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 Neoclassical American Bronze Sconces, Double Arms, 1900s-1920s
Located in Clifton Springs, NY
The pair of highly detailed, fine bronze Neoclassical wall sconces feature large urn decor at the center, with textured curved arms raising from the urn base and ending with wide bo...
Bronze
Pair of Neoclassical American Bronze Sconces, Double Arms, 1900s-1920s, #2
Located in Clifton Springs, NY
The pair of highly detailed, fine bronze Neoclassical wall sconces feature large urn decor at the center, with textured curved arms raising from the urn base and ending with wide bo...
Bronze
Vintage Regency Style Lion Mask and Ring Candle Sconces After Maitland Smith
Located in Morristown, NJ
20th c., a pair of vintage gilt and black wood and metal wall sconces featuring elegant lion head motifs at the top. The sconces are crafted in a classical style, with the lion heads...
Metal
Pair of Regency Cast Brass Two-Candle Wall Sconces
Located in Germantown, MD
Pair of Regency Cast brass two-candle wall sconces in great condition. Measures 12" in width, 7.5" in depth and 10.5" in heights.
Brass
Set of Three 19th Century English Cobalt Sconces
Located in Solebury, PA
A trio of English Regency cobalt mirrored sconces, adorned with intricate engravings on their mirror faces, exhibit a captivating aesthetic. Two of the mirrors bear subtle hairline c...
Metal
Vintage Regency Maitland Smith Gilt Wall Candle Sconce
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Illuminate your space with elegance using this Vintage Regency Monumental Maitland Smith Gilt Wall Candle Sconce. Featuring exquisite gilt detailing and a grand design, it effortless...
Metal
$1,495 / set
Vintage Regency Gilt Candle Sconces - a Pair
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Bring a touch of opulence to your space with this exquisite pair of Vintage Regency Gilt Candle Sconces. Featuring intricate gilt detailing, these sconces are crafted with a luxuriou...
Metal
Vintage Regency Gilt Palm Wall Candle Sconce
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Illuminate your space with the exotic grandeur of this exquisite Vintage Regency Gilt Palm Wall Candle Sconce. Masterfully crafted, this sconce features a captivating palm tree motif...
Metal
$610
H 6.7 in W 13 in D 10.15 in
Pair Antique Neoclassical Gilt Bronze w Patina Sconces 3 light Wall Candelabra
Located in Sweden, SE
Very Good stylish and fancy fine detail hand chased bronze and gold-plated (ormolu) sconces in the style of Neoclassicism (also known as Empire style). Made in 19th century in Contin...
Metal, Gold Plate, Brass, Bronze
$1,630
H 17 in W 13.75 in D 7.5 in
19th Century French Empire Gilt Bronze Three-Light Sconce, Wall Candelabra
Located in Frankfurt am Main, DE
French Empire gilt bronze three-arm wall candleholder finely ornate with foliate, acorn motifs and three female faces, circa 1850-1870. This wall candelabra can easily be converted ...
Bronze
Pair of 19th Century English Oak Candlesticks
Located in High Point, NC
Pair of exquisite 19th century oak candlesticks from England with hand turned brass bobeches over tulip turned candle cups. The stems are hand turned bar...
Brass
$750 / set
H 22 in W 8 in D 4 in
Glo-mar Artworks-NY, Brass and Beveled Mirror Candle Wall Sconces- Pair
Located in Louisville, KY
Glo-Mar Artworks, New York was a company that produced metal sculptures and decorative items from the 1930s to the 1970s. Glo-Mar Artworks' designs were popular among interior design...
Brass
Pair of Los Castillo Brass and Copper Candle Sconces
By Los Castillo
Located in Pawtucket, RI
A rare pair of Los Castillo candle sconces in copper with swirling inlaid brass design, Taxco, Mexico. Signed.
Brass, Copper
Hollywood Regency Iron And Tole Candle Sconce
Located in Tampa, FL
An exquisite pair of iron and tole Hollywood Regency candle sconces featuring intricate detailing and a timeless design, these sconces bring elegance and charm to any wall.
Iron
Pair of Cobra Candle Holders - France, Circa 1920s
Located in Isle Sur La Sorgue, Vaucluse
Exotic pair of brass candlesticks with intricate etched pattern and red enamel finish.
Pair of Scandinavian modern brass wall candle sconces
Located in Turku, Varsinais-Suomi
Immerse your home in timeless elegance with this pair of Swedish art deco wall sconces, each showcasing a rich, beautiful patina. Expertly crafted on the picturesque island of Öland,...
Brass
$27,500 / set
H 15 in W 12.5 in D 6.5 in
Pair of American Parcel-Gilt and Bronze Candelabra/Lamps E.F.Caldwell Attributed
Located in New York, NY
A fine pair of American parcel-gilt and patinated bronze, twin light candelabras/ table lamps attributed to Edward F. Caldwell & Co, New York, first quarter of the 20th century. Ea...
Bronze, Gold Leaf
Iron Candle Sconce, Vintage Wall Decor Snake Antique Style, 1950s
Located in Toronto, CA
This sculptural torch-form candle wall sconce is crafted from hand-forged wrought iron and dates to the mid-20th century, circa the 1950s. The design features a tapered torch-style c...
Wrought Iron
Vintage Mirrored Wall Candle Sconces
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A matching pair of vintage wall hanging candle sconces mounted on oval mirrors. Each mirror features a clear rope twist glass border with softly aged glass showing light spotting. A ...
Metal
Pair of French Empire Period Brass Candle Sconces
Located in Austin, TX
Candle holder sconces from France from the Empire period. This finely cast pair of sconces features a solid brass structure with a swan holding two chained candle...
Bronze
English Regency Cut Glass and Brass Sconces
Located in Dallas, TX
an English Regency pair of cut glass and brass 2-branch sconces / lustres with stylized glass pineapple finial, brass leaves, swags of buttons and drops.
Cut Glass
Sold
H 2.75 in W 6.25 in D 7 in
Pair of Antique Gilt Bronze English Regency Three-Candle Ring Wall Sconces
Located in Big Flats, NY
Pair of antique gilt bronze English Regency ring wall candle sconces feature reeded ring supporting three reeded urn form candle receivers, 19th c...
Metal, Bronze
Pair of Regency Wood and Caldwell Pottery Triton Bronzed Storm Lamps
Located in Steyning, West sussex
A fine pair of Regency storm lamps as a pair of pottery figures of tritons made in a bronze effect from the famous wood and caldwell factory in Burslem, Sta...
Pottery, Cut Glass