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.
A Regency Cut Glass Miniature Obelisk Prism With An Optical Illusion Of An Urn
Located in Reading, Berkshire
A Very Beautiful Well Executed Regency Cut Glass Miniature Obelisk Prism. With An Optical Illusion Of An Urn Decorated With Hand Painted Flowers By cutting a pattern on the back, an...
Cut Glass, Paint
Vintage 3.5" Cut Crystal Ball Suncatcher Prism
Located in Van Nuys, CA
The original 1970s cut crystal ball suncatcher paperweight exudes timeless elegance and sophistication. With its mesmerizing facets and sparkling clarity, it adds a touch of charm an...
Crystal
Italian Travertine Marble Obelisk
Located in New York, NY
A beautiful Italian travertine marble Obelisk, in the Modern style, circa 1970s, Italy. A great decorative object for a shelf, credenza, office, library, cocktail table, etc. Very go...
Travertine, Marble
$2,016
H 4 in W 4 in D 2.5 in
English Regency Inkwell in Patinated Bronze and Ormolu with Dolphin Mount
Located in London, GB
English Regency patinated bronze and ormolu double inkwell. Set upon a rectangular base with mercury gilt ormolu moulding of "stiff leaf and dart" design. The inkwell holder itself, ...
Bronze, Ormolu
$1,771Sale Price|29% Off
H 7 in W 18 in D 10 in
English Regency Mahogany Travelling Lap Desk Box with Secret Compartment
Located in Savannah, GA
Large size English Regency mahogany travelling sloped lap desk/ box with original brass corner mounts, hinges, pin, top mount and retractable handles. Features include a side drawer,...
Brass
$5,000
H 4.75 in W 3.5 in D 3.5 in
American Brass Miniature Carriage Clock with Beveled Glass, New York. C. 1850
By James Mix
Located in Charleston, SC
American brass miniature carriage clock with beveled glass, carrying handle , and signed enamel over copper face with dial. Clock consists of time, strike,...
Brass, Copper, Enamel
Italian Marble Obelisks, Pair
Located in New York, NY
A beautiful pair of red burgundy Italian modern marble Obelisks, circa 1970s, Italy. Solid red burgundy marble with grey veining. Marked on bottom, 'Made in Italy', as shown in last ...
Marble
Maitland Smith stone obelisks
Located in Winnetka, IL
This is a pair of tessellated Terra cotta colored stone and inlaid brass obelisks in great condition
Stone
Set of 2 Obelisks 1930-1940
Located in MILL, NL
Set of 2 Tortoise and Ebony obelisks. From France, 1920-1940. In very good condition. Dimensions: 44H x 10.5W x 10.5D cm
Tortoise Shell, Ebony
Pair of Grand Tour Egyptian Porphyry Obelisks, 19th Century
Located in Spencertown, NY
The pair of obelisks with gilt lion faces on front base and gilt lion paws at corners, signed indistinctly. Rome dated 1893.
Porphyry, Bronze
Antique Regency Rosewood Inlaid Writing Desk Set with Inkwells
Located in Suffolk, GB
A fine and early Regency period rosewood writing desk set beautifully decorated with delicate mother-of-pearl foliate inlay and complete with its original cut-glass inkwells. This el...
Rosewood
Set of Three Marble Obelisk Paper Weight Bookends
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Three black marble obelisks. The trio are a nice decorative addition to the desk or shelf, however could easily be paper weights or bookends. A very nice set of three black with whit...
Belgian Black Marble
$1,350
H 8.25 in W 5 in D 2.88 in
Antique German Orientalist Bronze Sculpture of a Young Boy with Urn by Uhlmann
By Hermann Gladenbeck, Waldemar Uhlmann
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A good Belle Epoche bronze modeled as a young boy beside a large amphora or vase. Stylistically informed by Orientalism and various Revival movements active in Europe at the end of the 19th century. Mounted on a rouge marble base. Base bears a W. Uhlmann signature in the cast for Waldemar Uhlmann and a Gladenbeck...
Marble, Bronze
Vintage Regency Brass Hour Glass - Set of 2
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Add timeless elegance to your decor with the Vintage Regency Brass Hour Glass. These beautifully crafted pieces feature gleaming brass and classic hourglass design, perfect for addin...
Metal
Antique 19th Century Ormolu Pair of Spaniels
Located in Bedfordshire, GB
A very good quality and well cast Regency period pair of ormolu spaniels on original marble bases.
Marble, Bronze, Ormolu
English Regency Gilt Bronze Cupid and Lion Paper Weight Sculpture
By Thomas Weeks
Located in New York, NY
English Regency gilt bronze cupid and lion paper weight sculpture. Patinated bronze and ormolu cast and chased cupid and lion with gilt saddle and l...
Bronze, Ormolu