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.
English Country Brass Horn Bouillotte Lamp with Black Tole Shade
Located in Elkhart, IN
A classic bouillotte lamp rendered in warm brass, distinguished by its sculptural double horn base and clean, tailored black tole shade. The form traces back to 18th-century French c...
Metal, Brass
Pair of British Colonial Style Tole and Rope Double Palm Tree Lamps
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Pair of British Colonial-Style Tole and Rope Double Palm Tree Lamps A charming and highly decorative pair of British Colonial-style double palm tree table lamps, crafted in painted ...
Metal
Tall English Barley Twist Brass Candlestick Wired as Electric Table Lamp
Located in New York, NY
Impressive brass barley twist candlestick, converted to an electric table lamp. The candlestick was made in England, it was later drilled for the wire, and mounted on a wood plint...
Brass
$1,832Sale Price / item|20% Off
21st Hamilton Table Lamp Walnut Rattan Handmade in Portugal by Wood Tailors
Located in RIO TINTO, PT
Lord Claud John Hamilton was a British Member of parliament during the Victorian Era. Hamilton was also a member of the oldest and prestigious gentlemen's club of London, the White’s...
Brass
Rare! Early Maitland Smith Custom English Brass Table Lamp Spears Motif
Located in Peoria, AZ
Gorgeous! Maitland Smith Custom Brass Speat Tripod Table Lamp Amazing British Colonial Style! This one of a kind Maitland Smith lamp is an iconic example of British Colonial Style...
Brass, Steel
Waterford Style Small Petite Cut Glass Brass Boudoir Table Lamp by Great Creator
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Waterford Style Small Petite Cut Glass & Brass Boudoir Table Lamp by Great Creator. Circa Late 20th Century. Measurements: 8" H x 3.5" W x 3.5" D. {3-Way (Yes)}, (Location: Section 2...
Glass
$490Sale Price|30% Off
Maitland Smith Tessellated Faux Tortoise Chrome Candlestick Buffet Table Lamp
Located in Dayton, OH
Vintage Maitland Smith 1996 modern candlestick table lamp featuring four chrome legs bound with brass wire, supporting an ovoid / egg shape of tessellated horn, topped with brass can...
Brass, Chrome
$7,500 / set
Pair of Brass Palm Tree Table Lamps
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Chic mid century modern pair of table lamps crafted in brass in a stylized palm tree form on an octagon ebonized wood base. Best of the genre.
Brass
$5,700 / set
Pair of Rattan Lamps and Shades
Located in East Hampton, NY
A beautiful pair of rattan and brass lamps....
Brass
A Custom British Colonial-Style Teak Table Lamp
Located in Chicago, IL
Custom-made in Thailand, this new table lamp is crafted from solid teak. Its tall, columnar base is inspired by the turned posts of British Colonial bed frames, with repeated rings, ...
Teak
Mid-century solid brass obelisk lamp after Chapman
Located in Allentown, PA
This is a handsome mid-century vintage library style solid brass obelisk lamp. This obelisk lamp has a pedestal with four ball feet, holding up the obelisk with a metal black lacquer...
Brass
Antique Kashmiri Painted Table Lamp 19th Century Indian
Located in Hastings, GB
A late 19th century barley twist Kashmiri table lamp (originally a candlestick but now updated as a lamp), with the original intricate hand painte...
Wood
Pair of Antique Porcelain Lamp
Located in Dallas, TX
This listing features a pair of porcelain plug-in lamps that are mostly like from the 20th century and likely originate from the United Kingdom or similar areas in Europe. On one l...
Brass
$3,950 / set
Pair of Horn Veneer Table Lamps
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Dashing pair of midcentury table lamps featuring Horn veneer mosaic bodies and finished with Classic nickel plated metal tops and feet.
Nickel
A Pair of Large Bronze Coloured Toleware Table Lamps
Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight
A Pair of Large Bronze Coloured Toleware Table Lamps These Large Stunning Lamps have an Armorial Crest theme they have matching shades, both lamps and shades have a crackle glaze fi...
Tin
Theodore Alexander Meiji Style Crane & Turtle Table Lamp
Located in North Fort Myers, FL
A wonderfully whimsical Theodore Alexander table lamp inspired by Japanese Meiji period decorative arts. The sculptural base features a ...
Brass
Large Vintage Handwoven Rattan and Cane Urn Form Table Lamp
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
A striking large-scale vintage table lamp featuring an intricately handwoven rattan and cane body in an elegant urn-form silhouette. Sculptural and beautifully textural, the lamp is...
Metal
Pair of British Colonial Style Bronze Palm Tree Lamps with Carved Tribal Motifs
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Pair of British Colonial-Style Bronze Palm Tree Lamps with Carved Tribal Motifs A striking and highly decorative pair of British Colonial-style palm tree lamps, executed in a richly...
Bronze
$385Sale Price|30% Off
Maitland Smith Bronze & Shell Mosaic Footed Ginger Jar Urn Table Lamp 30"
Located in Dayton, OH
Vintage Maitland Smith table in the shape of a tall ginger jar / urn featuring a white shell mosaic in a scalloped feather or leaf vein pa...
Bronze
$2,900 / set
Vintage Pair of Deer Hoof Table Lamps
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Vintage pair of custom English deer hoof table lamps with silver plated candle cups and hardware, presented on custom double plinths. Newly wired. Poss...
Animal Skin
Mid-Century Pair of Italian Metal Palm Tree Table Lamps
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Chic pair of vintage Italian table lamps crafted in iron or metal in a modern stylized design with an aged metal finish.
Metal
$1,486Sale Price / item|20% Off
Lloyd I Table Lamp Hammered Wood Brass Handmade in Portugal By Wood Tailors Club
Located in RIO TINTO, PT
Stepping into the intimate atmosphere of White’s Club private game rooms, where John Lloyd’s sharp intellect and unwavering composure shaped every move, the LloydTable Lamp I transfo...
Brass
$1,550 / set
Vintage Boho Gilt Tipped Monkey Lamps - a Pair
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Illuminate your space with whimsical charm using this pair of Vintage Boho gilt-tipped monkey lamps. With their playful design and luxurious gold accents, these lamps blend quirky el...
Metal
$1,025Sale Price / item|20% Off
21st Century Herschel Table Lamp Walnut Wood Made in Portugal by Wood Tailors
Located in RIO TINTO, PT
Exclusive gentlemen’s club keeps tailoring their prestigious history as new members join the clubs, transmitting them their premium values. As the tradition is passed in the club’s l...
Walnut
Maitland Smith Tesselated Stone Table Lamp, Brass Accent, Square Base
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Maitland Smith Tesselated stone table lamp, brass accent, square base. Lampshade NOT included.
Stone, Brass
Beautiful Antique Cast Brass Bouillotte Lamp with Tole Shade
Located in Hopewell, NJ
A gorgeous cast brass bouillotte style table lamp having ornate serpents that hold up four candle arms with original black tole shade.
Brass
Midcentury Pair of Monumental Palm Tree Table Lamps
Located in Water Mill, NY
Pair of Mid Century Monumental Palm Tree Lamps.
Metal
Bronze Bouillotte Lamp with Red Tole Shade, French, circa 1800
Located in San Francisco, CA
Bronze two light bouillotte lamp with original patina and red tole painted shade with black and green accents. The exterior paint on the shade is original, the interior of the shade ...
Bronze, Tin
$495
H 18 in W 12.5 in D 12.5 in
Waterford “Lismore” Round Cut Crystal Table Lamp-Customized Shade, Brass Base
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
“Lismore” pattern cut crystal round shaped lamp marked Waterford on the socket. It has an off white shade with customized trim by Blanche Fields of Boston. The brass base is marke...
Crystal, Brass
$2,240Sale Price|46% Off
H 36 in W 22 in D 22 in
Palatial Pair of Maitland Smith Bronze Table Lamps with Illuminated Orbs
Located in Hopewell, NJ
Impressive ornate pair of very fancy table lamps having shell orbs that are an additional source of light with a primary single socket above. Bronze lions with rings in their mouths adorn the spheres and the bases have elaborate tripod shapes...
Marble, Bronze
Doric Column Table Lamp, Art DecoStyle, 21st Century
Located in Paris, FR
A beech table lamp shaped as a stylized Doric column. This superb model is inspired by the iconic models of Jean-Michel Frank. Overall height with shade: 75 cm (29 in.1/2) Diameter...
Beech
$3,600 / set
H 8 in W 6 in D 4.5 in
Pair of Petite Brass and Glass Tripod Bedside / Table Lamps by Oscar Torlasco
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Petite bedside/table lamps designed by Oscar Torlasco for Lumen Milano (ca. 1950s, Italy). Composed of deeply sculpted brass curved frames forming a tripod base and a 'cradle' top su...
Brass
$2,090 / item
H 12.6 in Dm 6.3 in
21st Century Anni Trenta Luce Small Table Lamp in Straw-Yellow by Venini
By Venini
Located in murano, IT
Art Nouveau, Charleston, the dawn of a new design era. The 1930s, celebrated by VENINI in 1997 and wistfully recalled with essential and innovative shapes like those that marked the ...
$1,600
H 28.5 in W 20 in D 13 in
Maitland Smith Bronze Figural Elephant Table Lamp Faux Tooled Leather Shade (A)
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Maitland Smith Bronze Figural Elephant Table Lamp Faux Tooled Leather Shade (A). Item features cast bronze figural elephant, remarkable detail, original faux leather tooled shade, ve...
Bronze
$3,800Sale Price / set|20% Off
H 27 in W 21.5 in D 21.5 in
Pair of Maitland-Smith Tessellated Horn and Iron Table Lamps
Located in Chicago, IL
Constructed of tessellated Horn over translucent reinforced resin, cradled in hand-wrought iron bases, ornamented with square brass studs. Single socket illumination from body reflec...
Brass, Iron
Pair of Maitland Smith Veneered Marble and Brass Lamps
Located in Kilmarnock, VA
A striking pair of Postmodern table lamps by Maitland-Smith, featuring veneered pink marble facades with elegant inset brass pinstripes. Boldly geometric and finely constructed, thes...
Marble
Pair of Maitland-Smith Bronze Monkey Ostrich Table Lamps
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Rare and whimsical pair of patinated bronze table lamps by Maitland-Smith depicting a monkey jockey riding a large ostrich. The bronzes are mounted to a dark tessellated stone plinth...
Stone, Bronze
$2,200
H 23 in W 18 in D 7.5 in
Maitland-Smith Bronze Asian Elephant Table Lamp on Serpentine Marble Base
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Maitland-Smith Bronze Asian Elephant Table Lamp on Serpentine Marble Base An elegant bronze elephant table lamp by Maitland-Smith, masterfully modeled after an Asian elephant (Eleph...
Marble, Brass, Bronze
$425
H 23 in W 15 in D 15 in
Vintage French Country Brass Tole Metal Shade Bouillotte Candlestick Table Lamp
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Vintage French Country Brass Tole Metal Shade Bouillotte Candlestick Table Lamp. Circa Late 20th Century. Measurements: 23" H (to finial) x 15" H (to light socket) x 15" W x 15" D. {...
Metal, Brass
English Country Brass Horn Bouillotte Lamp with Black Tole Shade
Located in Elkhart, IN
A classic bouillotte lamp rendered in warm brass, distinguished by its sculptural double horn base and clean, tailored black tole shade. The form traces back to 18th-century French c...
Metal, Brass
Pair of Sculptural Parrot Table Lamps With New Linen Shades
Located in North Fort Myers, FL
Bring a touch of tropical whimsy to any interior with this fabulous pair of sculptural parrot table lamps. Featuring beautifully detailed green parrots pe...
Resin
Antique Kashmiri Painted Table Lamp 19th Century
Located in Hastings, GB
A late 19th century barley twist Kashmiri table lamp (originally a candlestick but now updated as a lamp), with the original intricate hand painte...
Wood
Antique British Leather Coat of Arts Cordite Gunpower Bucket Desk Lamp 35"
Located in Dayton, OH
Vintage British Cordite bucket carry case. Made of leather featuring A cordite bucket, also called a Clarkson Case, is a flash-proof container, typically made of cork, leather, an...
Leather
Sold
H 33.08 in W 11.82 in D 5.91 in
Maitland-Smith Snail Shell Table Lamp in Pen Shell & Bronze, 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 ...
Bronze
Frederick Cooper Bronze Lucky Indian Elephant Howdah Table Lamp 32"
Located in Dayton, OH
Vintage late 20th century Frederick Cooper bronze table lamp in the shape of an Indian elephant draped with gilt saddle blankets with a lucky r...
Bronze
Vintage Maitland Smith Tooled Leather Oxbow Star Foiled Lamp Shade 20"
Located in Dayton, OH
Late 20th century lamp shade by Maitland Smith - Rectangular form with oxbow ends; brown tooled leather with star design at the center and gilt foliate trim. Black and gold foiled in...
Leather
Maitland-Smith Pair of Vintage Coconut Shell Table Lamps
Located in Palm Beach, FL
British colonial style mid century pair of table lamps handcrafted with wrapped twine and a mosaic of coconut shell on a burnt bamboo base with three splayed legs. Signed Maitland-Sm...
Coconut
Pair of British Colonial Style Table Lamps with Elephants
Located in Palm Beach, FL
British Colonial style pair of porcelain table lamps with classic ginger jar form hand decorated with elephants and floral motifs.
Porcelain
Vintage Maitland Smith Oval Leather Faux Caiman Pattern Lamp Shade 20"
Located in Dayton, OH
Vintage Maitland Smith leather lamp shade featuring a tapered oval form with faux Caiman / animal pattern and black gold foiled interior. Dimensions: 20" x 13" x 11"h
Leather
Large Green Hand-Painted English Tea Canister Lamps (Pair)
Located in San Francisco, CA
A pair of late 1800s tole tea tin canisters made into table lamps. They are green with gold trim and finely hand-painted genre scenes in the centers. Newly rewired with dimmers on th...
Metal
Sold
H 16 in W 6.25 in D 11.25 in
Maitland Smith Bronze Marble Tooled Leather Equestrian Horse Table Lamp 24"
Located in Dayton, OH
Vintage figural horse bronze table lamp by Maitland Smith featuring a mare and foal in tableau on a charcoal black marble clad base. Includes hard and rectangular tooled / gilded lea...
Marble, Bronze
Sold
H 39 in W 20 in D 13 in
Vintage Maitland Smith Bronze Monkey Riding Ostrich Table Lamp Leather Shade 39"
Located in Dayton, OH
A charming late 20th century table lamp by Maitland Smith. Features a bronze Ostrich carrying a Monkey. The bronze is over a round tessellated marble base and includes a embossed ost...
Bronze
Pair of Lost Wax Bronze Pineapple Lamps from the Cote d'Ivoire
Located in North Miami, FL
These pineapples were made from the lost wax process in early 20th C. Pineapples are a traditional Western symbol of welcome. They are heavy solid bronze pineapples mounted on a sta...
Bronze
Sold
H 13.25 in W 11 in D 6.5 in
Maitland Smith Bronze Marble Tooled Leather Equestrian Horse Table Lamp 21"
Located in Dayton, OH
Late 20th century figural horse bronze table lamp by Maitland Smith featuring a mare and foal in tableau on a charcoal black marble clad base. Includes hard and rectangular tooled / ...
Marble, Bronze