power. Unlike many styles that came out of European colonialism, such as British Colonial, Spanish Colonial furniture and architecture frequently mixed local heritage with the artistic traditions of Spain.
Spanish Colonial furniture was informed by the shifting styles of Europe as well as Indigenous culture. There were Inca tapestries depicting Spanish coats of arms and Baroque chairs adorned with tropical flora. The butaca, a low easy chair popular in the Caribbean, was inspired by Rococo’s curving forms and the shape of precolonial seating. In New Mexico, Pueblo artisans carved chests with patterns reminiscent of Anasazi art.
Even within the homes of the wealthy, furniture was usually restricted to necessities like benches, desks, cupboards and chests. These were often ornately designed and especially important for storing prized goods like textiles. Spanish Colonial houses were built with adobe and clay and tended to be minimally decorated, so the style’s heavily carved wooden furniture pieces stood out against a home’s white stucco walls.
The Spanish Colonial period mostly came to an end after the territories achieved independence from Spain. However, its aesthetics continued to influence Southwestern style and Spanish Colonial Revival style after Spanish Colonial style was used extensively at San Diego’s 1915 Panama-California Exposition.
Find a collection of antique Spanish Colonial chairs, tables, bedroom furniture and other furniture on 1stDibs.
Custom Oak Wood Refectory Console with Carved Edge and Apron by Dos Gallos
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Custom-made refectory table with carved detailing on edge and apron. Can be made in any size, finish and distress in walnut, oak or mahogany. Shown here in medium oak with a medium d...
Mahogany, Oak, Walnut
Antique Carved Amphora Stand With Amphorae Spanish Villa Rustic Tinaja Bar Cart
Located in London, GB
A strikingly attractive, extremely rare and wonderfully decorative carved oak amphora stand with three terracotta amphorae in lovely antique condition. L...
Terracotta, Oak
Italian Design Mid-Century Bar Cart, 1950s
Located in Casale Monferrato, IT
Rare 1950s Italian desgin serving bar cart. Made of beech wood equipped with two glass shelves and brass wheels for convenient movement. Perfect for serving drinks to your guests. Vi...
Glass, Beech
$2,927
H 29.02 in W 15.75 in D 33.67 in
Aldo Tura 1950s Mid-Century Bar Cart, Trolley or Stand in Brown Italian Goatskin
By Aldo Tura
Located in Landau an der Isar, Bayern
Midcentury Modern vintage Italian 1950s bar cart, tea trolley or drinks stand by Aldo Tura, Milan. The brown colored and lacquered goatskin leather combined with gilded cast metal ha...
Metal
Midcentury Chrome Glass and Marble Bar Cart
Located in Houston, TX
A midcentury two-tiered chrome, glass, and marble bar cart on casters.
Marble, Chrome
Architectural Walnut and Black Laminate Console by Edward Wormley
By Dunbar Furniture, Edward Wormley
Located in North Miami, FL
Architectural table No. 5403 in walnut with black laminate top and shelves designed by Edward Wormley for Dunbar.
Walnut, Laminate
Midcentury McGuire Faux Bamboo Bar Cart
By McGuire
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Dynamic faux bamboo bar cart with well grained oak panels, reed wrapped corners, finished all around, recessed casters and slide out service space. Signed McGuire in the drawer.
Reed, Oak
$34,850Sale Price|22% Off
H 42 in W 82 in D 25 in
Palatial Italian 18th Century Rococo Style Giltwood Carved Console Table
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A very fine and palatial Italian 18th century Rococo style giltwood carved console table with a castracane marble top of serpentine outline, the friez...
Marble
$3,278
H 29.14 in W 29.53 in D 18.31 in
George Coslin Rosewood and Chrome Serving Bar Cart with Drawers, Italy 1950s
By Bernini, George Coslin
Located in Roma, IT
Stunning Mid-Century Italian bar cart, fully made of rosewood, chrome-plated metal, and white laminate. This incredibly elegant and unique piece was designed by George Coslin and pro...
Metal, Chrome
$2,250
H 37.75 in W 39.5 in D 16 in
Russian Neoclassical Style Console/Server or Commode with Marble Top
Located in Stamford, CT
Russian neoclassical style console with inverted sides and marble top. This fine Maison Jansen inspired console table or serving tab...
Mahogany
Italian Console Table with Marble Top
Located in Woodbury, CT
This handsome neoclassical table in cream paint and parcel-gilt has a fluted apron with foliate carvings while the rose marble top has a cream marble beaded edge. Perfectly sized for...
Marble
Large Gray Painted and Limestone Console Table
Located in Dallas, TX
Large console table with a limestone top and caved wood acanthus leaf legs with a gray painted finish.
Limestone
$6,795
H 29 in W 60 in D 20.5 in
Maison Jansen Signed Rococo Carved Server Console Table w Serpentine Marble Top
Located in Port Jervis, NY
Fabulous carved serpentine console base dark green heavily veined marble. In the Rococo style with fabulous carvings on the legs and apron. Stamped Jansen in the walnut apron inside ...
Marble
$1,779Sale Price|20% Off
H 31.5 in W 19.69 in D 24.41 in
Midcentury Cesare Lacca Wood Italian Bar Cart with Serving Trays, 1950s
By Cesare Lacca
Located in Roma, IT
Fantastic mid century wood bar trolley. It was produced by Cesare Lacca in Italy during 1950s. This wonderful piece comes with two glass removable trays and an ergonomic bottle rack. The lines of this piece make it perfect for a midcentury-style dining room or bar. Born in Naples in 1929, Italian architect-designer Cesare Lacca created modernist furniture and metalwork throughout the 1950s. Though details of his personal life and professional training remain lost to history, there are sufficient surviving primary sources that document his many elegant designs in brasswork for which he is the best know and which fetch high prices from collectors. Like many Italian designers in the 20th century, Lacca moved to Milan after World War II to launch his career. Before he was even 21 years old, his work was selected by a group of American curators for inclusion in the landmark exhibition Italy at Work: Her Renaissance in Design Today that toured 12 US museums between 1950 and 1953—the first major exhibition of Italian design outside of Italy. The exhibition showcased the best and brightest of Italian designers who had embraced modernist principles and rejuvenated traditional Italian crafts, like Carlo Mollino , Franco Albini, and Gio Ponti In the exhibition catalogue, curator Meyric R. Roger’s spotlights Lacca's expert achievements in brass, noting “the variety and quality of his creations,” which “place him high among the architect-designers leading the current [Modernist] movement." Rogers adds, "The quality of his work...provide[s] all the decorative effectiveness needed without strain or exaggeration”. Lacca designed a great many tea carts and serving trolleys in his career—which make up a large proportion of what is available on the vintage market today—as well as magazine racks and coffee tables. Lacca’s most iconic tea cart was manufactured by Italian brand Cassina and features sculpted beech, cedar, teak, or walnut with brass details, a glass tabletop, and a removable glass tray. Lacca also designed high-backed lounge chairs, which were regularly featured in Arredoluce advertisements for Angelo Lelli’s lighting...
Brass, Metal
Green Spanish Preparation Table
Located in Faversham, GB
A Spanish farmhouse kitchen preparation table in pine. Weathered rectangular top in original green wash paint. Raised on four tapering legs united by shapely stretchers. Two centr...
Pine
Carved Mahogany Trestle Console Table In Spanish Colonial Style
Located in Bridgeport, CT
A very well made Console Table in Primitive Spanish Colonial Style with plank constructed top and carved edge. With elaborately carved serpentine supports on the side and upper cente...
Wood
17th Century Spanish Carved Chestnut Serving Table
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
Mid-17th century Spanish chestnut side / serving table with three chip carved drawers, standing on chamfered legs united by stretchers, the drawers looking to have the original iron ...
Chestnut
18th Century Spanish Chestnut Serving Table
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
Here we offer a stunning Spanish serving table dresser, circa 1730. Beautifully made, with chestnut single plank top and legs, poplar drawer fronts. Apart from the later metalwork to the legs for structural reasons, it is in original condition. Four drawers with shallow carving...
Chestnut