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 « Dolphins » Torcheres Holders, France, Circa 1860
Located in PARIS, FR
Exceptional pair of Regence style carved and giltwood torcheres holders. The console shaft around which a dolphin is wrapped is richly decorated with leafy scrolls, shells, floral fa...
Giltwood
Regency Candle Torcheres, Faux Marble Painted Wood, England, 1880
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
$3,624
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
Pair English Regency-Period Bronzed Giltwood Torchères, Circa 1810
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
Circa 1860 Pair of English Brass Candlesticks
Located in Chapel Hill, NC
Pair of brass candlesticks, circa 1860, English. Turned inverse vasi-form middle flanked by pinched sections over concentric outward circles to the octagonal bases. Push rods intact....
Metal, Brass
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
$8,500 / set
H 18.25 in W 18 in D 6 in
Pair of English Regency Sheffield Candelabras, Matthew Boulton, Circa 1800
Located in Charleston, SC
A complete pair of English Regency Sheffield three-light candelabras with removable intertwined scrolled arms, original hand chased removable shell motif bobeches, beaded floral tape...
Sheffield Plate, Copper
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 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
$1,142 / item
H 57.88 in W 8.27 in D 8.27 in
21st Century Candle Holder Torchère Indoor Outdoor Black Cast Iron
By Benedikt Bolza Design, B.B. for Reschio
Located in Lisciano Niccone, Perugia
An iron torchère on simple tripod base These come together with six Sicilian candles, the heavy wicks producing a wonderful flickering outdoor light. Specifications: untreated stee...
Steel
Torchère Pedestal Stand of Turned Mahogany from England (H 57)
Located in Austin, TX
A fine English torchère (torchière) or column pedestal stand of mahogany - in the William IV style - featuring a moulded round top for candles or plants, turned column support, and r...
Wood, Mahogany
$2,150Sale Price|32% Off
H 58 in W 10.5 in D 18 in
George III Giltwood Candle Stand, Carved Design, England, 1800
Located in Savannah, GA
Handsome George III giltwood pedestal candle stand featuring a fluted tapered column with highly carved base including acanthus leaves and shells and a round wooden dish top measurin...
Giltwood
$945 / set
H 23.5 in W 12 in D 4.25 in
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
Spanish Colonial Carved Wood Torchere / Floor Candle Holder, 1940s
Located in Barcelona, ES
Sculptural floor standing candle holder in turned wood and iron nails, Spain, 1940s. Eye-catching floor candle holder in pine wood. It ha...
Wrought Iron
$11,488 / set
H 14.97 in Dm 12.6 in
Pair of Antique French Bronze Candelabra, Mercury Gilded, Circa 1860
Located in Milano, IT
Pair of three-flame candelabra Cast bronze, chiselled and mercury gilded France, third quarter of the nineteenth century Height 14.96 in (38 cm) X 12.59 (32 cm) Weight 11.46 lb ...
Bronze
$12,500 / set
H 21 in W 17.5 in D 5.5 in
Pair of English Regency Sheffield Candelabras, Matthew Boulton, Circa 1800
Located in Charleston, SC
A complete pair of English Regency Sheffield five-light candelabras with removable intertwined scrolled arms, original hand chased removable foliage motif bobeches, bulbous floral tapered columns, and resting on foliage motif circular bases. Candelabra bobeches...
Sheffield Plate, Copper
Regency period bronze and ormolu gothic candlesticks
Located in London, GB
A pair of early 19th century Regency period bronze and ormolu Gothic decorated candlesticks, having triple flame candle holders raised on baluster stems ending in engine turned circu...
Ormolu, Bronze
French 19th Century Torchère
Located in Round Top, TX
A very intriguing later 19th century French torchère - Standing candelabra - in expertly hand forged iron. A beautiful art piece.
Iron
$1,125 / set
H 11.23 in Dm 5.12 in
Pair Black Forest Candle Holders with Pewter Base and Spout, Germany circa 1860s
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Pair Black Forest Candle Holders with Pewter Base and Spout, Germany circa 1860s An antique pair of Black Forest candle holders with pewter base and spouts. Each made with an origin...
Pewter
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