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British Colonial Furniture

BRITISH COLONIAL STYLE

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.

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Style: British Colonial
1980s Vintage British Colonial Style Burnt Bamboo and Cane Nightstands- A Pair
Located in St.Petersburg, FL
Vintage British colonial style chest in bamboo and rattan. Three spacious drawers clad in rattan with a burnt or tortoise bamboo skeleton. Wonderful diamond pattern throughout Would...
Category

1980s American Vintage British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Bamboo, Faux Bamboo, Cane

Vintage British Colonial Style Bamboo and Rattan Tall Chest
Located in St.Petersburg, FL
Vintage British colonial style dresser in bamboo and rattan. Five spacious drawers clad in rattan with a bamboo skeleton. Wonderful geometric pattern throughout. Would work in a vari...
Category

1980s American Vintage British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Faux Bamboo, Cane

Pair of Antique Anglo Indian Rosewood Campaign Stands
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Impressive pair of Anglo Indian three drawer stands crafted in rosewood with dramatic lush grains, campaign brass hardware and classic turned feet.
Category

20th Century Indian British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Brass

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...
Category

Early 1900s British Antique British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Hardwood

Vintage Tooled Leather Traditional Carved Campaign Style Office Writing Desk 62"
Located in Dayton, OH
Late 20th Century campaign style desk. Features a rectangular form with brown tooled leather top and two drawers in the frieze. Each drawer has brass lion knocker pulls. The desk is ...
Category

Late 20th Century British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Leather, Hardwood

Antique Sherwood & Wedge British Nautical Maritime Brass Onion Ship Oil Lanterns
Located in Dayton, OH
Pair of two antique Sherwood & Wedge "onion" navigational lamps featuring a cylindrical brass base, pierced top and fluted chimney cap, rotating wire bail handle, and simple wire cag...
Category

Late 19th Century Antique British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Brass

Antique English Silver Plate Mirrored Plateau Tray
Located in Pearland, TX
A superb antique silverplate footed mirror plateau, circa 1900. This beautiful plateau has a lovely silver patina, pinecone-style feet, and a beaded edge. It would look gorgeous disp...
Category

Early 1900s English Antique British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Silver Plate

Maitland Smith Jockeys on Horse Bronze Equestrian Racing Statue 18"
Located in Dayton, OH
Vintage Maitland Smith bronze two jockeys on horses equestrian racing statue featuring leather wrapped base. Dimensions: 17.5" x 9.5" x 15" h
Category

Late 20th Century British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Bronze

Antique 19th C Ceylonese British Colonial Satin Wood and Ebony Cabinet
Located in LOS ANGELES, CA
Antique 19th C Ceylonese British Colonial Satin Wood and Ebony Cabinet.
Category

Mid-19th Century British Antique British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Ebony

British Colonial Style Plantation Lounge Chair with Ottoman
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Gorgeous Anglo-Indian plantation lounge chair with matching ottoman made in the Grand British Colonial style. The chair features a gracefully carved teak frame with large scrolled ar...
Category

20th Century Southeast Asian British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Cane, Teak

Vintage West Indies Style Server or Sideboard by Baker
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Handsome vintage British colonial style server crafted in mahogany in a West Indies style featuring a dramatic ocean inspired gallery with two shelves on a case with two beaded drawe...
Category

20th Century American British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Mahogany

Maitland-Smith Pen Shell and Patinated Bronze Snail Table Lamp, c. 1980s
Located in Glasgow, GB
A sculptural and rare statement lamp by Maitland-Smith, crafted in the 1980s and exemplary of the firm’s signature blend of luxury materials and organic form. This dramatic design ...
Category

1980s Philippine Vintage British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Bronze

Baker Furniture English Regency Carved Rosewood Étagère, Bookcase, or Wall Unit
Located in South Bend, IN
An exceptional English Regency style etagère, bookcase, wall unit, or room divider By Baker Furniture USA, Circa 1960s Gorgeous carved rosewood, with original brass hardware. Mea...
Category

1960s American Vintage British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Brass

Ralph Lauren British Colonial Carved Mahogany Sideboard Buffet or Console Table
Located in South Bend, IN
A beautiful British Colonial, American Classical, or Victorian style carved mahogany sideboard, buffet server, or console table By Ralph Lauren Circa Late 20th Century Measures: 6...
Category

Late 20th Century Chinese British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Mahogany

Baker Furniture Hollywood Regency Bamboo Rattan and Cane Lounge Chair
Located in South Bend, IN
A gorgeous Hollywood Regency Organic Modern lounge chair By Baker Furniture, "Milling Road" Collection" Circa Late 20th Century Rattan frame in bamboo form, with cane seat and bac...
Category

Late 20th Century American British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Bamboo, Rattan, Cane

English Victorian Style Mirrored Washstand with Decorated Basin and Pitcher
Located in Germantown, MD
A midcentury English decorated porcelain basin and pitcher on mirrored oak washstand with candle sconces in very good condition. . Measures 22" in width, 18" in depth and stands 52.5...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Mirror, Oak, Porcelain

Zabihi Collection Exceptional Red Antique Mohajeran Persian Sarouk Rug
Located in New York, NY
an early 20th Century Persian Red Sarouk Rug Details rug no. 9061 size 4' 4" x 6' 6" (132 x 198 cm) Before the 1920s the Sarouk design was the most po...
Category

Early 20th Century Persian British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Wool

Antique English Tea Trolley Drinks Cart Barley Twist Dumbwaiter Drop Leaf Table
Located in Shreveport, LA
Antique English Tea Trolley Drinks Cart Barley Twist Dumbwaiter Drop Leaf Table. Direct from England, a beautiful antique English oak tea trolley or “dumbwaiter” serving cart. Excel...
Category

1930s British Vintage British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Oak

Set of Four Burnt Bamboo Tortoise Folding Chairs
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Very good set of four British Colonial Style Burnt Bamboo Tortoise folding chairs. Well constructed and sturdy. An additional set of four is also available for purchase.
Category

20th Century Philippine British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Bamboo

Finely Carved British Colonial 19th Century Round Coffee Table
Located in Miami, FL
A beautiful finely carved British Colonial wooden circular side table with a pedestal leg.
Category

1890s English Antique British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Fruitwood

Mid-20th Century Brass Horn Bouillotte Lamp with Black Tole Shade
Located in Elkhart, IN
A gorgeous brass horn bouillotte lamp with black tole shade USA, Mid-20th century Measures: 16" W x 10.75" D x 26" H Very good original v...
Category

Mid-20th Century American British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Metal, Brass

Vintage British Colonial Style Faux Bamboo and Grasscloth Stand
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Standout mid century British colonial style table or stand crafted in turned wood in a faux bamboo technique with two tiers covered in grasscloth.
Category

Mid-20th Century Philippine British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Grasscloth, Faux Bamboo

Antique Copper Brass Nautical Maritime Gimbal Compass Binnacle Ship Oil Lamp 14
Located in Dayton, OH
Antique English nautical / maritime ship / Yacht / lifeboat binnacle gimbal compass with rare double oil lamps. Copper and brass body with double oil ...
Category

Early 20th Century British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Brass

Rattan British Colonial Style Plantation Planters Chair, Woven Seat
Located in Miami, FL
Rattan British Colonial Style Plantation Planters Chair, Woven Seat Offered for sale is an elegant rattan framed plantation chair created in the British Colonial style. The chair ha...
Category

20th Century British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Rattan, Wood

Victorian Military Campaign Style Mahogany & Brass Butlers Tray
Located in Reading, Berkshire
Victorian Military Campaign Style Mahogany & Brass Butlers Tray on Coffee Table Stand Extra dimensions With the butlers tray leaves up Height 62cm Width 72cm Depth 54cm
Category

20th Century British British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Brass

Large 19th century Burmese colonial haberdashery cabinet
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
Large 19th century Burmese colonial haberdashery cabinet circa 1880. Here we offer a fine example of where English regency style furniture...
Category

Late 19th Century Burmese Antique British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Glass, Hardwood

19th Century British Colonial Tea Plantation Teak & Leather Lounge Chair
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
Circa 1890 Rare Teak and leather lounge chair that was formerly used in a Tea Estate in India. Hand made with pull out leaves that transform into leg rests and can be tucked back ...
Category

1890s Indian Antique British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Teak

Scandinavian Antique Leather-Bound Books, 2000 Books in Brown And Red Available
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
A large collection of Scandinavian decorative antique library leather-bound books Please note that the pictures listed are a sample of the books available and not the exact 50 books available. We will send pictures of the actual books before shipping them out. An attractive collection of 2000 mid-size antique leather-bound books. This lot of books on literature from Sweden are wrapped in leather-bound covers, comprised of varying rich, warm tones and gold leaf print embossing. The books seated side-by-side measures 2,5 meters, approximate 8´2 foot run. This collection of antique Swedish books are ready to ship and take their place, handsomely adorning your bookcase or library shelves...
Category

Early 20th Century Swedish British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Leather, Paper

Late-20th Century Faux Bamboo and Red Lacquer Desk by Baker Furniture
Located in North Fort Myers, FL
Elegant late 20th Century faux bamboo desk by Baker Furniture featuring the original rich red lacquer finish. This beautifully designed piece includes a single center drawer and open...
Category

Late 20th Century American British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Rattan, Wood

Mid-20th Century Coastal Refinished Tortoise Rattan Cane Drum Side Table
Located in North Fort Myers, FL
Beautifully restored tortoise rattan drum table featuring a woven cane top protected by brand new round glass. The frame showcases a striking open loop design, highlighting the natur...
Category

Mid-20th Century Unknown British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Rattan, Glass

Distressed Antique Turkish Rug with British Colonial Style
Located in Dallas, TX
74991, distressed antique Turkish rug with British Colonial style 10'03 x 15'07.?? With its casual elegance and lovingly timeworn appear...
Category

Early 20th Century Turkish British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Wool

Pair of 19th Century Ceylonese Satinwood & Caned Lounge Chairs
Located in Southampton, NY
Pair of 19th Century Ceylonese Satinwood & Caned Lounge Chairs. These are a pair of British Colonial Ceylonese satinwood and cane chairs. Made in the Late 19th in Ceylon (now Sri La...
Category

Late 19th Century Sri Lankan Antique British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Cane, Satinwood

Pair of Vintage British Colonial Style Woven Reed Wingback Armchairs
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Impressive pair of vintage British colonial style wingback armchairs upholstered in grass cloth or woven reed in classic comfortable form with a modern tropical twist, cotton cushion...
Category

20th Century American British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Wicker

Fine Double "C" Handled Quart Tulip Export Pewter Tankard Townsend & Compton
Located in Ottawa, Ontario
A fine double "C" handled quart tulip export Pewter mug or tankard by Townsend & Compton, circa 1779-1806. Struck with makers (upside down) pseudo hallmarks, left of the handle and l...
Category

Late 18th Century English Antique British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Pewter

18th C. English Pine Curtis & Horspool London Act of Parliament Tavern Clock
Located in Dayton, OH
18th century monumental museum quality Act of Parlament clock. Made from pine with a large round face over elongated case. Features an enameled metal face marked Curis Horspool in Le...
Category

18th Century Antique British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Pine

Vintage British Colonial Faux Bamboo & Grasscloth Desk
Located in Brooklyn, NY
A stylish 20th century British Colonial style writing desk featuring a faux bamboo wood frame with rich tortoiseshell finish and woven grasscloth panels. The upper gallery includes f...
Category

20th Century Unknown British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Grasscloth, Faux Bamboo

Antique English Leather Top Desk or Writing Table
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Handsome 19th century English desk handcrafted in mahogany with the original tooled leather top on a case with two drawers and brass hardware set on classic turned legs.
Category

19th Century English Antique British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Brass

Antique Victorian Cast Iron Bookbinding Press Screw Nipping Press
Located in Tyler, TX
EXCELLENT Antique Victorian Cast Iron Book Press~~c. 19th century Beautiful decorative Victorian era green book press nipping press 13" tall x...
Category

Late 19th Century English Antique British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Iron

Maitland Smith Painted Monkey Landscape Crackled Coromandel Wall Panel 72"
Located in Dayton, OH
Hand painted Maitland Smith Coromandel wall panel. Features a crackled landscape with monkeys holding peaches in a tropical setting amongst bird...
Category

Late 20th Century British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Hardwood, Paint

Two Antique Anchor Form Sailors Valentines, Priced Individually
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Antique group of two sailors valentines from the West Indies in an unusual anchor form, hand decorated in exotic seashells and featuring pincushions, giving function to form. Priced ...
Category

Early 20th Century English British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Shell, Felt

Early 19th Century Specimen Occasional table
Located in Gloucestershire, GB
A smart early 19th Century Ceylonese ebony occasional table. The specimen inlaid hexagonal top centred by a swirl of exotic woods including palm, satinwood, coromandel and palisander...
Category

Early 19th Century Indian Antique British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Ebony, Sandalwood, Satinwood

British Colonial Style Faux Bamboo Super King Bed Frame in Faux Tortoise
Located in Palm Beach, FL
British colonial style super king bed with faux bamboo faux tortoise posts, borders, and applied geometric designs over a grasscloth background. Complet...
Category

20th Century North American British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Faux Bamboo

1930s Large Scale Carved Oak Arm Chair In Chinoiserie Palm Toile
Located in Kennesaw, GA
This is a charming carved oak arm chair with an English British Colonial toile. The frame is most likely American and dates to the early part of the 20th century. The fabric shows so...
Category

Early 20th Century American British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Upholstery, Oak

British Colonial Mahogany & Caned Armchair
Located in Southampton, NY
British Colonial Mahogany & Caned Armchair A low comfortable reading chair made out of Mahogany and cane. Lovely carved details on arms, ba...
Category

20th Century Unknown British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Cane, Mahogany

Cabinet de curiosité Wunderkammer Pair of 18th century Warthog Tusks
Located in Pistoia, IT
From the cabinet de curiosité of a Florentine amateur, pair of pedestal-mounted warthog tusks dating from the 18th century. Africa has always fascinated explorers of all times, co...
Category

18th Century Italian Antique British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Bone, Wood

Zabihi Collection Room SizeAntique Persian Sarouk Rug
Located in New York, NY
An authentic room size full pile antique Persian Sarouk rug. Measures: 7'10'' x 11'9''.
Category

1920s Persian Vintage British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Wool

British Colonial Ceylonese Solid Satinwood & Hand Cane Armchair
Located in Southampton, NY
British Colonial Ceylonese Solid Satinwood & Hand Caned Armchair Made entirely out of satinwood. Gentle curved back. Hand caning seat - still in good condition. Spiral arms are a un...
Category

Early 20th Century Sri Lankan British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Satinwood

19th Century King Size Mahogany Jamaican Double Waterfall Bed
Located in Charleston, SC
This elegant Caribbean mahogany bed was constructed in the 19th century in Jamaica. This Rare West Indies Bedstead exhibits a scarce and desirable hand carved iconic Jamaican Double Waterfall headboard which resonates with the four solid mahogany turned and reeded bedpost. This exceptionally carved bed with grand scale makes it a decorative work of art. This Remarkable Jamaican mahogany four poster bed has been converted to a king size bed for modern use by David Skinner...
Category

19th Century Jamaican Antique British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Mahogany, Poplar

Pair of Antique Caned British Colonial Planters Chairs
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Intriguing pair of early 20th century British Colonial plantation chairs handcrafted in indigenous mahogany with elegant form featuri...
Category

Early 20th Century Caribbean British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Cane, Mahogany

West Indies Carved and Caned Daybed or Chaise Lounge
Located in Palm Beach, FL
British colonial daybed, most likely Barbadian crafted in mahogany with a graceful form, floral carvings, handmade construction, caned seat, back and side, and turned legs with brass...
Category

19th Century Bajan Antique British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Mahogany

Vintage British Colonial Style Faux Luggage Leather Top Desk
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Impressive British Colonial style desk crafted in mahogany in a three piece construction with a tooled leather top featuring burnished brass hardware, leather strap pulls on the thre...
Category

20th Century Vietnamese British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Brass

English Antique Military Campaign Design Butlers Tray and Folding Stand
Located in Reading, Berkshire
Bevan Funnell Military Campaign George III Butlers tray with folding Stand having foldable galleried handles & brass idents and feet - Wonderful tray for drinks...
Category

20th Century British British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Brass

Pair of Vintage British Colonial Style Faux Bamboo and Grasscloth Stands
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Standout pair of vintage British colonial stands crafted with faux bamboo wood frames having hexagon tops with grasscloth panels on the tops, skirts and lower tiers set on turned feet.
Category

20th Century Philippine British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Grasscloth, Faux Bamboo

Early 20th Century Colonial Sri Lankan Satinwood Garden Chair
Located in Southampton, NY
Hand-turned garden chair made of solid satinwood, Colonial, Sri Lanka, circa 1900. Hand-caned seat and back. Came from a British Military family in Sri Lanka. 40.25" overall height ...
Category

Early 20th Century Sri Lankan British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Cane, Satinwood

Antique Group of Three Smoke Bell Light Fixtures, Priced Individually
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Standout group of three colonial style continental smoke bell glass light fixtures hand blown in classic form with cut designs and brass hammered hardware, using candle power as orig...
Category

Early 20th Century Belgian British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Blown Glass

British Colonial Carved and Cane Settee with Swan Neck Back and Scrolling Arms
Located in Yonkers, NY
A British Colonial carved wooden settee with swan neck back and out-scrolling arms, cane seat and turned legs. This British Colonial carved woo...
Category

Early 20th Century Southeast Asian British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Cane, Wood

Large Scale British Colonial Style Framed Tropical Fruit / Botanicals -S/9
Located in Kennesaw, GA
This is a set of nine very large scale British Colonial style framed reproduction tropical fruit prints. They are nicely framed and matted. They would make a stunning wall! The print...
Category

Late 20th Century American British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Wood, Paper

Antique British Colonial Three Tiered Stand or Etagere
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Handsome English 19th century stand, crafted in mahogany having three tiers with turned finials at the top, on classic turned supports and brass casters.
Category

19th Century English Antique British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Mahogany

Brighton Pavillion Burnt Bamboo Settee
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Wonderful & Rare Vintage Brighton Pavillion loveseat / settee with cane seat. Add your own cushion of choice.
Category

20th Century Philippine British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Cane, Bamboo

19th Century English Campaign Marine Chest of Drawers in Mahogany
Located in NICE, FR
This stunning mahogany chest of drawers model was originally used by the British navy. It features charming typical campaign handles as well two carrying handles on both its sides. ...
Category

19th Century British Antique British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Metal

British Colonial furniture for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique British Colonial furniture for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the 21st Century and Contemporary, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage furniture created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include tables, case pieces and storage cabinets, seating and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with wood, metal and other materials. If you’re shopping for used British Colonial furniture made in a specific country, there are Europe, Asia, and United Kingdom pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original furniture, popular names associated with this style include Maitland Smith, Baker Furniture Company, Bloomingdale's, and Ralph Lauren. It’s true that these talented designers have at times inspired knockoffs, but our experienced specialists have partnered with only top vetted sellers to offer authentic pieces that come with a buyer protection guarantee. Prices for furniture differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $80 and tops out at $88,000 while the average work can sell for $3,161.

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