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.
Pair of Regency Shell Art Floral Bouquets under Glass Domes
Located in Dallas, TX
PRESENTING A ‘FANTASTICALLY’ RARE, EXCEPTIONAL QUALITY and MUSEUM QUALITY Pair of Regency Shell Art Floral Bouquets under Glass Domes. Made in Englan...
Shell, Glass, Mahogany
Antique Cream Painted Toleware Chest. Henry Loveridge Maker. English C.1850
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Wonderful toleware chest Not sure what the original function was. No evidence to suggest it was a coal bin. Cream painted with gilt decoration in neoclassical style. Original paint...
Tin
An English Regency Blue John and Marble Clockcase with an enamel portrait
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
An extremely rare English Regency Blue John and marble clockcase that has been retrofitted with a gilt bronze framed enamel portrait medallion of a lady. Presumably the clock that o...
Marble
Regency Penwork Decorated Box, C1810
Located in valatie, NY
Regency Penwork Decorated Box c1810. "A sycamore veneered box decorated in penwork. The sides of the box are decorated with what looks like stylized marigolds. ...
Brass
Pair of English Regency Faux Painted and Gilt Armchairs, Circa 1820
Located in Charleston, SC
Pair of English Regency faux painted and gilt armchairs with quatrefoil and cross hatching splat backs, scrolled arms, and terminating on faux bamboo legs. Chairs have been upholster...
19th Century Sea Captain's Tea Caddy
Located in Nantucket, MA
Early 19th century sea captain's tea caddy, circa 1830, made of coramandel wood gathered in the Spice Islands China Trade, with sailor's grommet-spliced rope becket handles. The inte...
Wood
Italian Grand Tour Specimen Marble Chess Board
Located in Dallas, TX
Italian Grand Tour pietra dura specimen marble chess / checkers game board, rare and ancient marble squares, Italy, 1820s
Multi-gemstone, Siena Marble
$926Sale Price|46% Off
19c Naive Oil Painting of a Young Girl in an Architectural Scene
Located in Cheltenham, GB
A 19c naive oil painting on a thin wooden panel of a young girl in an architectural and wooded landscape in a black painted frame with gilt slip. A regency period portrait...
Paint
Brampton Rare Salt Glazed Stoneware Character Modelled Container
Located in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire
A charming unusual and very rare antique English Brampton salt glazed container modelled as gentleman wearing a coat dating from around 1830. The stoneware container is a half-length...
Stoneware
Rare Pair of Victorian Staffordshire Ceramic Recumbent Giraffe Figures
Located in Bridgeport, CT
Each with one leg bent, and nicely colored with dotted fur details slightly different from each other, circa 1860. Green double palm trees with red fruit form the supports at the bac...
Ceramic
Vintage Regency Signed Interiors Painting on Paper
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A fabulous vintage Original oil painting on paper. A chic interiors composition in clear colors. A glamorous bedroom scene in a gilt frame. Acquired from a Palm Beach estate
Paint, Paper
$3,750 / set
English Pottery Pearlware Figures of Sailors
Located in Downingtown, PA
English Pottery Pearlware Sailor Figures, Circa 1820. A lovely pair of English pottery pearlware figure groups each depicting a sailor resting on his sea trunk...
Pearlware, Pottery
$1,256Sale Price|25% Off
19th Century Regency Hand Blown Chemist Pharmacy Apothecary Display Carboy Sign
Located in Lowestoft, GB
A very early 19th century chemist display carboy, circa 1820 possibly earlier The bulbous center sits on a stepped base with a swan like neck and a fine cut glass oversized stopp...
Blown Glass, Cut Glass
$1,500 / item
English Regency Red Painted Finials
Located in Queens, NY
3 English Regency-style (19th Century) red painted swirl design carved decorative finials with gilt palm design final tops (PRICED EACH)
Paint
English Regency Mahogany Marble Top Console, Circa 1790
Located in Charleston, SC
English Regency mahogany marble-top console with flanking Phoenix heads, original ormolu mounts, ebonized tapered legs, centered gilt urn and terminating on rectangular molded edge b...
Marble, Gold
Set of Four English Regency Paper Mâché Painted & Gilt Nest of Tables. C.1800
Located in Charleston, SC
Set of four English Regency paper mâché painted and gilt nest of tables with shell, coral and mother-of-pearl inlaid checker board top. Tables are rectangle in shape with turned bu...
Mother-of-Pearl, Paint, Paper
Pair of English Regency Serpentine Painted Arm Chairs. Circa 1815
Located in Charleston, SC
Pair of English Regency serpentine splat back hand painted arm chairs with floral ribbon, swags, tassels, and medallion motif. Pair has scrolled ar...
Beech, Paint, Upholstery
Pearlware Bear Jug and Cover, English, Early 19th Century
Located in Spencertown, NY
Napoleonic Bear Baiting Jug and Cover, Probably Scottish,
Ceramic
William IV Police Truncheon
Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight
A William IV policeman’s truncheon. A great piece of social history, the baton has a slightly shaped grip handle, the lower part is painted in Red and the upper part has a blue ba...
Paint
Vintage Vertical Horse Hind Legs Sketch Drawing
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A fantastic vintage sketch of a horses hind legs on paper with pencil. The sketch comes framed and protected with glass. Acquired at a Palm Beach estate.
Glass, Paper
Artemis Bust Made with Compressed Marble Powder Statue
By LAGU
Located in İSTANBUL, TR
The famous Artemis is the sister of Apollo and Dionysus; It is integrated with abundance in Anatolia. Considered one of the seven wonders of the ancient world, the temple of Artemis in Ephesus was destroyed many times; but each time it was built again. Artemis, who, like Cybele, is the embodiment of nourishment rather than fertility, can be found in every region in every age. Sculptures, busts, columns and reliefs, the originals of which are in various museums, are made with the technique of casting under vacuum with marble powder...
Statuary Marble
$2,000 / set
H 18.12 in W 8.86 in D 5.91 in
Ionic Column Sculpture Set Made with Compressed Marble Powder Three Pieces
By LAGU
Located in İSTANBUL, TR
There are 3 pieces in this set. Small: Height: 36 cm / Weight: 6,5 kg Medium: Height: 46 cm / Weight: 7.5 kg Large: Width: 22.5 cm / Depth: 15 cm / Height: 58 cm /Weight: 8.5 kg Ion...
Statuary Marble
$1,440Sale Price / set|62% Off
H 29.25 in W 27 in D 23 in
Pair of Swedish Gustavian Painted Corner Armchairs
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Pair of Swedish 1810s-1830s corner chair scraped down to the original black paint. Seat are loose and be easily re-upholstered.
Wood
$5,875
H 37 in W 21.88 in D 22 in
English Regency Faux Papier-mâché Caned Bergere or Armchair, circa 1830
Located in Kinderhook, NY
A wonderful circa 1830 English regency caned bergere having allover japanned, abalone-inlaid, gilded, and painted 'rococo' decoration imitating p...
Brass
French Carved Snuff Box, Mid-19th Century
Located in Spencertown, NY
The elaborately carved snuff box with a scene of two mermaids on the cover and deeply carved shell on the reverse.
Boxwood
Pair of 19th Century English Regency Armchairs
Located in Los Angeles, CA
19th Century. English. Cane seats. Seat height is 16.5".
Wood, Cane
19th Century Chinese Export Lacquer Tea Caddy
Located in Mt Kisco, NY
The burgundy / brown lacquer is decorated with gold depicting figures and buildings in a landscape. The caddy stands on four carved wooden feet in the shape of claws. The interior contains a single pewter canister...
Paper
Mid 18th Century Floral Painted Blanket Chest
Located in Vo', Veneto
Tyrolean painted chest H. 81 – W. 147 – P. 69 Ancient Tyrolean chest, entirely built in fir wood. The surface has been decorated with a dark brown background color, semi-covering, ...
Fir
19th Century English Tortoiseshell Tea Caddy
Located in Atlanta, GA
19th Century English Tortoiseshell Tea Caddy
Tortoise Shell
Green Painted Pennsylvania Hanging Pie Safe, ca 1850-1880
Located in York County, PA
Pennsylvania hanging pie safe, in first surface green paint, with circular medallion and opposing fan decoration, circa 1850-1880 Pennsylvania hang...
Wood
$3,419Sale Price / set|30% Off
H 31.5 in W 35.04 in D 31.89 in
Pair of Very Rare Regency circa 1810-1820 Turkey Work Armchairs
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
We are delighted to offer for sale this stunning and very rare circa 1810-1820 Regency Turkey work pair of armchairs original period upholstery A very rar...
Upholstery
Colorful Insects Under Antique Glass Dome
Located in Munich, DE
The Green Jungle Nymphs called Hétéropterix Dilaltata are form Papua New Guinea, Indonesian province. Set in an antique glass globe with wooden ba...
Glass, Organic Material, Wood
Period Regency Mirror Gilt Overmantle
Located in Potters Bar, GB
Regency gilt overmantle mirror Period Regency antique mirror This quality mirror features turned columns with carved decoration and turned feet The black inset border is striking aga...
Giltwood
Regency Gilt Overmantle Mirror 1810 Classical Adams
Located in Potters Bar, GB
Regency Gilt over mantle mirror circa 1810 Three Sectional Mirror has Adams urn motif on top with garlands Ideal for above a mantle piece We bought them from...
Mirror, Giltwood
Regency Oil Painting Still Life Fruit English Art
Located in Potters Bar, GB
Very bright and vivid oil painting of a classic still life scene in the Regency manner The arrangement includes fruit, a jug, roses and a goblet Artist has really captured the scene ...
Paint
Set of Three 19th Century West Indies Original Watercolors
Located in Hudson, NY
These original watercolors, shown here, are presumed to have been done in the West Indies in the late 18th or early 19th century. Purchased from the estate of a collector from Kensi...
Wood, Paint, Paper
Vintage Regency Signed Original Oil Portrait of Man
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A striking vintage Regency oil portrait on canvas. A chic composition in the period style. Signed and dated by the artist. Acquired from a Palm Be...
Canvas, Wood, Paint
Vintage Boho Regency Royal Academy Artist Original Oil Portrait
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Fantastic vintage original oil portrait. A beautiful composition of an elegant lady. Signed by the artist and dated 1931. The artist , Jose Ruschty, was a student of Tbe Royal Academ...
Paint
Sold
H 29.53 in W 25.6 in D 1.97 in
Pair of Early 19th Century American Folk Art School Half Length Portraits
Located in Lowestoft, GB
An interesting pair of oil on canvas half length portraits of a well to do husband and wife drinking and relaxing in what seems to be very comfortable surroundings. Each painting has...
Canvas
19th Century Carved Oak English Regency Plaque
Located in London, GB
19th century carved oak English plaque. We are proud to offer a highly decorative English regency hand carved oak panel. Depicting a ornate vase overflowing with flowers and foliage. With a super patina across all its surface and deep hue, a real work of art and easily placed on a wall above a fireplace in a country house setting. Recently uncovered in an English stately home...
Oak
Circa 1790/1810 Regency Irish Carved Ships Figurehead
Located in Lowestoft, GB
A very well carved Regency ships figurehead believed to off been originally from an Irish ship. The head has obviously been severed from the rest of th...
Pine
Sold
H 19 in W 15 in D 1 in
Rare Six Early 19th Century Caricature Portrait Paintings of Spanish Actors
Located in Essex, MA
Rare set of six oil on canvas caricatures of known Spanish actors, actresses and notables from the early 19th century. -- All identified on reverse -- Original condition -- Rema...
Canvas
Regency Needlewood and Rosewood Stool
Located in Kitzbühel, Tirol
Early 19th century English pouf covered with a hand embroidered needlework fabric. The completely hand embroidered fabric shows trees with flowers and deers...
Mahogany
Rare Regency Pen Work English Treen Snuff Bottle, circa 1840
Located in London, GB
Regency pen work treen snuff bottle, circa 1840 We are proud to offer an early 19th century handcrafted rare example of a Regency pen work treen snuff bottle...
Wood