Vintage British Colonial Chairs
20th Century Japanese British Colonial Vintage British Colonial Chairs
Wicker
20th Century American British Colonial Vintage British Colonial Chairs
Bamboo, Wicker
1980s Indonesian British Colonial Vintage British Colonial Chairs
Cane, Teak
1970s Unknown British Colonial Vintage British Colonial Chairs
Bamboo
Late 20th Century American British Colonial Vintage British Colonial Chairs
Upholstery, Cherry
Mid-20th Century Caribbean British Colonial Vintage British Colonial Chairs
Cane, Mahogany
20th Century Asian British Colonial Vintage British Colonial Chairs
Mahogany
Late 20th Century American British Colonial Vintage British Colonial Chairs
Brass
Late 20th Century Philippine British Colonial Vintage British Colonial Chairs
Cane, Reed
20th Century Indonesian Campaign Vintage British Colonial Chairs
Faux Bamboo
Late 20th Century Philippine British Colonial Vintage British Colonial Chairs
Bamboo, Rattan
Late 20th Century American British Colonial Vintage British Colonial Chairs
Bamboo, Wicker, Reed
20th Century Anglo-Indian Vintage British Colonial Chairs
Upholstery, Teak
1990s American British Colonial Vintage British Colonial Chairs
Leather
Mid-20th Century Indian British Colonial Vintage British Colonial Chairs
Cane, Teak
20th Century British Colonial Vintage British Colonial Chairs
Rosewood
20th Century British Colonial Vintage British Colonial Chairs
Upholstery
20th Century Indian British Colonial Vintage British Colonial Chairs
Teak, Cane
Mid-20th Century Indian British Colonial Vintage British Colonial Chairs
Fabric, Teak
1990s British Colonial Vintage British Colonial Chairs
Cotton, Mahogany
20th Century American British Colonial Vintage British Colonial Chairs
1960s Philippine British Colonial Vintage British Colonial Chairs
Upholstery, Rattan
Mid-20th Century American British Colonial Vintage British Colonial Chairs
Rattan
20th Century American British Colonial Vintage British Colonial Chairs
Mid-20th Century Unknown British Colonial Vintage British Colonial Chairs
Brass
1960s American British Colonial Vintage British Colonial Chairs
Wood
20th Century Indian British Colonial Vintage British Colonial Chairs
Mahogany
Mid-20th Century American British Colonial Vintage British Colonial Chairs
Wood
1960s Philippine British Colonial Vintage British Colonial Chairs
Grasscloth, Faux Bamboo
20th Century British British Colonial Vintage British Colonial Chairs
Rosewood
Mid-20th Century Philippine British Colonial Vintage British Colonial Chairs
Bamboo, Rattan
20th Century English British Colonial Vintage British Colonial Chairs
Leather
Mid-20th Century British Colonial Vintage British Colonial Chairs
Teak
1960s Philippine British Colonial Vintage British Colonial Chairs
Late 20th Century British British Colonial Vintage British Colonial Chairs
Iron
1960s American British Colonial Vintage British Colonial Chairs
Wood, Upholstery
1940s British British Colonial Vintage British Colonial Chairs
Leather
1960s Danish British Colonial Vintage British Colonial Chairs
Leather, Wicker, Rattan
Late 20th Century Philippine British Colonial Vintage British Colonial Chairs
Grasscloth, Faux Bamboo
Mid-20th Century Macanese British Colonial Vintage British Colonial Chairs
Grasscloth, Bamboo
Mid-20th Century Indian British Colonial Vintage British Colonial Chairs
Cane, Mahogany
Mid-20th Century British Colonial Vintage British Colonial Chairs
Canvas, Teak
Late 20th Century American British Colonial Vintage British Colonial Chairs
Upholstery, Walnut
1980s American British Colonial Vintage British Colonial Chairs
Upholstery, Mahogany
20th Century American British Colonial Vintage British Colonial Chairs
1980s American British Colonial Vintage British Colonial Chairs
Upholstery, Mahogany
20th Century English British Colonial Vintage British Colonial Chairs
Paint, Wood
20th Century British Colonial Vintage British Colonial Chairs
Cane, Rattan, Wood
1980s British Colonial Vintage British Colonial Chairs
Oak
20th Century Philippine British Colonial Vintage British Colonial Chairs
Bamboo
Late 20th Century British Colonial Vintage British Colonial Chairs
Oak
20th Century English British Colonial Vintage British Colonial Chairs
Chenille, Wood
Late 20th Century American British Colonial Vintage British Colonial Chairs
Metal
Mid-20th Century American British Colonial Vintage British Colonial Chairs
Rattan
Mid-20th Century Vintage British Colonial Chairs
Cane, Mahogany
Late 20th Century Indian Anglo-Indian Vintage British Colonial Chairs
Wicker, Rattan
Mid-20th Century Indian Anglo-Indian Vintage British Colonial Chairs
Wicker, Paint
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Vintage British Colonial Chairs For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much are Vintage British Colonial Chairs?
A Close Look at British-colonial Furniture
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.
Finding the Right Seating for You
With entire areas of our homes reserved for “sitting rooms,” the value of quality antique and vintage seating cannot be overstated.
Fortunately, the design of side chairs, armchairs and other lounge furniture — since what were, quite literally, the early perches of our ancestors — has evolved considerably.
Among the earliest standard seating furniture were stools. Egyptian stools, for example, designed for one person with no seat back, were x-shaped and typically folded to be tucked away. These rudimentary chairs informed the design of Greek and Roman stools, all of which were a long way from Sori Yanagi's Butterfly stool or Alvar Aalto's Stool 60. In the 18th century and earlier, seats with backs and armrests were largely reserved for high nobility.
The seating of today is more inclusive but the style and placement of chairs can still make a statement. Antique desk chairs and armchairs designed in the style of Louis XV, which eventually included painted furniture and were often made of rare woods, feature prominently curved legs as well as Chinese themes and varied ornaments. Much like the thrones of fairy tales and the regency, elegant lounges crafted in the Louis XV style convey wealth and prestige. In the kitchen, the dining chair placed at the head of the table is typically reserved for the head of the household or a revered guest.
Of course, with luxurious vintage or antique furnishings, every chair can seem like the best seat in the house. Whether your preference is stretching out on a plush sofa, such as the Serpentine, designed by Vladimir Kagan, or cozying up in a vintage wingback chair, there is likely to be a comfy classic or contemporary gem for you on 1stDibs.
With respect to the latest obsessions in design, cane seating has been cropping up everywhere, from sleek armchairs to lounge chairs, while bouclé fabric, a staple of modern furniture design, can be seen in mid-century modern, Scandinavian modern and Hollywood Regency furniture styles.
Admirers of the sophisticated craftsmanship and dark woods frequently associated with mid-century modern seating can find timeless furnishings in our expansive collection of lounge chairs, dining chairs and other items — whether they’re vintage editions or alluring official reproductions of iconic designs from the likes of Hans Wegner or from Charles and Ray Eames. Shop our inventory of Egg chairs, designed in 1958 by Arne Jacobsen, the Florence Knoll lounge chair and more.
No matter your style, the collection of unique chairs, sofas and other seating on 1stDibs is surely worthy of a standing ovation.