Like France’s Empire style, Regency-style furniture was rooted in neoclassicism; the characteristics of its bedroom furniture, armchairs, dining room tables and other items include clean lines, angular shapes and elegant details.
Dating roughly from the 1790s to 1830s, antique Regency-style furniture gets its name from Prince George of Wales — formally King George IV — who became Prince Regent in 1811 after his father, George III, was declared unfit to rule. England’s Regency style is one of the styles represented in Georgian furniture.
George IV’s arts patronage significantly influenced the development of the Regency style, such as the architectural projects under John Nash, which included the renovation of Buckingham House into the formidable Buckingham Palace with a grand neoclassical facade. Celebrated designers of the period include Thomas Sheraton, Henry Holland and Thomas Hope. Like Nash, Hope instilled his work with classical influences, such as saber-legged chairs based on the ancient Greek klismos. He is credited with introducing the term “interior decoration” to English with the 1807 publishing of Household Furniture and Interior Decoration.
Although more subdued than previous styles like Rococo and Baroque, Regency interiors incorporated copious use of chintz fabrics and wallpaper adorned in chinoiserie-style art. Its furniture featured fine materials and luxurious embellishments. Furniture maker George Bullock, for instance, regularly used detailed wood marquetry and metal ornaments on his pieces.
Archaeological discoveries in Egypt and Greece informed Regency-era details, such as carved scrollwork, sphinxes and palmettes, as well as the shape of furniture. A Roman marble cinerary chest, for example, would be reinterpreted into a wooden cabinet. The Napoleonic Wars also inspired furniture, with martial designs like tented beds and camp-style chairs becoming popular. While the reddish-brown mahogany was prominent in this range of pieces, imported woods like zebrawood and ebony were increasingly in demand.
Find a collection of antique Regency tables, seating, decorative objects and other furniture on 1stDibs.
Vintage Framed Horse Body Sketch Drawing
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A fantastic vintage horse print sketch on paper with pencil framed in a simple black frame. Acquired at a Palm Beach estate.
Paper
Royal Navy Ship Pencil Drawings by George Bryant Campion
Located in Downingtown, PA
Royal Navy Ship Pencil Drawings by George Bryant Campion, Graphite on Cardstock, Circa 1830 Four pencil drawings of Royal Navy Ships on embossed cardstock, three signed by the artist and framed and glazed. The cardstock is impressed with makers name "Dobbs: London". Three of the pictures are signed " to the lower corners G.C." The views are identified as follows: Upper left picture is a starboard view of a Royal Navy frigate or Sixth-rate ship, Upper right picture is a starboard view of a First-Rate ship of the line and inscribed at the top in the artist's hand, " A British Ship on a foreign Station", Lower left picture is a starboard view of a Third or Fourth-Rate Royal Navy Ship under full sail, Lower right picture is a starboard view of a First-Rate Royal Navy Ship at anchor. The cards pressure...
Paper
Early 19th Century Original Framed Land Indenture, England, 1810
Located in Lambertville, NJ
A large hand written land indenture document England, 1810, framed. The beautifully hand written document mounted on board with a red velvet border and ...
Glass, Giltwood, Parchment Paper
$3,084
H 16 in W 17 in D 0.1 in
An Unusual Pencil Drawing of “Canton”, a Three-Masted Whaling Ship-at This Point
Located in Lymington, Hampshire
An unusual pencil drawing of “Canton“ a three masted whaling ship by Harold Wyllie. New Bedford was a major whaling centre in the 19th century. Photograp...
Paper
$1,262
H 12 in W 12 in D 6.25 in
Early 19th Century Reading Stand Book Stand in Mahogany, England c1830
Located in High Peak, GB
K0505 Rare and very elegant early 19th century English mahogany table top book stand or reading stand, having a flamed mahogany, single plank tilting book rest with two brass holder...
Mahogany
$8,200
H 19.25 in W 20.25 in D 0.5 in
Original Drawing, Circle of Giovanni Battista Tiepolo 1696-1770 Venice, Italy
By Giovanni Battista Tiepolo
Located in Vero Beach, FL
Original Drawing, Circle of Giovanni Battista Tiepolo 1696-1770 Venice, Italy Although we offer this old master drawing as circle of Tiepolo, we are convinced, based on the composi...
Paper
French Vintage Framed Pen Sketch on Paper
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
French vintage pen and ink drawing on paper of a youthful boy with gamine features such as a pronounced upper lip, arched brows, and a dense row of eyelashes. The vanilla tone of the...
Glass, Wood, Paper
20th Century, Academy Drawing Pencil Paper
Located in Madrid, ES
Drawing Greek sculpture academy made in charcoal at the beginning of the 20th century, at the Spanish academy in Rome. Depicting a Greek sculpture.
Paper
19th Century Book Stand
Located in Dublin 8, IE
19th Century Regency mahogany book stand with brass gallery sides with scrolled lifting handles, raised on four flat bun feet.
Brass
$360Sale Price / set|20% Off
H 29 in W 26 in D 1 in
Antique 1920s T Voorhees Architectural Pencil Sketch House Drawings 29"
Located in Dayton, OH
Set of three 20th century pencil sketches / architectural drawings of the fronts of houses. One signed by T. Voorhees and double dated April 25, '22 and '24. Beveled wood frame with ...
Paper
"Standing Male Nude", Pencil Drawing by William Littlefield, 1937
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Powerfully expressed, with the angular stylization characteristic of Art Deco decorative art, this pencil drawing was executed in 1937 by William Littlefield. The artist was fascina...
Paper
$2,950
H 28.5 in W 19 in D 1 in
Painting, Drawing of Dancer, Framed, Signed H. Sjardi, Italy, Vintage, C 1950
Located in New York, NY
Painting, drawing of dancers from the mid-century time, circa 1950. It is signed H. Sjardi. The drawing has an original green bamboo frame. The pain...
Paper
19th Century Victorian Games Box Compendium, England, Circa 1895
Located in Incline Village, NV
My description is quite lengthy and thorough because I feel this is an important piece of museum quality antiquity and significance; worthy ...
Wood
Ciro Ferri Drawing Offering Scene Italie 17th Century
Located in Beuzevillette, FR
Italian lead pencil drawing, entourage of Ciro Ferri, depicting an offering scene in front of a temple, in the manner of the antiquity. Measurements: 7.8/5.9 inches ...
Paper
19th Century Horse Study — Pencil Drawing - Framed - France
Located in Beuzevillette, FR
Dessin d'étude de cheval du XIXᵉ siècle, réalisée au crayon. Le rendu est fin et précis en ce qui concerne le dessin du cheval, tant sur le plan anatomique que dans la capture de l’a...
Paper, Crayon
Vintage Regency Gilt Framed Signed Fashion Sketch of Woman
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A stunning vintage Regency Original sketch of a woman. A beautiful composition of a model in profile. Signed and dated by the artist 2015. Acquired from a Palm Beach estate.
Wood, Paper
Sold
H 8 in W 10 in L 8 in
Hand-Colored Bird Engravings French 18th Century by Francois-Nicolas Martinet
Located in Katonah, NY
We are pleased to offer these Individual bird scenes captured on paper in the style of the Audubon bird engravings. These small, gem like, hand...
Paper
1970s Vintage Portrait Drawigns in Regency Style
Located in Ceglie Messapica, IT
Vintage hand drawings by Andrea Burroni, 1970s. The piece has signed by the author and it has a “Certificate of Authenticity” on the back. This pi...
Iron
Sold
H 0.25 in W 10 in D 8 in
Hand-Colored Bird Engravings French 18th Century by Francois-Nicolas Martinet
Located in Katonah, NY
We are pleased to offer these Individual bird scenes captured on paper in the style of the Audubon bird engravings. These small, gem like, hand-...
Paper
Four Engravings of English Stately Homes by J. P. Neale
By John Preston Neale
Located in Hanover, MA
A series of small steel and copper engravings of stately and nobles homes of England, hand colored and uncolored, drawn by John Preston Neale circa 1830 a...
William IV Period Charcoal on Paper Drawing of a Scottish Dandy
Located in Kinderhook, NY
Charcoal on paper of an elegant young gentleman in Scottish tartan costume on original backing with silk ribbon tied corners conservation mounted in a period 'lemon gold' gilt frame,...
Glass, Giltwood, Paper
Pair of Dutch 18th Century Floral Watercolors of Roses and Carnations
Located in Southampton, NY
Pair of Dutch 18th Century Watercolors of Roses and Carnations by Hendrik Reekers Estate of Sister Parish