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.
English Regency Style White Marble Fireplace
Located in London, GB
An attractive English Regency style white marble fireplace. The frieze with flowing vines and grapes, and the jambs with tapering pilasters with tie ribbons with vine leaves trailing...
Marble
Regency Style White Marble Fire Surround
Located in London, GB
An English white marble fireplace in the early 19th century Regency style. The frieze with raised and fielded centre panel, the tapering reeded jambs surmounted by carved square pate...
Marble
Regency Style Bath Stone Fireplace with Carved Lion's Masks
Located in London, GB
An attractive English bath stone fireplace in the Regency style. The jambs and frieze with Greek key motif, the end blockings with carved lion’s masks with moulded shelf above. A fin...
Stone
Carved English Antique Fireplace Mantel in Statuary Marble
Located in London, GB
A carved English antique fireplace in statuary marble. The jambs with tapering pilasters featuring finely carved bell drops and drapery surmounted by stiff acanthus leaf capitals. Th...
Statuary Marble
Regency Style White Marble and Siena Chimneypiece
Located in London, GB
An English, Regency style fireplace in white marble with Siena inlay. The frieze and jambs with half rounded reeds, the end blockings with delicate rosettes encircled by carved garla...
Marble, Siena Marble
White Marble Fireplace in the Soanian Style
Located in London, GB
An English white marble fireplace in the Soanian manner. The reeded moulding to jambs and frieze with centre plaque and arched end blockings. A Fine copy of an original piece. N.B. M...
Marble
19th Century Fireplace in Italian Bardiglio Marble
Located in London, GB
An large and impressive carved fireplace in grey Bardiglio marble. The panelled jambs surmounted by end blocks featuring carved grapes and leaves, the matching centre block with addi...
Marble
Statuary Regency Marble Fireplace in the Manner of Thomas Hope
Located in London, GB
A 19th century statuary Regency marble fireplace in the manner of Thomas Hope. The side blockings depicting scrolling, leaves, shells and flowers. Raised and fielded panelled jambs. ...
Statuary Marble
Delicate English Regency White Marble Fireplace
Located in London, GB
A delicate English Regency white marble fireplace. The reeded frieze and jambs with carved floral motif to centre. Round paterae of floral design to end blockings. Reeded shelf. A qu...
Marble
'Androcles and the Lion' an Early Regency Style Fireplace
Located in London, GB
A Regency style white marble fireplace with reeded and ribboned frieze and jambs. The carved centre panel depicting a scene of Androcles and the lion, with associated lions heads to side blockings. Reeded shelf. A copy of an early 19th century original. The moral of this fable, reputedly by Aesop, celebrating the reciprocity of kindness and friendship between man and beast, whereby an escaped slave helps a wounded lion...
Statuary Marble
Early 19th Century Pine Fireplace Featuring Aesop's Fable
Located in London, GB
A good quality and unusual early 19th century pine fireplace. The carved centre plaque depicting the Aesop's fable of "The Dog and Its Reflection." The frieze with swags and floral g...
Pine
19th Century Regency Limestone Mantelpiece
Located in London, GB
An attractive period English Regency limestone fireplace. The jambs and frieze with Greek key motif, the end blockings with carved lion's masks with moulded shelf above. Early 19th c...
Limestone
Statuary Marble Fireplace with Connemara Inlay
Located in London, GB
An English marble fireplace in the Regency manner. The Statuary white marble jambs and frieze inlaid with Irish Connemara green marble. Centre and end blocks carved with urns, circa ...
Statuary Marble
Regency Style White Marble Fireplace
Located in London, GB
A Regency style fireplace in white marble. The tapering panelled jambs surmounted by classical urns to side blockings, the panelled frieze surmounted by reeded shelf above. A copy of...
Marble
$15,685 / item
English Regency Style Fireplace in White Marble
Located in London, GB
A fine quality English Regency style fireplace in white marble. The jambs with tapering reeded columns surmounted by end blockings with carved ...
Marble
Regency Style Statuary Marble Fireplace with Brass Ormolu Enrichments
Located in London, GB
A statuary white marble fireplace in the Regency style. The reeded jambs surmounted by brass ormolu wreaths. The reeded frieze with centre plaque featuring ormolu adornment of tied f...
Marble
$13,810 / item
Regency Style Fireplace Mantel in Lincolnshire Limestone
Located in London, GB
A fine quality English Regency style fireplace in Lincolnshire limestone. The jambs with tapering reeded columns surmounted by end blockings wi...
Limestone