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...
$1,998
H 29 in W 29 in D 1.5 in
1969 Framed Original Poster by Roy Lichtenstein for The Guggenheim Exhibition
Located in San Diego, CA
1969 Framed Original Poster by Roy Lichtenstein for The Guggenheim Exhibition beautiful colorful great condition in plexy framed we polished the piece top quality frame by Art Servic...
Plexiglass, Paper
Chanel Nº 5 Original Poster 1997 from Parisian bus shelter
Located in Encino, CA
Andy Warhol Poster Chanel 5, from a set of 4 different colors. 1997 (We also have the full set of four colors). This listing is only for one "red-pink" poster. Not framed. Will be sh...
Paper
$1,388
H 11 in W 14 in D 0.01 in
'Breakfast at Tiffany's' Original Vintage US Lobby Card Movie Poster, 1961
Located in Devon, GB
Lobby Cards were designed for display in a cinema lobby to lure the movie-going public. Typically released in sets of 8, each card depicted a different scene from the film. This charming US lobby card for 'Breakfast At Tiffany's,' number 7 of the set, depicts Audrey Hepburn as Holly Golightly and George Peppard as Paul Varjak sipping coffee against a backdrop of Manhattan. Featuring a miniature version of Robert McGinnis' iconic artwork used for the US insert, the lobby cards offer a bit of Tiffany's magic at a more affordable price point than the larger and highly sought after US Campaign posters. Holly Golightly would be Audrey Hepburn’s defining role, establishing her status as one of the greatest screen legends and style icons of all time. It seems unbelievable now that Truman Capote, author of the novella on which the movie was based, had his heart set on Marilyn Monroe for the part. Monroe pulled out of the running when her acting coach advised her not to play a lady of the night...
Paper
Original Vintage Theater Lobby Card from “Rebel Without a Cause”
Located in San Francisco, CA
This piece is an original vintage theater lobby card from the 1955 release of the cinematic masterpiece “Rebel Without a Cause.” Distributed in sets of eight to movie theaters for di...
Paper
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
$833
H 33.25 in W 23 in D 0.01 in
'An Ideal Husband' Original Vintage Movie Poster by Wiktor Gorka, Polish, 1956
By Wiktor Gorka
Located in Devon, GB
Although Western films were shown during the Soviet era in the Communist Bloc, American publicity materials were banned, allowing the state-commissioned artists to operate with total creative freedom from the demands of the big Hollywood studios...
Paper, Linen
$5,901
H 47.25 in W 31.7 in D 0.04 in
Original Vintage Art Deco Poster Advertising the French Bicycle Company Automoto
By Maurice Lauro
Located in London, GB
Original vintage adverting poster for the French manufacturer of bicycles automoto featuring a stunning Art Deco style artwork by Maurice Lauro (...
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
Original 1978 Thai Bruce Lee "Enter the Game of Death" Framed Poster
Located in Brooklyn, NY
A captivating slice of 1970s martial arts cinema history, this original 1978 Thai theatrical poster for "Enter the Game of Death" showcases iconic Bruce Lee imagery in bold, saturate...
Wood, Paper
Barbarella 1968 Lobby Card - Framed
Located in Bath, Somerset
Original 8x10 inches Lobby Card for Barbarella (1968) starring Jane Fonda, John Phillip Law and Anita Pallenberg and directed by Roger Vadim. Publicity (film/production) stills were...
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
$375Sale Price|52% Off
H 14 in W 31.25 in D 1 in
Original Vintage Chinese Propanda Poster, Lessons from Dazhai, 1960
Located in San Francisco, CA
ABOUT An original vintage Chinese propaganda poster, "Lessons from Dazhai". Bright, vivid colors. Framed with a black, metal frame and acrylic. Not a Chinese export poster. Produced...
Acrylic, 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