British Colonial Folk Art
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
English Victorian Brass and Wood Cane
Located in Queens, NY
English Victorian wood cane with brass ball top and diamond hole design.
Category
19th Century British Antique British Colonial Folk Art
Materials
Brass
Antique Victorian Cast Iron Bookbinding Press Screw Nipping Press
Located in Tyler, TX
EXCELLENT Antique Victorian Cast Iron Book Press~~c. 19th century
Beautiful decorative Victorian era green book press nipping press
13" tall x...
Category
Late 19th Century English Antique British Colonial Folk Art
Materials
Iron
Antique British Colonial Heart Form Sailors Valentine
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Charming 19th Century English heart form sailors valentine ambitiously handcrafted with exotic seashells around a sailboat image as seen through a glass lens.
Category
Late 19th Century English Antique British Colonial Folk Art
Materials
Shell
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 Folk Art
Materials
Brass
Antique American Country Clothes Iron
Located in Queens, NY
American Country-style (19th Century) wrought iron clothes iron with wood handle
Category
19th Century American Antique British Colonial Folk Art
Materials
Iron
Rustic Country Carved Wooden Yoke
Located in Queens, NY
Rustic Country-style carved wooden yoke mounted as a wall decoration.
Category
19th Century Unknown Antique British Colonial Folk Art
Hanging Wicker Monkey after Mario Lopez Torres
By Mario Torres
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
A small hanging wicker monkey holding a grouping of leaves. This cute brown monkey is created from wicker and features arms and legs which are bent so t...
Category
20th Century American British Colonial Folk Art
Materials
Wicker, Rattan, Paint
Painted Wrought Iron Anchor
Located in Queens, NY
Painted wrought iron anchor
Category
19th Century Unknown Antique British Colonial Folk Art
Materials
Iron
Walking stick
By Cleghorn of Edinburgh
Located in Glasgow, GB
This is a very fine example of a late 19th century Briar wood walking stick from an Edinburgh workshop in Scotland .
More used as an object of status than a walking stick but except...
Category
Late 19th Century Scottish Antique British Colonial Folk Art
Materials
Bog Wood
$521
Zulu Walking stick
By Zulu
s
Located in Glasgow, GB
A beautiful example of a Colonial Walking stick by the Zulu people of South Africa . Carved from local wood in the form of a Cricket Ball caught in the hand of the owner.
A beautif...
Category
1920s Vintage British Colonial Folk Art
Materials
Wood
Oil on Canvas The Smoke 0f Battle signed J.C.Ambrose
Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight
Oil on Canvas The Smoke 0f Battle signed J.C.Ambrose
This is a Large Oil Painting on canvas, it is framed and has a brass plaque with the title of the painting
Painted in the 20th C...
Category
1960s Vintage British Colonial Folk Art
Materials
Canvas
Carved Wood Colorful Life Size Palm Tree Sculpture
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Extraordinary tall vintage palm tree sculpture handcrafted in wood carved and paint decorated with leaves, coconuts, trunk, and weighted terra firma base.
Category
20th Century Balinese British Colonial Folk Art
Materials
Hardwood, Paint
Trench Art
Located in Glasgow, GB
These two fine egg cups are excellent examples of Trench Art from World War 1 . Expertly worked from two smaller shell casings . Crafted from US shell casings by a member of the Brit...
Category
1910s British Vintage British Colonial Folk Art
Materials
Brass
$467
Man of the Sandwich Islands, with His Helmet J. Webber del. J.K. Sherwin Sc.
By John Webber
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
An English 18 century engraving titled "Man of the Sandwich Islands, with his helmet " signed .J. Webber del. J.K. Sherwin sc. The subject was sk...
Category
Late 18th Century English Antique British Colonial Folk Art
Materials
Paper
$1,200 Sale Price
20% Off
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 Folk Art
Materials
Terracotta
$6,350 / set
Dressed Navy Sculpture, Floor Lamp A Fibreglass mannequin in 19th Century dress
Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight
Dressed Navy Sculpture, Floor Lamp
A Fibreglass mannequin in 19th Century dressed uniform, set on a pipework frame and topped with a hanging brass light, the mannequin is dated 1805...
Category
1960s Vintage British Colonial Folk Art
Materials
Fiberglass
Related Items
British Sailor
s Woolwork of Three Royal Navy Ships, Circa 1885
Located in Downingtown, PA
British sailor's woolwork of three royal navy ships
Circa 1885
The British sailor woolwork depicts an unusual scene of three different types of Royal Navy Ships which are all flying the White...
Category
1880s English Antique British Colonial Folk Art
Materials
Wool
Sailor
s Keepsake: Edwardian Shellwork Valentine Diorama of Ship
Located in Downingtown, PA
Sailor's Keepsake: Edwardian Shellwork Valentine Diorama 🐚
________________________________________
This is a charming and historically evocative Edwardian Shellwork Diorama, a clas...
Category
Late 19th Century English Antique British Colonial Folk Art
Materials
Shell
British Sailor
s Woolwork of Royal Navy Ship off Land, Signed
Dated WR 1865
Located in Downingtown, PA
British Sailor's Woolwork of Royal Navy Ship off Land,
Signed & Dated WR 1865.
Crafted with meticulous detail, this charming miniature woolwork depicts a Royal Navy ship sailing nea...
Category
Mid-19th Century Antique British Colonial Folk Art
Materials
Wool
$3,750
H 11 in W 14.75 in D 0.75 in
Cast Iron Horse Doorstop Signed Hunter
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Cast iron horse doorstop Signed Hunter.
Copyright 1949. VA Metal Crafters, Waynesboro, VA.
Category
20th Century American British Colonial Folk Art
Materials
Iron
19th Century English Sword Cane
Located in Coeur d
Alene, ID
English sword cane with a fine toledo blade that measures approximately 27 1/2". Triangular blade marked "Toledo" on the ricasso and is beautifully decorated with etched and fire blued panels which also exhibit areas of gold wash. The decorations travel for about half the length of the blade. The cane measures approximately 35 1/2" and features a nice scalloped and flowered decoration with brass ferrule. Good condition. Blade remains bright and locks into scabbard properly. Nice patina to handle.
PERIOD: Late 19th Century
ORIGIN: English
SIZE: 35 1/2" x 5"
Check out our large selection of 19th and 20th Century canes including sword canes and gun canes...
Category
19th Century English Antique British Colonial Folk Art
Materials
Brass
British Sailor
s Woolwork with Port Side view of Ram-bowed Royal Navy Ship
Located in Downingtown, PA
Iron and Thread: A Sailor's Vision of the Ram-Bow Era
This striking 19th-century sailor’s woolwork, or "woolie," captures the essence of a rapidly modernizing Royal Navy, depicting a warship whose very design speaks to an era of dramatic technological change. Crafted with painstaking detail from colored yarns, this textile artwork is a superb example of the folk art traditionally made by British sailors during their long hours at sea , between journeys or in retirement.
Dimensions: 19 inches high x 18 1/8 inches wide x 2 inches deep.
Historical Context: The Dawn of the Ironclads
The vessel illustrated is a powerful, sail-assisted steam warship, but what makes her distinctive is the pronounced, jutting ram-bow visible at her waterline. This feature was a direct consequence of the rise of ironclad warships in the mid-19th century, following the tactical use of ramming during the American Civil War and the Austro-Italian War. The ram-bow was incorporated into new British warship designs from the 1860s onward, turning the bow itself into a formidable weapon.
Dating to circa 1880, this woolie belongs to a period when the Royal Navy was building large, powerful capital ships—the very ships that carried the ram. The ship is accurately shown flying the White Ensign, the distinguishing flag of a commissioned Royal Navy warship, and a long white masthead pennant, confirming her status as a vessel in active commission. The simple, bold execution of the ship, set against a classic background of sea and segmented land, creates a work of remarkable visual strength.
A Unique Square Presentation
The woolwork is notable for its unusual and attractive near-square format, offering a distinct aesthetic among nautical woolies...
Category
Late 19th Century Antique British Colonial Folk Art
Materials
Wool
$3,250
H 19 in W 18.13 in D 2 in
British Sailor
s Large Woolwork of a Royal Navy Ship Under Full Sail
Located in Downingtown, PA
Seafaring Artistry: A British Sailor's Woolwork of a Royal Navy Ship,
Circa 1865–75
This remarkable British sailor's woolwork, or "wool...
Category
Mid-19th Century English Antique British Colonial Folk Art
Materials
Wool
$6,250
H 22 in W 29.5 in D 1.5 in
Antique Stag Horn Handle American Walking Stick Circa 1900
Located in Incline Village, NV
Highly figured stag horn handle, turn of the 19th century walking stick with a round walnut shaft in original finish and wide 1 3/16" silver banded collar wrapped around the upper sh...
Category
Early 1900s American Antique British Colonial Folk Art
Materials
Silver
Sailor
s Woolwork (Woolie) with Heart Valentine and Flag Surround
Located in Downingtown, PA
Sailor's Flag of Nations Woolwork with Heart Valentine and Flag Surround,
Circa 1880
The distinctive British sailor's woolwork or woolie showcases a flag designed in a patriotic sty...
Category
1880s English Antique British Colonial Folk Art
Materials
Wool
American Country Rustic Painted Bull-Form Cast Iron Door Stop
Located in Queens, NY
American Country rustic-style cast iron doorstop in the shape of a bull, with a beige and black painted finish.
Category
Early 20th Century American British Colonial Folk Art
Materials
Iron
Danish 19th Century Antique Copper Cake Baking Mold Form
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Scandinavian antique copper cake baking mold pan in an intricate tiered design. This Danish cake mold was found at a flea market north of Copenhagen.
Cake...
Category
Late 19th Century Scandinavian Antique British Colonial Folk Art
Materials
Copper
19th Century Large Sailor
s Valentine in Mahogany Case, circa 1880
Located in Nantucket, MA
Antique Large Sailor's Valentine in Mahogany Case, circa 1880, a hand-crafted shell collage with heart and rosebuds pattern within an eight-pointed star, set in a large mahogany octa...
Category
1880s Bajan Antique British Colonial Folk Art
Materials
Shell, Wood
$4,800
H 13.63 in W 13.5 in D 1.5 in
Previously Available Items
Two Antique Star Form Sailors Valentines
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Enchanting pair of 19th Century British Colonial sailors valentines handcrafted in exotic seashells ambitiously arranged around a convex lens displaying maritime images of a row boat...
Category
Late 19th Century English Antique British Colonial Folk Art
Materials
Shell
Vintage Elephant Weathervane
Located in Palm Beach, FL
The African Elephant is a New England Weathervane Shop original. This elephant is a Lee Webber original vane as featured on Channel 5 Boston's Chronicle. Lee Webber is mentioned in s...
Category
Mid-20th Century American British Colonial Folk Art
Materials
Brass
1940s Wood Himachal Pot
Located in Roma, IT
1940s Wood Himachal Pot
This seemingly simple wooden vase is a design object of infinite beauty and elegance that can be placed in either an antique or a modern or contemporary set...
Category
Mid-20th Century Indian British Colonial Folk Art
Materials
Wood
Very Rare Gigantic Champion Cricket Bat, Trade Sign
Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight
Very Rare Gigantic Champion Cricket Bat, Trade Sign
This is an unusual piece it is in remarkably good condition, it is made in Ash by the manufacturer to be used as an advertising piece...
Category
Mid-20th Century British Colonial Folk Art
Materials
Ash
Pair of Italian Tole Flower Garnitures
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Rustic pair of Italian Tole or Painted metal lilies in full bloom with leaves and bulbs having acquired a perfect oxidized finish.
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian British Colonial Folk Art
Materials
Metal
Royal Navy “Grog Tub”, Oak and Brass Sailor’s Rum Barrel
Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight
Royal Navy “Grog Tub”, Oak and brass sailor’s rum barrel
A super piece of British history, the barrel known as a “Grog Tub” was used to carry the Navy Rum ...
Category
Mid-20th Century British Colonial Folk Art
Materials
Oak
Pericles Sailing Vessel Lidded Hand-Painted Chest
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Chest depicts the Pericles, Aberdeen built sailing vessel. Ship was built in 1877, chest is mid 19th century and I'm guessing the painting was done 50-7...
Category
Late 19th Century American Antique British Colonial Folk Art
Materials
Wood
Tall African Wood Carved Giraffe Statue, Kenya
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
A tall carved wooden Giraffe statue from Kenya. This will be a fun addition to any space. We see it in a nursery or in a foyer.
Dimensions:
36.5" t...
Category
20th Century Kenyan British Colonial Folk Art
Materials
Wood, Paint
17th/18th Century Fine Antique Portrait of a Gentleman Oil on Canvas
Located in Manhasset, NY
17th/18th century fine antique portrait of a gentleman oil on canvas. This spectacular oil on canvas leaves no attention to detail undo...
Category
1790s English Antique British Colonial Folk Art
Materials
Canvas, Giltwood
19th Century British Royal Guard Leather Bronze English Suitcase
Located in Madrid, ES
English suitcase belonging to the British Royal guard destined for India. Made of thick leather with bronze clasp and applications. Inscription on ...
Category
Mid-19th Century English Antique British Colonial Folk Art
Materials
Bronze
William Skilling Oil Painting on Canvas of a Leopard
By William Skilling
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Oil painting on canvas of a chained leopard. Folk Art painting in the Victorian parlor style intentional aging and distressing. Signed William Skilling in the lower right.
Category
Mid-20th Century British Colonial Folk Art
Materials
Canvas
1800s British Sailors Sea Chest Trunk Painted Whaling Scene Flags Rope Beckets
Located in Hyattsville, MD
Antique British monogrammed sailors sea chest / trunk with original very detailed braided rope beckets. Red Ensign post 1801 Flag on right. Trunk tapers fr...
Category
19th Century British Antique British Colonial Folk Art
Materials
Wood
H 16.63 in W 36 in D 18 in
British Colonial folk art for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a broad range of unique British Colonial folk art for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the Mid-20th Century, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage folk art created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include folk art, decorative objects, more furniture and collectibles and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with metal, paint and other materials. If you’re shopping for used British Colonial folk art made in a specific country, there are Europe, England, and Italy pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original folk art, popular names associated with this style include and John Webber. 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 folk art differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $180 and tops out at $10,800 while the average work can sell for $3,525.
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