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.
1980s British Colonial Faux Bamboo and Cane Tall Shelf
By Ralph Lauren, Bloomingdale's
Located in St.Petersburg, FL
Gorgeous tall shelf with a faux bamboo frame and cane shelves. Great size shelf could work in a variety of spaces. Nice coastal, British Colonial, and boho styling.
Faux Bamboo, Cane
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.
Mahogany
Late 19th Century Scorched Tortoise Bamboo Two-Tier Etagere Shelf
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Very charming table top burnt bamboo etagere featuring two shelves with spindle turnings and ball finials. Perfect piece for displaying your favorite collections of small items.
Wood
Vintage Boho Brighton Pavilion Style Scorched Bamboo Étagère by Goldenrod
Located in North Fort Myers, FL
Beautiful vintage Brighton Pavilion style scorched bamboo étagère by Goldenrod, showcasing classic lattice fretwork, turned bamboo uprights, and a rich honey-to-caramel scorched fini...
Bamboo
$3,160Sale Price|20% Off
Solid Teak Hand Carved Colonial Whatnot Rack with Shelves & Drawers
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
British Colonial solid Teak whatnot stand with shelves in good condition. Hand carved fluted vase columns with crown moulding and drawers. Brass ha...
Teak
19th Century British Colonial Shelf
Located in High Point, NC
19th century British Colonial shelf made from teak. There are tall hand turned finials on the top over three shelves, all with scalloped galleries...
Teak
Vintage Three Tiered Caned British Colonial Style Stand
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Handsome vintage British colonial style stand crafted in mahogany with three caned tiers on classic turned supports.
Mahogany
Brass Faux Bamboo Adjustable 4 Shelf Plant Stand
Located in Pasadena, TX
This plant stand has 4 shelves of which 3 are adjustable. Each shelf has a 10" round glass shelf. It's made in the Hollywood Regency style. It's made of brass in the faux bamboo style.
Brass
$240
H 42.33 in W 19.1 in D 13.55 in
Vintage 4 Tier Freestanding Corner Whatnot Shelves Bookcase Display Stand
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
Here we have for sale this vintage 4 tier freestanding corner Whatnot bookcase, shelves, display stand. Perfect for the corner of any room to stand book...
Bamboo, Pine
$4,800
H 72 in W 82 in D 16.5 in
Mid Century Danish Modern Wall Unit with Shelves & Cabinets with Desk in Teak
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A large Scandinavian wall unit circa 1960's. It features teak wood finish with a drop down center desk. The unit is totally modular and can arra...
Teak
$2,445Sale Price|25% Off
H 37.01 in W 20.08 in D 15.16 in
Antique English Victorian Carved Mahogany Whatnot Etagere Shelves C.1880
Located in London, GB
Antique English Victorian carved mahogany whatnot Etagere C.1880 A late Victorian mahogany whatnot, of three open tiers, with finials, a fret carved t...
Mahogany
Bamboo Rattan Decorative Shelf Etagere
By Ficks Reed, McGuire
Located in Rockaway, NJ
Bamboo Rattan decorative shelf Etagere.
Bamboo, Rattan, Reed
19th Century English Etagere
Located in Nashville, TN
This beautiful etagere, or trolley, is perfect for your next dinner party! Four levels of shelves provide room for several courses, while the small wheels, which move effortlessly, a...
Wood
19th Century English Etagere
Located in Nashville, TN
This is a beautiful mid 19th century English etagere with four shelves. Nicely turned legs resting on the original brass and white marble casters and beautiful patina and age. These ...
Wood
$2,122
H 27.56 in W 56.7 in D 11.23 in
Large Teakwood Italian Mid-Century Modern hanging shelf attributed to Isa
By ISA Bergamo
Located in Varese, Lombardia
This hanging shelf was produced in Italy around the 1950s. It is made from teakwood and remains in overall good condition. Shelf is part of a 1950s furniture made in part with furnit...
Teak
English Victorian Bamboo Corner Étagère
Located in Hudson, NY
This lovely small étagère is part of a large type of export furniture made from the sea trade between east and west cultures in the 19th centuries, circa 1870. The structure is of im...
Bamboo
Vintage Bamboo Tall Ladder Style Etagere Display Stand
Located in Doylestown, PA
Slim and tall bamboo ladder style etagere with six graduated shelves. This is a sharp looking and versatile stand great for adding a touch of desirable bamboo to your interior style...
Bamboo
Antique Tramp Art Hand Carved Walnut Foldable Letter/Magazine Rack
Located in Douglas Manor, NY
1552 Hand carved black walnut tramp art antique foldable wall letter/paper rack
Hardwood
$481Sale Price|29% Off
H 33.47 in W 25.6 in D 11.42 in
Mid-Century Modern 1960 Sought after Freestanding Tomado Rack, 3 teak shelves
By Tomado
Located in Markington, GB
Sought after freestanding Tomado rack in very good vintage condition, this rack comes with two black metal laddders and three wooden (teak) shelves . A real rarity and very collectab...
Metal
Vintage Tortoise Rattan Étagère / Open Shelving Unit
Located in North Fort Myers, FL
Beautiful vintage tortoise-finished rattan shelving unit, featuring an airy open design with woven rattan shelf surfaces and classic bamboo-style construction. The warm tortoise fini...
Rattan
Sold
H 74 in W 36 in D 18 in
British Colonial Style Bamboo, Cane, and Rattan Freestanding Shelf/ Etagere
By Bloomingdale's, Maitland Smith
Located in St.Petersburg, FL
A gorgeous room divider or étagère composed of bamboo, rattan, and cane shelves. Featuring 4 surfaces, a larger drawer and 3 smaller drawers. A very nice piece that could work with v...
Bamboo, Cane, Rattan
Vintage British Colonial Style Three Tiered Stand
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Handsome vintage British colonial stand or table crafted in mahogany with two drawers in the top case over two caned lower tiers having turned and twisted supports on turned feet.
Mahogany
Antique British Colonial Four Tiered Etagere
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Handsome 19th century British colonial etagere handcrafted in mahogany with finials at the top over four tiers with galleries and classic turn...
Porcelain, Mahogany
Sold
H 47 in W 13.5 in D 13.5 in
Pair of Vintage British Colonial Style Caned Tiered Stands or Etageres
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Impressive pair of mid century British Colonial stands or etageres crafted in fruit wood with framed tops over three caned tiers with turned supports.
Cane, Fruitwood
Vintage rustic classical style bookcase/cabinet
Located in Allentown, PA
This is a large late 20th century rustic classical style bookcase/cabinet. This bookcase has a classical form with fluted style columns on oth...
Wood
Carved Teak Wall Bracket Shelves with Original Paint
Located in Nantucket, MA
Lovely hand carved teak wall brackets with an acanthus leaf and scroll design. With the original pewter paint. The teak shelves on top have been added, circa 1940s, Colonial British....
Teak
Spindle Sided Mahogany Bookcase Shelves, 1970's
Located in Nantucket, MA
Three-tiered mahogany bookcase shelving with bobbin or spindle sides and finial tops. The shelves all have a scalloped-edged lip. 1950's Colonial British.
Mahogany
19th Century Anglo Japanese Tiger Bamboo Shelving Cabinet
Located in Petworth,West Sussex, GB
A very decorative 19th century, Anglo Japanese style tiger bamboo shelving cabinet. Rectangular top with three internal fixed shelves. This beautiful and unusual cabinet has lacquered and hand decorated painted designs to each shelf. Good condition rattan sides and a solid wooden back. in Very good condition. The dimensions are: Height: 135cm (53.1in) Width: 69cm (27.2in) Depth: 34cm (13.4in) This Victorian period Anglo Japanese bamboo shelving unit...
Bamboo, Lacquer
Sold
H 34.5 in W 24 in D 13 in
Maitland Smith Tooled Leather Library Books Hanging Corner Shelf Cabinet
Located in Dayton, OH
A rare vintage Maitland Smith hanging cabinet, Circa 1980s. Features a beautiful tooled leather brown and gold trimmed case with faux library books for cabinet doors. Opens to a colo...
Leather, Hardwood
Pair of Regency Style Etageres
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Pair of tall mid century etageres crafted in walnut with a desirable slim profile in classic form with contrived aging. The six shelves are caned under glass.
Cane, Walnut
Three Tiered Rolling Server or Etagere
Located in Palm Beach, FL
19th century English three tiered server or etagere crafted in well grained mahogany with two drawers in the center, four turned and beaded support columns with matching beaded finia...
Mahogany