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.
$3,646
Regency Torchere
Located in Sturminster Marshall, Dorset
A marble topped three scroll torchere on triform base with carved paw feet. Bespoke sizing, design adaptations and finishing available. Please note we are currently working to a 30-3...
Marble
$1,500 / set
Regency Pair of Faux Marble Candle Torcheres
Located in San Francisco, CA
This set of tall candlesticks, or torcheres could have been Church candle pricket torcheres. They hold large 1" diam. or so wax candles, above a wide...
Wood
$38,603 / set
Pair Regency Period Bronzed Giltwood Torchères
Located in Lymington, GB
A fine and rare pair of English Regency period torchères, or stands (or candle stands) in the manner of Thomas Hope. Circa 1810. Both are raised on tapering simulated-bronze column supports with circular tops and fluted gilt collars, on concave-sided triform bases with winged-panther mask monopodia. The column bases issue from spreading, gilded, carved lotuses. These antique torcheres might also be referred to as columns, ornamental stands, candle sticks, or candelabra. In superb condition throughout. Literature: ‘Thomas Hope – Regency Designer’ ed. David Watkin & Philip Hewat-Jaboor, Yale University Press, New Haven and London (2008). The Aurora Room, Duchess Street, photo from V & A Museum, fig. 68-1, p. 378. The Royal Collection, HM Queen Elizabeth II, RCIN 588- 1-2, 45- 1-2, figs. 78-2, 78-3, p. 396. The Faringdon Collection, Buscot Park, Oxfordshire, illustr. 88, p. 414. The pair of stands we are offering here correspond closely to the pair in the Faringdon Collection (see above). Watkin and Hewat-Jaboor state; ‘’A ‘Roman’ stand of this precise design, perhaps an imaginative variation on one published by Visconti*, is illustrated in ‘Household Furniture’, plate L, number 2… Hope also owned several classical Roman candelabra...
Giltwood
19th Century Carved Mahogany Pedestal Torchere
Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight
19th century carved mahogany pedestal torchere The column has a tight barley twist turning, both top and bottom are round, the top has a small lip...
Mahogany
Pair of English Carved Giltwood Torchère Stands or Pedestals
By James Moore
Located in London, GB
A good pair of candle stands in the manner of James Moore Constructed in well carved giltwood, rising from ‘S’ form tripartite scrolled feet, dressed with foliates, supporting lot...
Giltwood
Pair of Antique French Floral Bronze Torcheres
Located in New Orleans, LA
These floral torcheres are nearly three feet high and very graceful. You will not be disappointed if you add these to the antique pieces to your collection!
Bronze
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
Pair of 19th Century, French Iron Candle Torchéres
Located in Southampton, NY
Pair of 19th century, French iron candle torchéres. Two pair available. Simple curved X base design with glass shade. Great patina of old green paint with some rusted areas. Measure...
Iron
Fine Quality Pair of English Regency Period Candelabra
By Hancock & Rixon
Located in Steyning, West sussex
A fine quality and unusual pair of English Regency period candelabras the oval step cut base supporting a bronzed eagle with captured serpent above t...
Bronze
Regency Style Bronze Elephant Candle Holder Sconces
Located in Esbjerg, DK
A pair of elephant candle sconces in cast bronze. Regency style with a hint of colonial fauna. Each elephant head has a twisted gilt bronze candle holder suspended from its trunk. Us...
Bronze
Impressive Louis XVI Style Giltwood Torcheres
Located in London, Park Royal
Impressive Louis XVI style torchere bases with up lighters. Beautifully hand-carved and gilded by hand using traditional methods in an antique finish.
Giltwood
Pair French Bronze Candelabras - Signed Gregoire Torcheres 3 ft
Located in Potters Bar, GB
Absolutely stunning pair of French Bronze candelabras by Gregoire Each figurine holds aloft the five branch candelbras Casting is superb and and the patina to the bronze is wonderful...
Bronze
$206,803 / set
H 95.67 in W 22.05 in D 17.72 in
Pair of Monumental French Antique Marble and Bronze Candelabra Torcheres
Located in London, GB
This pair of fine candelabra torcheres take form on a monumental scale, each of them standing almost two and a half metres tall. The casting is superior in its quality and could be attributed to one of the 19th century masters, such as Deniere or Barbedienne. Each torchere is formed of a fluted veined marble column set...
Marble, Ormolu, Bronze
Pair of Aesthetic Movement Torcheres
Located in Harrodsburg, KY
A pair of Aesthetic Movement torcheres in oak. The circular tops are supported by a turned column raised on bentwood legs ending in block feet. Probably Austrian.
Oak
Antique Victorian Carved Torchere Table
Located in London, GB
A beautifully carved antique torchere / plant table. This was made in England in the Victorian period, it dates from around 1850-1860’s period. The quality is amazing, the carving i...
Wood
Regency Pair of Simulated Marble Torcheres
Located in Gloucestershire, GB
A smart pair of Regency tall torcheres, in the Brighton Pavilion manner. Colourfully executed in simulated marble decoration. The square top with moulded edge simulated in Porto, wi...
Marble
Antique Regency Side / Torchere Table
Located in London, GB
An excellent original Regency period side table. This was made in England & I would date it from around 1815-1830’s period. This has a won...
Wood
Regency Style Torchère Plant Stand
Located in Norwood, NJ
Iron and brass stylized neoclassical style torchère plant stand. 13" diameter at top.
Brass, Wrought Iron
19th Century Giltwood Régence Torchère Pedestal, circa 1880
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
A 19th century Gilt wood Régence Tripod Torchère Pedestal Foliage and shell openwork design, resting on a tripod foot with volutes, circa 1880.
Wood
Antique Plant Stand, English, Regency, Torchere, Mahogany, circa 1810
Located in Hele, Devon, GB
This is an antique plant stand, an English, early Regency torchere in mahogany and dating to the early 19th century, circa 1810. Select mahogany d...
Mahogany