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.
Regency Style Burl Walnut Library or Bedside Steps
Located in Bradenton, FL
English Burled Walnut Library or Bed Steps. Steps are inset with richly patinated leather panels bordered in delicate gold tooling. The upper two steps open on brass hinges to reveal...
Walnut, Leather
Wonderful Pair Boule d'Escalier Crystal Faceted Brass Banister Newel Post Finial
Located in Roslyn, NY
A Wonderful Pair Of Boule d'Escalier Cut Crystal Faceted On Brass Bases Banister Newel Post Finial
Brass
Rare Boule d'Escalier Acorn Crystal Faceted Brass Banister Newel Post Finial
Located in Roslyn, NY
Boule d'Escalier Acorn Crystal Faceted Brass Banister Newel Post Finial
Crystal, Brass
Wonderful Boule d'Escalier Large Cut Crystal Brass Banister Newel Post Finial
Located in Roslyn, NY
A Wonderful Boule d'Escalier Large Cut Etched Crystal Mounted On A Brass Base Banister Newel Post Finial With Star Pattern Top
Crystal, Brass
American Mahogany Serpentine Rail Library Steps, Circa 1810
Located in Charleston, SC
American mahogany three-tiered upholstered library steps with serpentine rails, cross stretchers, and terminating on turned bulbous legs. Early 19th century.
Set of Regency Mahogany Metamorphic Library Steps
Located in Lymington, Hampshire
A set of Regency mahogany metamorphic library steps, this sturdy armchair unfolds to reveal four leather-inset steps which rest on the cresti...
Leather, Mahogany
Regency Library Staircase, England Circa 1800
Located in Honnelles, WHT
Greek-inspired mahogany library staircase, new leathers
Wood
Antique Set of Library Steps, English, Walnut, Oak, Step Storage Stand, Regency
Located in Hele, Devon, GB
This is an antique set of library steps. An English, walnut and oak step storage stand, dating to the Regency period, circa 1820. Fascinating library or country house kitchen steps ...
Oak, Walnut
Vintage Regency Washed Wood Library Steps
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
This charming vintage piece combines the functionality of library steps with the utility of a tiered side table, rendered in a classic Traditional design style. Constructed from soli...
Wood
Antique Regency 1810 Hardwood & Leather Library Steps Internal Storage & Drawers
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
We are delighted to offer for sale this stunning original Regency mahogany library steps with green leather tops, single drawer and top storage A very good looking and well made ...
Leather, Hardwood
French Antique Library Stairs
Located in Austin, TX
Library stairs from France made of solid wood construction, primarily walnut and finished with a lustrous French polish of museum quality. There are four steps lined with gilt emboss...
Brass
English Metamorphic Library Chair with Steps
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
We are is delighted to offer for sale this large and collectable vintage metamorphic armchair which converts into Library steps with Berger seat and leather upholstered steps A good looking well made and decorative library armchair which metamorphosises into a library steps. The chair has the original patinated bergere seat and the steps have leather upholstery which has been upholstered very flat so you have a good even tread. The steps are quite special on this one because they have a small hand rail...
Hardwood
Small size oak wood library staircase
Located in MILL, NL
Gave library stairs / stairs. Early 20th century. Made of oak. Solid and sturdy. Dimensions: 54W x 137H x 61D
Oak
$1,350
H 36.25 in W 19.75 in D 27.25 in
Mid-Century French Louis XIII Style Fruitwood Spiral Library Steps
Located in Dallas, TX
Use this charming vintage fruitwood spiral staircase to organize books or display decorative objects in an office or library. Crafted in France circa 1970, the circular three-step la...
Walnut
$8,000 / set
H 33.75 in W 20 in D 17 in
Set of Four English Regency Mahogany Dining Room Chairs, Circa 1810
Located in Charleston, SC
Set of four English Regency mahogany upholstered and brass tacked dining room chairs with floral reeded cross hatching and terminating on tapered squared legs with spade feet. Set co...
Brass
Antique Birdseye Maple English Library Steps
Located in Hopewell, NJ
19th century bird's-eye maple sturdy and handsome library steps having antique wooden nailheads and two fully functional steps.
Birdseye Maple
$3,894
H 26.19 in W 19.3 in D 30.12 in
Antique Regency 1810 Hardwood & Leather Library Steps Internal Storage & Drawers
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
We are delighted to offer for sale this stunning original Regency mahogany library steps with green leather tops, single drawer and top storage A very good looking and well made ...
Leather, Hardwood
Antique Wrought Iron Stair Railing, Sandblasted and Galvanized
Located in Dusseldorf, DE
Unique antique wrought iron stair railing sandblasted and galvanized some years ago to protect it against rust. We are happy to a...
Iron, Wrought Iron
$2,254
H 34.45 in W 16.54 in D 16.74 in
Antique 1880 Arts & Crafts Metamorphic Library Steps Original Carpet Upholstery
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
We are delighted to offer for sale this lovely antique Arts & Crafts Victorian metamorphic library steps chair in oak with period upho...
Oak
Arts and Crafts Style Mahogany Metamorphic Library Chair
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Handsome solid mahogany metamorphic library chair that converts into a step ladder made in the English Arts and Crafts style. The chair is sturdy and solid with brass hardware and lo...
Brass
Set of 4 Antique Regency Quality Mahogany Dining Chairs
Located in Suffolk, GB
Set of 4 antique regency quality mahogany dining chairs having a quality carved mahogany top rail, carved mahogany splat to the centre with a figured mahogany panel, newly reupholste...
Other
Regency Metamorphic Chair in Mahogany - Libary Steps Ladder
Located in Potters Bar, GB
Absolutely unique Regency style arm chair library step combo - a metamorphic chair Wow - have you seen any thing like this? Great space saving piece with double purpose Perfect for t...
Wood, Mahogany
Regency Mahogany Library or Bedside Steps
Located in Bradenton, FL
19th Century English Regency Mahogany Library or Bed Steps. Steps are inset with richly patinated leather panels bordered in delicate gold tooling. The upper two steps open on brass ...
Mahogany
Sold
H 27.37 in W 19.3 in D 28.94 in
Antique Set of Library Steps, English, Walnut, Oak, Step Storage Stand, Regency
Located in Hele, Devon, GB
This is an antique set of library steps. An English, walnut and oak step storage stand, dating to the Regency period, circa 1820. Fascinating library or country house kitchen steps ...
Oak, Walnut
Wonderful Boule d'Escalier Cut Crystal Faceted Brass Banister Newel Post Finial
Located in Roslyn, NY
A Wonderful Boule d'Escalier Cut Crystal Faceted Brass Banister Newel Post Finial
Brass
Wonderful Pair Boule d'Escalier Honeycomb Crystal Banister Newel Post Finials
Located in Roslyn, NY
A Wonderful Pair Of French Boule d'Escalier Honeycomb Cut Crystal Banister Newel Post Finials Mounted On Brass Bases
Crystal, Brass
Sold
H 27 in W 16.75 in D 30 in
Antique English Regency Mahogany Bedside Stair Step Commode Nightstand
Located in Dayton, OH
Antique English Regency / George III / Sheraton style library or bed steps / staircase / stepstool / side table or nightstand. Made of mahogany featuring a three tiered design with ...
Mahogany
Incredible English Regency Leather Wrapped Folding Library Steps & Chair
Located in Hopewell, NJ
Incredible Regency style leather wrapped wood library steps that ingeniously fold up into a chair. The leather is tooled with beautiful gold decoration. Steps are fully functional. ...
Leather, Wood
Antique Leather Top Mahogany Library Steps
Located in Norwalk, CT
A wonderful sophisticated look for your library room, this piece is adorned with tooled leather, and has steps with two compartments.
Leather
Pair of Regency Library Steps
Located in Atlanta, GA
Pair of English Regency library steps of flame mahogany with three brown inset and tooled leather tops; and leather faux book cabinets, each with two...
Brass