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.
Mid 20th Century Regency Cast Concrete Koi Fountain
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Introduce a timeless element of charm and tranquility to your garden or outdoor space with this vintage cast concrete fountain ornament, beautifully depicting a stylized Koi fish. Ex...
Concrete
$8,178 / set
Four Stone Fish Fountains Regency 1820
Located in Southall, GB
A stunning, highly decorative four piece set of Stone Regency Fountains. Beautifully weathered dolphin design with detailed carving depicting scales, striated tale and fins. Clear facial features...
Stone
Regence-style lead grotesque fountain mask
Located in SAINT-OUEN-SUR-SEINE, FR
France, 19th century Lead This ornamental fountain mask exemplifies the Regence style, a transitional aesthetic between the late Baroque and early Rococo periods in France . Cast in...
Lead
$14,800
H 54.5 in W 28 in D 31 in
American Cast Bronze Garden Fountain with Figural Boy Holding Koi Fish. C. 1870
Located in Charleston, SC
American cast bronze garden fountain with standing figural boy holding Koi fish on a two-tiered shell form scrolled base with turtle at his feet, Late 19th century.
Bronze, Copper
$2,290
H 60.5 in Dm 35 in
Antique Italian Hand-Carved Marble Fountain with a Classic Fish Spout c1920's
Located in BENSENVILLE, IL
Antique Italian Hand-Carved Marble Fountain with a Classic Fish Spout, that was removed from a Chicago mansion. We have been told by the previous owner that the home where the antiqu...
Stone, Marble, Carrara Marble
Italian Carved Stone Two-Tiered Garden Fountain from Vicenza
Located in Atlanta, GA
A large size Northern Italian carved stone fountain from the mid-19th century. This exquisite garden fountain was born in the 1850s in the city of...
Stone
Garden Fountain from, Mid-20th Century
Located in Madrid, ES
GARDEN FOUNTAIN OF THE HALF OF THE XX CENTURY DECORATIVE GARDEN FOUNTAIN FROM THE 50'S IN STONE OR SIMILAR. IT IS COMPOSED OF 3 PARTS. IT IS IN VERY GOOD CONDITION IN GENERAL. MEASU...
Sandstone
Fountain Marquise
Located in Dallas, TX
Here we have a carved limestone wall fountain from France with a rectangular base and a flower motif at the center of the wall. Origin: France Measurements: 4'6" W x 2'8" D x 4...
Limestone
Early 20th Century Lead Putti Fountain, Circa 1920
Located in Atlanta, GA
A charming early 20th century lead garden fountain featuring a delightful putti figure supporting a scalloped basin. Dating to around 1920, this piece captures the romantic appeal of...
Iron
19th Century French Cast Stone Fountain
Located in Winter Park, FL
A 19th century French Neoclassical style cast stone fountain. Shell shaped basin with a pair of dolphin spouts is held aloft by a cherub, or putto, his foot resting on a turtle. Weat...
Cast Stone
$34,200
H 75 in Dm 83 in
Old Stone Fountain - Limestone Pool Fountain - Antique Garden Fountain - octagon
Located in Costa Mesa, CA
This old French Limestone fountain was hand carved and installed in a French countryside home. The piece has been well preserved throughout the years and was recently reclaimed by ou...
Limestone
French Fountain
Located in Costa Mesa, CA
This old French Limestone fountain was hand carved and installed in a French countryside home. The piece has been well preserved throughout the years and was recently reclaimed by ou...
Limestone
Marble Wall Fountain
Located in Greding, DE
Fountain made of light marble with a shell-shaped bowl and richly decorated base. The finely sculpted volutes and the ornately carved leaf motif give the piece sculptural depth and c...
Marble
$2,446 / set
H 16.93 in W 26.38 in D 26.38 in
Pair of Hand Made Early 20th Century French Garden Fountains
Located in Hastings, GB
Great pair of composite garden fountains, French and hand made in the early 20th century. Original white paint to the exterior, each fountain is in two parts comprising the base and ...
Composition
Vintage Regency Cast Stone Fountain
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Transform your garden into a timeless European oasis with this magnificent vintage cast stone fountain. Drawing inspiration from Neoclassical and Italianate design, this water featur...
Stone, Concrete
Vintage Regency Cast Concrete Low Sphere Fountain
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Create a timeless outdoor oasis with this Vintage Regency Cast Concrete Low Sphere Fountain. Featuring a beautifully crafted concrete sphere at its cen...
Concrete
Vintage Regency Monumental Painted Wrought Iron Fountain
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Fantastic vintage Regency fountain. Monumental in size and drama. Beautiful wrought iron construction with birds and fish. Painted a chic moss green with lots of great patina from ti...
Wrought Iron
Sold
H 37 in W 23.5 in D 26 in
Pair of Regency Patinated Bronze Figural Maiden Sphinx Garden Pedestal Fountains
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Pair of Regency style patinated bronze figural maiden sphinx garden pedestal fountains. Listing includes heavy patinated solid bronze forms. Approximate 105 lbs each, circa late 20th...
Bronze