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.
E. Löffler, "The Oronte's Ideal Company", Framed Original Manifesto, circa 1900
Located in Firenze, IT
E. Löffler, "The Oronte's Ideal Company", Original manifesto, framed, circa 1900 Lithograph, without printer's name. Measures: Cm 70x49. It was a brilliant company of equili...
Glass, Wood, Paper
Original Framed Jacobs Cream Crackers Card Poster, from Dublin
Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight
Original framed Jacobs cream crackers card poster, from Dublin This is delightful original advertising sign, showing a happy young lady in period dress on the telephone telling us , “yes please Cream Crackers and they must be Jacobs” The sign is color printed on card, it is in good condition and set in its own original frame, it has W&R Jacobs...
Original Framed Paper Movie Poster for Alfred Hitchcocks Psycho
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A framed movie poster for the re-release of Alfred Hitchcock's PSYCHO, starring Janet Leigh, Anthony Perkins, and Vera Miles. The poster was folde...
Wood, Paper
$3,061
H 55.52 in W 39.38 in D 0.4 in
Original Vintage Poster-Eugene Ogé-gestetner Printing Company, 1898
By Eugène Ogé
Located in SAINT-OUEN-SUR-SEINE, FR
Original Vintage poster-Eugene Ogé-Gestetner Printing Company, 1898 This red haired and bearded member of parliament (representative) is Camille Pelletan, was elected in 1898 pres...
Paper
'Manhattan' Original Vintage Us Lobby Card Movie Poster, 1979
Located in Devon, GB
An international style US lobby card for Woody Allen's 1979 romantic comedy "Manhattan," starring co-writer and director Allen as a twice-divorced middle-aged comedy writer dating a ...
Paper
Original Framed Movie Collectible Poster The Spy Who Shagged Me 1999
Located in San Diego, CA
cool colorful original framed poster Mike Myers The spy who shagged me , great condition not faded .
Plastic, Wood, Paper
Rare Original 1918 Framed Charlie Chaplin, Charlot Movie Poster
Located in Peekskill, NY
An original nicely framed Charlie Chaplin "Charlot" movie poster, designed by Auguste Louis Leymarie, color lithograph on paper. At over 5 foot tall French poster is an impressive si...
Paper
$236
H 10 in W 8 in D 0.1 in
UNFORGIVEN Original Publicity Film Still Poster, 1992 CLINT EASTWOOD - FRAMED
Located in Bath, Somerset
Original Warner Bros 8x10 inches Publicity Still for Clint Eastwood's Unforgiven (1992). Unforgiven bagged 4 Oscars, including Best Picture and Best Director for Eastwood. Publicit...
Wood, Paper
1967 Cream - Fillmore Original Vintage Poster
Located in Winchester, GB
Designed by concert poster artist Jim Blashfield, this beautiful poster was created in 1967 to promote a live concert of Cream at the world famous Fillmore in San Francisco. Events s...
Paper
Framed Eames Poster from Trapholt Museum (Denmark) Exhibition
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Stunning and vibrant poster from Trapholt art museum in Denmark to commemorate a 1998 exhibition featuring the designs of Charles and Ray Eames. In excellent condition, recently prof...
Paper
Two English Theatre Advertising Posters, circa 1900
Located in Chappaqua, NY
Two original English theatre advertising posters. The Kennington theatre performance announcement of "The Country Girl", dimensions: 28 inches high x 16 inches wide. The theatre Royal performance announcement of "Leopolds Company...
Paper
$1,000
H 32.68 in W 25.01 in D 1.19 in
Original Signed Joseph Beuys Exhibition Poster 1980 Framed "Zeichnungen", Framed
By Joseph Beuys
Located in Hamburg, DE
Original signed exhibition poster by Joseph Beuys "Drawings" Kunsthalle Bielefeld. This poster is an offset print with an artist's signature in the lower right area. It was signed wi...
Glass, Wood, Paper
1980s Teddy Radko Images Exhibition Original Framed Poster.
Located in Miami, FL
1980s Teddy Radko Images Exhibition Original Framed Poster Teddy Radko (French, 20th C.) Framed in Brushed Aluminum Frame , under glass. In excellent original condition with very m...
Aluminum
$850
H 29.25 in W 18.75 in D 1.3 in
An original Francis Bacon poster from Galerie Maeght, framed in burl, Paris 1966
Located in View Park, CA
An original Francis Bacon exhibition poster, 1966. Featuring the “Personnage Couché” shown at Galerie Maeght in Paris. Framed gorgeously in a walnut burl, begging glass, and ready to...
Wood, Burl, Paper
2 Vanity Fair Pictures Military Uniforms by Reginald Augustus Wymer
Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight
2 vanity fair pictures military Uniforms by Reginald Augustus Wymer (1849-1935) The pictures are framed and have signatures, they are in nice conditi...
Paper