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
Tole Military Hat Trade Sign on Lucite
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Trade sign depicting an 18th century British officer's hat with a weathered finish and presented on a custom Lucite stand.
Category
20th Century English British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Tôle
Large British Colonial 19th Century Ebony Sri Lankan Ceylonese Wall Bracket
Located in Amsterdam, NL
A Sri Lankan ebony wall bracket by Don Andris Cabinet Makers, Colombo
Colombo, first half 19th century, stamped Don Andris, Cabinet Makers Colombo on shelf
The shelf suspended by three foliate motif carved rests and one plain rests to the wall.
Measures: H. 50.5 x W. 43 x D. 15.5 cm
Note:
According to J.W. Bennett in 1843 (in: Furniture from British India...
Category
Early 18th Century Indian Antique British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Ebony
Sterling Navette Form Dutch Scene Gilt Interior Tea Caddy British Import Mark
Located in Ottawa, Ontario
A sterling silver navette form Dutch scene gilt interior tea caddy with British import mark, makers mark SBL for Samuel Boyce Landeck, (Sheffield 1897). Decorated with couples in a t...
Category
1890s English Antique British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Sterling Silver
British Colonial Style Sideboard or Server
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Antique William IV style sideboard reminiscent of a West Indies British Colonial server or buffet crafted in indigenous mahogany with a gr...
Category
19th Century Antiguan Antique British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Mahogany
Navy Blue Antique Persian Sarouk Rug
Located in New York, NY
Stunning early 20th century Persian Sarouk rug.
Before the 1920s the Sarouk design was the most popular of Persian rugs worldwide. Most of them consist of deep red fields with nav...
Category
Early 20th Century Persian British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Wool
Antique Persian Bakhtiari Cypress Tree Runner with British Colonial Style
Located in Dallas, TX
53253, antique Persian Bakhtiari Cypress Tree Runner with British Colonial style. With a subdued appearance and cypress tree design in neutral hues, this hand knotted wool antique Pe...
Category
Early 20th Century Persian British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Wool
Pair of British Colonial Midcentury Plantation / Lounge Chairs
Located in New York, NY
Elegant pair of solid hard wood and caned British Colonial Plantation chairs, lounge chairs or armchairs. The chairs feature swing out extension arms. The construction is hand made w...
Category
Mid-20th Century English British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Cane, Hardwood
Vintage Unique Folk Art Made Metal and Cold-Painted Colonial Canon Model
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
This Folk Art constructed model canon was made in Canada by a retired millwright in 1984 in the British Colonial style. This model canon loosely resembles...
Category
Late 20th Century Canadian British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Aluminum, Brass
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 Persian Branched Pole Medallion Shiraz Rug
Located in Dallas, TX
53233 Antique Persian Branched Pole Medallion Shiraz rug. Balancing tribal style and traditional sensibility, this hand knotted wool distressed antique Persian Shiraz rug charms with...
Category
Early 20th Century Persian British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Wool
Complete Set of Pink Cloth Napkins and Faux Bamboo Brass Place Setting Set of 4
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
Make hosting and entertaining easy, with a vintage British Colonial style place setting. Over a year in the making, we’ve sourced hundreds of table settings from all over the globe and paired our favorites in a set. (See our other listings for more beauties in an array of different colors, styles and place settings from 4, 6, 8, 10, 12 and 16.)
This set features a faux bamboo brass charger from India. It does have a slight patina to it, which makes it look even more storied. We’ve had these custom cloth napkins created just for this set. We’ve brought over this fabulous pink block print fabric from India and created 4 16” x 16” cloth dinner napkins...
Category
20th Century Indian British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Brass
Pair of Early 19th Century Jamaican Regency Mahogany Occasional Tables
Located in Charleston, SC
A matching pair of early 19th century Jamaican Regency mahogany occasional tables, circa 1830, featuring turned pedestal base on tripod base.
West Indies...
Category
Early 19th Century Jamaican Antique British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Mahogany
Pair of Faux Tortoise Bamboo Stands with Magazine Racks
Located in Palm Beach, FL
British Colonial style end tables or stands with a faux tortoise finish over a turned wood faux bamboo frame. Featuring tooled brown leather panels, distinctive brass hardware, magaz...
Category
20th Century Philippine British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Faux Bamboo
Pair of Metal and Cast Iron Monkey and Palm Sconces
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Pair of wall sconces with a slightly oxidized finish, five candle cups in palm leaf clusters, and featuring cast iron monkeys in a familiar, taunting ...
Category
20th Century Italian British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Iron
Vintage Rose Chintz Egg Shaped Ceramic Trinket Box with Hinged Lid
Located in Chillerton, Isle of Wight
Vintage rose chintz egg shaped ceramic trinket box with hinged lid.
This 20th century vintage ceramic egg (Trinket Box) stands on shaped legs, i...
Category
Late 20th Century British Colonial Furniture
Pair of White Terracotta Lions
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Whimsical pair of Italian midcentury terracotta male and female lions with a white glaze and
painted details. Although hardly ferocious these seated big c...
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Terracotta
Antique Francois Grenier Mixed Media 3D "Tiger Hunt" Collage La Chasse au Tigre
Located in Dayton, OH
Antique mixed-media enhanced engraving artwork attributed to Francois Grenier. François GRENIER b. 1793-1867. This work features a hunting scene from India, framed shadowbox style, signed in stone lower left and titled on backside. La Chasse au Tigre translates to (Tiger Chase or Tiger Hunt...
Category
Early 19th Century Antique British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Organic Material, Paper
Carved Coral Bowl or Planter
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Here is a large piece of bowl coral with its bleached white color and sea inspired texture, carved and repurposed as a bowl or planter.
Available only in the United States of Americ...
Category
20th Century American British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Coral
Red Lacquered Chest on Stand 19th Century, British India, 1860
Located in Epfach, DE
Red lacquered chest on stand 19th century, British India, 1860
Very charming 19th century chest with wonderful lacquered and gilt flower dec...
Category
Mid-19th Century British Indian Ocean Territory Antique British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Wood
Elegant Terracotta Antique Mohajeran Persian Sarouk Rug
Located in New York, NY
Stunning early 20th century Persian Sarouk Mohajeran Rug with a terracotta field, accents in robin egg blue, green, the border is navy.
circa 1910. Measures: 3'5" x 4'7"
Before...
Category
Early 20th Century Persian British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Wool
Set of Three Large Seashell Engravings
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Impressive set of three large vintage hand colored engravings depicting seashell specimens executed in the scholastic style of the early naturalists. Having plenty of decorative appe...
Category
20th Century American British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Paper
Large Spread Eagle Wall Plaque, Heraldic Trade Sign
Located in Chillerton, Isle of Wight
Large spread eagle wall plaque, Heraldic trade sign
This is a very large piece, it is made in polished silver metal, the plaque would have been di...
Category
Early 20th Century British Colonial Furniture
English Antique Axminister Rug, 1870 Handmade Carpet Runner Wool Hallway Runner
Located in Hampshire, GB
This high-quality rare English Axminister rug Features asymmetrical repeat pattern, woven in beige pink and cream. Revealing meandering scrolls and floral motifs.
This beautiful Ant...
Category
Late 19th Century British Antique British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Wool, Cotton, Organic Material
Handsome English 9-Drawer Mahogany Campaign Desk with Sage-Green Leather Top
Located in San Francisco, CA
In three pieces, with hand-tooled inset leather top above an apron fitted with 3 drawers; all resting on dual 3-drawer pedestals raised on bracket feet.
Category
Late 19th Century English Antique British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Mahogany
Large Pencil Reed Rattan Floor Vase
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Midcentury floor vase crafted in pencil reed with a Classic form and warm lush finish.
Category
20th Century Italian British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Reed
Pair of Figura Lizardl Ostrich Egg Candlesticks by Redmile
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Whimsical yet refined pair of candlesticks with silvered metal acrobatic lizards holding ostrich eggs with candle holders on a classic base stamped Redmile London.
Category
20th Century English British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Ostrich Eggshell
18th Century Pair of Orange Tall Indian Teak Wood Pillars
Located in Pasadena, CA
These pair of orange painted tall Indian teak wood pillars are topped with classical acanthus leaf capitals and come in three parts.
Category
18th Century Indian Antique British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Teak
Antique Chinese Oval Accent Rug with Pictorial Phoenix Design
Located in Dallas, TX
71754, antique Chinese oval accent rug with Pictorial Phoenix design. This hand knotted wool antique Chinese oval rug features a pictorial oval medallio...
Category
Early 20th Century Chinese British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Wool
British Colonial Wood Column on Stand
Located in Atlanta, GA
A single 19th century British Colonial carved wood column with custom Stand. This antique hand carved wooden architectural element from India, which stands just under 6.5 feet in hei...
Category
19th Century Indian Antique British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Iron
Majolica Boot Umbrella or Cane Stand
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Whimsical midcentury Majolica or glazed terra cotta umbrella or cane Stand in the form of Italian military boots complete with tassels and spurs.
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
Very Rare West Riding Constabulary Cast Iron Wall Plaque
Located in Chillerton, Isle of Wight
Very rare west riding constabulary cast iron wall plaque
This branch of the British police force was established in 1825, Yorkshire was divided into ...
Category
1890s Antique British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Iron
Pair of Victory V Gums Tins, England, Early 20th Century
Located in Antwerp, BE
Antique set of 2 Tin Boxes for Victory V Gums, England.
This British Brand made Liquorice-flavoured lozenges,
each by hand so every sweet contained the correct amount of therapeutic ingredient.
This Counter Cannisters - Advertising Boxes...
Category
Early 20th Century English British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Tin
Midcentury Brass Palm or Banana Tree
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Striking midcentury stylized brass tabletop palm or banana tree with a tropical ambiance suitable for traditional or modern interiors. Hand polished and la...
Category
20th Century Italian British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Brass
Pair of Faux 'Elephant Tusk', Marble Bookends or Dresser Ornaments, 20th Century
Located in Esbjerg, DK
A pair of faux elephant tusk bookends or decorative ornaments for your desk, dresser or in front of your entrance hall mirror. They are constructe...
Category
Late 20th Century British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Marble
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 Mid-Century Modern Rosewood Side or Office Chairs with Upholstered Seat
Located in Nantucket, MA
Pair of Mid-Century Modern solid rosewood side or office chairs with a slightly curved back for lumbar support. Slightly tapered leg. The seat can be easily removed if you wanted to ...
Category
Mid-20th Century British British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Upholstery
Antique Rustic Anglo-Indian Candleholder
Located in Sheffield, MA
The large sculptural antique rustic Anglo-Indian candleholder made from architectural element. Carved hardwood with an indented metal disk and spike or pricket for candles with extra...
Category
Late 19th Century Indian Antique British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Hardwood
Victorian Pine and Iron Bound Sea Chest, Iron Bound Silver chest
Located in Chillerton, Isle of Wight
A large Victorian pine and iron bound sea or silver chest.
This the heaviest and best quality box that you can imagine, it has heavy iron banding on the outside, a superb and lar...
Category
Mid-19th Century Antique British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Pine
Regency Brass Mounted Mahogany Two-Part Secrétaire Military Campaign Chest
Located in Charleston, SC
This mid-19th century brass-mounted mahogany two-part Campaign chest has a removable mahogany panel covering the satinwood. Fitted interior of the secrétaire drawer with usual foldin...
Category
Mid-19th Century English Antique British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Brass
Distressed Vintage Turkish Kilim Rug with Southern Living British Colonial Style
Located in Dallas, TX
50769, distressed vintage Turkish Kilim rug with Southern Living British Colonial style. This handwoven wool vintage Turkish Kilim rug features a central diamond surrounded by additi...
Category
Mid-20th Century Turkish British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Wool
Distressed Antique Persian Shiraz Design Rug with British Colonial Style
Located in Dallas, TX
52631, distressed antique Persian Shiraz design rug with British Colonial style. Warm and inviting combined with the right amount of necessary aesthetic elements, this hand knotted w...
Category
Early 20th Century Turkish British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Wool
Royal Blue Antique Mohajeran Persian Sarouk Rug
Located in New York, NY
Stunning early 20th century Persian Sarouk Mohajeran rug.
7'1'' x 10'6''
Before the 1920s the Sarouk design was the most popular of Persian rugs worldwide. Most of them consist of ...
Category
Early 20th Century Persian British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Wool
Antique Set of Nine Framed Pen and Ink Navel Sailing Ships
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Set of nine antique drawings of American and English Navel Sailing ships executed in a pen and ink technique highlighted with watercolor, matted and presented in mahogany frames behi...
Category
19th Century English Antique British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Paint
Late 18th-Early 19th Century Swing Post Mount Whale Oil Lamp
Located in Ottawa, Ontario
A late 18th-early 19th century swing post mount whale oil lamp, a fine example of a ships or wall/post mount whale oil lamp, which swings from the top a...
Category
19th Century Antique British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Iron
Antique Indian Silver Hip Flask with Leather Case
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
An exceptional, fine and impressive antique Indian 900 standard silver hip flask with the original leather case; part of our wine and drinks related silverware collection.
This exceptional antique Indian 900 standard silver hip flask has an oval rounded form.
The surface of this antique silver hip flask...
Category
1910s Indian Vintage British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Silver
Midcentury Zebra Hide Mirror
Located in Palm Beach, FL
British Colonial style mirror with a rectangular frame covered in patches of zebra hide.
Category
20th Century English British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Zebra Hide
19th C Jamaican Minature Spice Cabinet, attributed to Ralph Turnbull
Located in Charleston, SC
This Caribbean miniature demipress/spice cabinet was made in Jamaica in the 1830's and is attributed to Ralph Turnbull. This British Colonial piece is c...
Category
19th Century Caribbean Antique British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Coconut, Mahogany, Rosewood, Satinwood
Silver Vase Oriental Manufacture of the Colonial Age, Early 1900
Located in Roma, IT
This silver vase is an original decorative object realized by oriental manufacture of the colonial age in the beginning of the 20th century.
This refined silver vase is entirely e...
Category
Early 20th Century Asian British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Silver Plate
Pair of 19th Century British Colonial Child's Chairs
Located in Atlanta, GA
A pair of 19th century British Colonial chairs made for children with cane seats, nicely carved arms and half-moon legs.
Category
19th Century Indian Antique British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Wood, Cane
Original Framed Jacobs Cream Crackers Card Poster, from Dublin
Located in Chillerton, 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...
Category
1930s Vintage British Colonial Furniture
Rare Folky Watercolor Drawings on Paper by L.J. Harboe, Priced Individually
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Here are four rare and historically important watercolor drawings on paper of St. Croix. Painted in a topographical style by L.J.Harboe, effectively transporting us to a time and pla...
Category
19th Century American Antique British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Paint
19th Century British Colonial Jakwood and Ebony Trunk
Located in Pasadena, CA
A 19th century British Colonial trunk comprised of jakwood and ebony. The trunk features a central hardware piece and carved columns on the sides.
Category
Early 19th Century Sri Lankan Antique British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Ebony
Pair of Cut-Glass Hurricanes
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Refined pair of handblown hurricanes with scalloped tops, geometric
cut patterns, brass cuffs and classical cut glass bases.
Category
Early 20th Century American British Colonial Furniture
British Colonial Decorative Carved Wood Column
Located in Atlanta, GA
A single 19th century British Colonial carved wood column with custom stand. This antique hand carved wooden architectural element from India, whic...
Category
19th Century Indian Antique British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Iron
19th Century British Colonial Ceylonese Satinwood and Ebony Cabinet
Located in Pasadena, CA
Early 19th century British Colonial cabinet of wide-paneled and figured solid satinwood with solid ebony trim. Sri Lanka, formerly known as Ceylon, is one of the few places in the wo...
Category
19th Century Sri Lankan Antique British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Ebony, Satinwood
Antique Colonial Hardwood Table, 19th Century
Located in Hele, Devon, GB
This is an antique, 19th century hardwood table.
Of immense weight, carved from a single piece of hardwood, this exotic piece makes for an interesting side or lamp table.
The s...
Category
19th Century British Antique British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Hardwood
Persian Pictorial Nain Rug
Located in New York, NY
Very finely woven Pictorial Persian Nain rug featuring a pictorial design on a crispy blue colored field.
Nain is a small village located in central Iran that has relatively recen...
Category
20th Century British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Wool, Silk
Early 19th Century Caribbean Mahogany Tilt-Top Breakfast Center Table
Located in Charleston, SC
This West Indies center table has an English influence. This piece is published in " West Indian Antique Furniture of the Lesser Antilles...
Category
Early 19th Century Bajan Antique British Colonial Furniture
Materials
Brass
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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