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.
$67,850Sale Price|20% Off
French 19th Century Regence Style Ormolu & Kingwood Grandfather Tall Case Clock
By Charles Cressent
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A very fine and palatial French 19th century Regence style figural ormolu-mounted kingwood and tulipwood floral marquetry long-case regulator, after a Model by Charles Cressent (Fren...
Bronze
$2,999Sale Price|20% Off
Early 19th century Regency English Mahogany Bracket Clock
Located in Savannah, GA
Unmarked clockworks, but identical case to one with works by English clockmakers Thomas Satcher, 1775, and one by Handley and Moore, 1798-1824. Figured mahogany dome- top case mounte...
Brass
Scottish Mahogany Swan Neck Satinwood Patera Inlaid Tall Case Clock, Circa 1780
By Charles Campbell
Located in Charleston, SC
Scottish mahogany eight day tall case clock with three sphere brass finials, a swan neck satinwood inlay patera pediment, intricately carved fretwork, over an arched door with flanki...
Brass, Steel
Regency Mahogany Bracket Clock by John Garth, Harrogate
By John Garth
Located in Norwich, GB
Regency bracket clock by John Garth, Harrogate Mahogany case standing on a stepped base with ribbed decoration and standing on four brass bal...
Mahogany
Early 19th Century Austrian Biedermeier Wall Clock
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
A traditional Austrian Biedermeier wall clock featuring a rectangular carved and gilded wood frame clock face; surmounted by a gilt bronze winged eagle. The decorations on the frame ...
Bronze
Tall Mahogany Long Case Clock by D Williams of Crickhowell
Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight
Tall Mahogany Long Case Clock by D Williams of Crickhowell A Good English grandfather clock in mahogany, late 18th/19th century. English grandfather clock, barley twist ormolu capp...
Mahogany
$5,900
H 89 in W 17.88 in D 10 in
Thomas Pringle Mahogany Case 8-Day Tall Clock, Dalkeith, Scotland, circa 1830’s
Located in Milford, NH
A fine example of an 8-day tall clock in mahogany case made by Thomas Pringle, Scottish clockmaker, active 1830-1836. This beautiful tall case clock features a swan’s neck split pediment with foliate carved decoration, gilt foliate rosettes, and a center eagle finial on the hood, with an arched glass...
Brass
$4,495
H 85.75 in W 21.5 in D 9.75 in
Antique Georgian Scottish Orkney Island Tall Case 8 day Grandfather Clock 1810
Located in Portland, OR
A fine & rare antique Georgian Scottish inlaid mahogany eight day tall case grandfather clock, by Patrick Bews, Kirkwall, Orkney Islands, circa 1810. Just professionally serviced and overhauled by a professional clock-smith. This very rare antique clock...
Brass
French Painted Tall Case Morbier Clock
Located in Woodbury, CT
Faux-painted, French Morbier tall case clock with brass and enamel face, hammered brass pendulum. Posies, lily-of-the-valley and strawbe...
Pine
Thomas Yuill Tall Case Clock
Located in East Aurora, NY
A very attractive Scottish Tall case clock signed by Thomas Yuill East Kilbride. Beautifully fan and string inlay decorated Mahogany case w...
Mahogany
$5,576
H 82.68 in W 20.08 in D 9.06 in
Beautiful Antique English Grandfather Clock, Mahogany, 19th Century
Located in Berlin, DE
Beautiful antique English grandfather clock, mahogany, 19th century. English floor clock, oak with thread inlay, hand painted dial...
Oak, Mahogany
$4,957
H 87.01 in W 30.71 in D 8.67 in
19th Century Swedish Rococo tall case clock Mora clock Grandfather clock
Located in Boden, SE
19th Century Swedish antique beautiful Mora clock " Tall case clock " Grandfather clock from Boden,Norrbotten Northern Sweden. The Mora clock is original painted. It has a lovely b...
Pine
$6,852Sale Price|34% Off
H 92.52 in W 25.2 in D 10.24 in
Tall Case Clock, Bristol, England, circa 1830, Victorian
Located in Darmstadt, DE
The case of the grandfather clock is made of mahogany and was possibly made by the watchmaker Nathaniel Edgecombe. The clock is from Bristol England, circa 1830. + The ship in the d...
Nutwood, Spruce
19th Century French Comtoise or Morbier Grandfather Clock
Located in Winter Park, FL
A 19th century Country French comtoise, or grandfather clock, with polychrome painted pine case and embossed brass pendulum. Seven day Morbier movement, professionally cleaned and in...
Brass, Enamel
Johnathan Jessop Tall Case Clock
Located in East Aurora, NY
Johnathan Jessop ( 1796-1859 York Pennsylvania Tall Case Clock with a beautifully decorated inlay on the figured Mahogany case standing on...
Mahogany
$2,950
H 95.5 in W 25.5 in D 18 in
Antique Late 19th Century Victorian Mahogany 9 Tube Tall Case Grandfather Clock
Located in Long Branch, NJ
Antique Late 19th Century Victorian Mahogany 9 Tube Tall Case Grandfather Clock Dimensions : 95.5" Tall X 25.5" Wide X 18" Deep This stunning clock was ...
Brass
Sold
H 87 in W 18 in D 12 in
Antique English George Lawton of Kingswood English Mahogany Long Case Clock
Located in LOS ANGELES, CA
Antique English George Lawton of Kingswood English Mahogany long case clock. Additional information: Materials: Mahogany. Color: Brown. Period: Early 19th century. Styles: Eng...
Mahogany
Sold
H 19.75 in W 11.25 in D 7 in
British/Canadian Eight Day Mantel Timepiece in Mahogany and Cut-Brass Case
By George Savage
Located in Montreal, QC
This has a fusee movement and is signed both on the dial and on the mechanism "Savage and Son London". George Savage (1767-1845), Huddersfield and London, was a famous and accomplish...
Brass
Important Regency Period Mahogany Case Musical Organ Clock
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
A Regency giant gilt-brass-mounted mahogany quarter striking eight-day turn-table musical organ clock Thwaites and Reed, London, circa 1820 ...
Mahogany
Sold
H 14.38 in W 7.49 in D 6.3 in
Vintage Regal Lion Standing Mantle Clock with Modern Clock Movement
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
We are delighted to offer for sale this nice decorative mantle clock of a very regal looking Lion A very lovely ornate clock, the movement is a modern digital piece There's a...