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British Colonial Furniture

Said by Karl Marx to be the greatest civilising force in history the British Empire held vast tracts of the earth, built up over a period of three centuries. At its peak the empire's dominion extended to all continents with about a quarter of the world's population and area under its control.

By the Victorian era of the mid to late 19th century the imperial British had extended their empire around to more exotic parts of the world, from Singapore to East Africa, from India to the British West Indies. With them, they brought their language, their ideas on government, their peculiar customs, and of course their furniture and designs. The Victorian era was a rather formal time and the British, although they enjoyed traveling to the distant outposts of the Empire, were often loathe to forego the comforts of home. As a result they brought the solid and sturdy furniture designs of England and adapted them to the tropics. Along the way, they adapted Asian and African motifs into those traditional designs. This melange became British Colonial style and it is easily recognized by its sturdy, yet sometimes fanciful pieces, of teak and mahogany as well as its use of rattan, leather, and animal prints.

Hardwoods, such as teak and mahogany, were particularly suited to the humid climates of the Empire. Unlike softer woods, like pine, that tended to warp in the tropical humidity, these woods stood up to the most extreme conditions and were readily available in most of the colonies. Often furniture was carved by native craftsmen using British designs, and you'll frequently find little flourishes of Asian, Caribbean, or African art, intermixed with the original carving. If one looks carefully at that mahogany four-postered bed, you'll notice, perhaps, a carved pineapple atop the posts.

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Brazilian Furniture

Handmade in Brazil, our furniture is crafted from rare antique Brazilian hardwoods reclaimed from abandoned 18th and 19th estates and haciendas. Deep in the heart of Brazil, talented craftsmen in our workshops transform former walls, ceilings, and flooring into our functional, one-of-a-kind
works of art.

Attention to detail and 18th century techniques are present in every step of the process, from the brushstrokes painted on our polychromed pieces to the hand forged hardware shaped by master metal smiths.

Capturing the romance and rhythms of Brazil, our collections add exotic sophistication to any ambiance. Be prepared to fall in love.

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Dutch Colonial Teak

Plantation Doors

early 19th century, Java

In the late 19th Century, Java was in great transition, and with the expansion of Dutch rule significant changes were made to Javanese architecture. These Antique Teak doors were made from 400-year trees commissioned and carved for an historic Javanese Plantation in Surabaya, Java.

Antique teak wood has lost moisture naturally over time, it's more stable than new woods and is typically more durable. How to integrate late 19th century Dutch Colonial Plantation Doors?

THINK: Entries to Homes, Barns, Cottages as well as Gates to Gardens & Pools. Doors welcome guests and announce your style. Make a statement with unique solid wood exterior doors; gates create a sense of space, add privacy and enhance garden and pool areas.

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Country Life: A Celebration

of Sport & the Countryside

An exceptional collection of English and American paintings, watercolors, prints and bronzes depicting scenes of racing, fox hunting, steeplechase, polo, coaching, shooting, hawking and fishing by well known artists and others recently discovered.

Cecil Aldin, Henry Alken, John Beer, Mary Bridgman, Paul Brown, Unity Bush, Juliet Cursham, Antoine de la Boulaye, Tsolmon Damba, Tom Donlon, Jane Dunn, Lionel Edwards, Oliver Ellwood, Alexis England, George Finch Mason, George Ford Morris, Ruth Gibbons, Roland Greene, Dawn Hardy Williams, Peggy Kauffman, Marguerite Kirmse, Henry Koehler, Kathy Landman, Alejandro Moy, Sir Alfred J. Munnings, Michael Antonio Poncé, Patricia Powers, Philip Rathner, Richard Stone Reeves, Hubert de Watrigant, John Alfred Wheeler, Thomas Whitehead.

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Tibetan Furniture

Cabinets are perhaps the most popular of Tibetan furniure for the ease with which they can be adapted into a modern home. With the cabinets, particularly, the artists of the day could give free reign to their aesthetic inspiration, without the iconographic constraints of religious art. Therefore, the cabinets offer a wide variety of decorations, from floral patterns, geometric designs and Buddhist auspicious symbols, to pictorial representations of popular stories.

Tibetan monastic boxes or chests were originally used in the store rooms of monasteries. They were also commissioned by the monastic authorities themselves, and would have been painted by the thankha painters of that monastery. Often large amounts of gold and the best mineral colours were used in the execution, hence some of the best examples of Tibetan furniture decoration are found on
these chests.

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