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.
$4,018 / set
Pair of Ormolu Candlesticks
Located in Folkestone, GB
A fine pair of early 19th century ormolu candlesticks decorated with crisp, engine-turning throughout and retaining the original sconces. Unusually with weighted bases, possibly indi...
Ormolu
Regency Rosewood and Brass Candlestick Riser
Located in Essex, MA
Circular top with gallery over a spiral reeded support and circular molded base. Provenance Stair & Co.
Rosewood
$1,920Sale Price / set|20% Off
Pair of Regency Pagoda Cut Glass Gilt & Patinated Candlesticks
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Pair of Regency Pagoda-Cut Glass Gilt and Patinated Candlesticks England, circa 1820 A striking pair of Regency pagoda-shaped candlesticks from England, circa 1820. These architectu...
Bronze
An Unusual Pair Of Gilt & Bronze Military Figure Candlesticks
Located in Steyning, West sussex
An unusual pair of gilt lacquered and bronzed candlesticks raised on a decorative plinth with seated military figure under an umbrella spray hung with triangularly icicles drop and r...
Bronze, Ormolu
$13,282 / item
Fine Pair of Regency Storm Lights by Cheney London
Located in Steyning, West sussex
A fine pair of regency storm lights on gilt lacquer and bronze tripod bases patented by Cheney london issuing most unusual emerald green shades. The l...
Brass, Bronze
Vintage Regency Brass Dog Candlesticks - A Pair
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
This exquisite pair of vintage brass candlesticks showcases elegant regency-style craftsmanship, featuring intricately cast dog motifs resting on solid marble bases. The detailed aca...
Marble, Brass
Regency bronze and ormolu classical lady lustre candlesticks
Located in London, GB
A fine pair of early 19th century Regency period bronze and ormolu Lustre candlesticks having palm leaf decorated sconces and engine turned nozzles ...
Ormolu, Bronze
A Pair Of Bronze Monkey Butler Candlesticks
Located in Bradenton, FL
Unique Pair of Bronze Figural Monkey Butlers Candleholders. Monkeys outstretched arms are reaching up supporting two cobalt blue glass shade candle holde...
Bronze
Antique Pair of Ormolu Triform Candlesticks in the Style of Piranesi
Located in London, GB
A rare pair of ormolu triform Candlesticks in the style of Piranesi having flame sconces with flower & bird stems with crane & ramshead corners above further section with scroll & an...
Ormolu
Vintage Regency Stacked Brass Candlesticks - A Pair
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Elevate your interior ambiance with this striking pair of Vintage Regency Stacked Brass Candlesticks. With their elegantly tiered silhouette and radiant golden hue, these candlestick...
Brass
A pair of Regency period bronze and ormolu Griffin lustres
Located in London, GB
A pair of early 19th Century Regency period bronze & ormolu Lustre Candlesticks, having floral sconces above leaf frond canopies raised on triple griffin supports ending on stepped c...
Bronze, Ormolu
Pair of 19th Century White Marble and Bronze and Ormolu Candlesticks
Located in London, GB
A pair of early 19th Century bronze & ormolu Candlesticks in the form of cherubs holding engine-turned & leaf decorated sconces flanked by scrolled arms, supported on white marble cylinder plinths...
Marble, Bronze, Ormolu
19th Century English Regency Ormolu and Porcelain Figural Candlestick
Located in Queens, NY
English Regency-style (Late 19th Century) ormolu mounted porcelain candlestick (one) in the form of kneeling Chinese figures holding an urn.
Porcelain
Pair of English Regency Ormolu Chinoiserie Candlesticks
Located in London, GB
A very attractive true pair of antique English Regency ormolu chinoiserie candlesticks. In the form of oriental women holding up a single cand...
Ormolu
Vintage Regency Faceted Polished Brass Candlesticks - a Pair
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A sensational pair of vintage Regency candlesticks. Beautiful mirror polished brass with a chic faceted design. Acquired from a Palm Beach estate.
Brass