After the conquest of Mexico in 1521 and the Philippines in 1565, Spain dictated a global culture. The colonization of territories in the Americas, Western Europe, Africa, Oceania and the Pacific imposed the values of Spain, including Catholicism, while the extraction of resources reinforced the empire’s wealth and power. Unlike many styles that came out of European colonialism, such as British Colonial, Spanish Colonial furniture and architecture frequently mixed local heritage with the artistic traditions of Spain.
Spanish Colonial furniture was informed by the shifting styles of Europe as well as Indigenous culture. There were Inca tapestries depicting Spanish coats of arms and Baroque chairs adorned with tropical flora. The butaca, a low easy chair popular in the Caribbean, was inspired by Rococo’s curving forms and the shape of precolonial seating. In New Mexico, Pueblo artisans carved chests with patterns reminiscent of Anasazi art.
Even within the homes of the wealthy, furniture was usually restricted to necessities like benches, desks, cupboards and chests. These were often ornately designed and especially important for storing prized goods like textiles. Spanish Colonial houses were built with adobe and clay and tended to be minimally decorated, so the style’s heavily carved wooden furniture pieces stood out against a home’s white stucco walls.
The Spanish Colonial period mostly came to an end after the territories achieved independence from Spain. However, its aesthetics continued to influence Southwestern style and Spanish Colonial Revival style after Spanish Colonial style was used extensively at San Diego’s 1915 Panama-California Exposition.
Find a collection of antique Spanish Colonial chairs, tables, bedroom furniture and other furniture on 1stDibs.
Vintage Talavera Hand Painted Ceramic Rooster - Unsigned - Mexico - C. 1980's
Located in Chatham, ON
Large vintage Talavera hand painted studio ceramic Rooster - featuring a typical brightly colored multi pattern design - unsigned - Mexico - circa 1980's. Excellent/mint vintage con...
Terracotta
Large Spanish Colonial 18thC Wood Bowl with Later Silver Plated Squirrel Mounts
Located in London, GB
A magnificent rustic Spanish Colonial 18th century wooden bowl adorned with mid-20th century silver plated mounts in the form of a squirrel, m...
Silver Plate
Spanish Wire Don Quixote Figure
Located in Queens, NY
Spanish life size wire figure of Don Quixote on horse (19/20th Cent)
Wire
Midcentury Pair of Wicker Woven Ducks with Wood Details
Located in Miami, FL
Wicker duck from with an intricate woven wicker structure and highlighted with wood wings and a sculpted bill and feet.
Wicker
Antique Handcrafted Hardwood Spanish Horse Sculptures, Circa 1900
Located in Round Top, TX
A striking pair, sold individually, of antique Spanish horse sculptures, handcrafted in hardwood circa 1900. Each horse is carved with expressi...
Wood
Pair of Large Antique Carved Wooden Bull Sculptures Europe Circa 1850-60
Located in London, GB
Impressive pair of carved antique wooden bull sculptures, European, circa 1850 A unusual subject not only well carved body but also this extends ...
Wood, Poplar
Vintage Boho Brutalist Sculpture of Don Quixote De La Mancha
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
This striking vintage Brutalist sculpture portrays the legendary literary figure Don Quixote de la Mancha in a masterclass of mid-century metalwork. Hand-crafted using intricate wire...
Copper, Iron
$1,850
H 35 in W 9.5 in D 9.5 in
19th Century Spanish Colonial Religious Figure In Carved And Polychromed Wood
Located in Bradenton, FL
19th Century Spanish Colonial wood and polychromed hand carved figure of a Santos or possibly Jesus. The practice of creating Santos figures began in Spain and they usually wore orna...
Wood
Large Wood Sculpture of Boddhisatva Head Ming Dynasty
Located in Atlanta, GA
Large antique Chinese carved wood sculpture of a Boddhisattva head circa 16-17th century from Ming Dynasty. Likely part of a full body life-size statue, the head was finely carved, p...
Wood
Large Spanish Horse Woman Porcelain Sculpture by Lladro, 1960s
By Lladro
Located in Barcelona, ES
Large Porcelain Sculpture: Lady on Horse Large Sculpture by Lladró, Spain, 1960s Very rare Lladró "Horsewoman" #1036 Spanish Name "Amazona" Item Number A...
Porcelain
$2,600
H 8.67 in W 7.09 in D 9.65 in
Mexican Ceramic Corn Skull Sculpture Hand Crafted Folk Art Day of the Dead
Located in Queretaro, Queretaro
“My purpose in making this skull is to represent the different types of native maize that since remote times have brought food security to our ancestors, giving them the time to develop the knowledge and arts to the extent they did,” says Mexican ceramist Omar Hernández...
Ceramic, Clay
$1,965 / set
H 24.5 in W 10.5 in D 9.25 in
Collection of Three Mediterranean Spanish Colonial Style Terracotta Jars
Located in Atlanta, GA
A collection of three Mediterranean terracotta jars on custom stands. These vintage terracotta vessels make for a lovely decorative collection, the two taller ones having nicely ribb...
Iron
$400Sale Price|20% Off
H 17.33 in W 13.39 in D 2.76 in
Authentic Talavera Decorative Plate Folk Art Vessel Mexican Ceramic Blue White
By Cesar
Located in Queretaro, Queretaro
Elegant white and blue plate made with the Talavera technique. Artist, Cesar Torres portraits the colonial art of Mexico. The Talavera is not just a simple painted ceramic: its exquisite decoration is the product of a delicate process of alchemy that translates into fine enamels. In Puebla, Mexico few people still produce using Talavera with the ancestral techniques. One of those few is Cesar Torres, Don Cesar learned his art in the workshop of the Uriarte family, an excellent workshop where his grandfather worked. In his creations he uses the black and white mud that is obtained from the nearby hills of Loreto and Guadalupe, and colors of mineral origin that he creates in his workshop with recipes from his grandfather. All the pieces are modeled in a traditional way and go through a production process that usually takes from one to two months, between drying, burning, and painting. Being surrounded by a living tradition, Cesar Torres Jr., learned from his father since childhood. Architect by profession, Cesar Jr. has come to revolutionize and modernize with new designs and ideas of the current world, nevertheless always respecting the tradition of the processes and materials that make Talavera a Creole art...
Clay, Ceramic, Majolica
$4,200
H 86 in W 34 in D 22 in
Monumental Figurative Wire Iron Sculpture, Female Figure Titled "DOMINATRIX
Located in Buffalo, NY
Monumental figurative wire iron sculpture, female figure titled "DOMINATRIX, amazing skilled artist, great sense of the human female form. Hand delivery avail to New York City or any...
Iron, Wrought Iron
Antique Folk Art Horse Sculpture
Located in Sheffield, MA
Wonderfully charming hand-carved 19th Century American folk art horse sculpture on stand. Pay special attention to its face and the carved details to appreciate this fine specimen. ...
Wood
$574Sale Price|49% Off
H 7.88 in W 3.55 in D 2.37 in
Antique Hand Carved Wooden Angel Head Sculpture, Spanish, Circa 1900-1920
Located in Buisson, FR
Wonderful early 20th century hand carved wooden angel head with glass eyes. Amazing eyecather with beautiful expression. Spain circa 1900-1920 Weathered, small losses. H:20cm W:9cm ...
Glass, Wood
Spanish Colonial Antique Santo Figure
Located in Atlanta, GA
A stunning antique parcel-giltwood statue of St. John, 19th century, possibly earlier, from Mexico, Spanish Colonial with polychrome paint decoration. St John was depicted as a regal...
Gold Leaf
$1,038Sale Price|52% Off
H 22.45 in W 7.09 in D 8.08 in
Antique Hand Carved Baroque Angel Sculpture, Spain, Circa 1750-1800
Located in Buisson, FR
Wonderful hand carved baroque angel figure. . Spain, circa 1750-1800 Weathered. small losses and old repair. Measurement here below includes the wooden base. H:57cm W:18cm D:20,5cm
Wood
Vintage Hand-Painted Spanish Colonial Donkey Sculpture
Located in San Antonio, TX
Very nice Spanish Colonial Mexico donkey sculpture made of resin and hand-painted. The tail on the donkey is made of horsehair. This donkey sculpture ...
Resin, Paint
Vintage Brass Mounted Carved Water Buffalo Horns
Located in Atlanta, GA
20th century set of exotic water buffalo horns with hand carved scrimshaw of the Spanish Colonial architecture of Manila, Philippines. The horns ar...
Brass
Silver Plate Spanish Articulated Swordfish
Located in Winnetka, IL
This is a large silverplate articulated spanish swordfish with cabochon eyes
Stone, Silver Plate