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.
Wonderful Vintage Cartier France Plorgalva 18k Gold Plated Lighter
By Cartier
Located in Roslyn, NY
A Wonderful Vintage Cartier France Plorgalva 18k Gold Plated Lighter This Lighter Is Being Sold As Is, Not Sure Of It's Working Condition... Please Look At Pictures, It Is In Good Us...
Gold Plate
Italian Alabaster Marble Ashtray Regency Style with Paw Feet
Located in New York, NY
A small Italian alabaster marble ashtray with animal paw feet in the Regency style, circa 1960s, Italy. A convenient mini ashtray with protective gold gilt metal rim around top with ...
Alabaster, Metal
1970s Italian Ceramic Smoking Set: Blue Ashtray & Lighter
Located in Roma, IT
Smoking Set is a decorative object realized in the 1970s. A ceramic blue colored smoking set composed by a lighter and an ashtray. Dimensions: Lighter: h.7.5 x 7 cm Ashtray: h. ...
Ceramic
Italian Marble Ashtray
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Beautiful Italian marble ashtray with wonderful patina and shape.
Marble
$480 / set
H 1.57 in W 7.08 in D 5.51 in
1960s Green Alabaster Smoking Set by Romano Bianchi, Handmade, Italy
Located in Milano, IT
Elevate your interior with this exceptionally rare and striking three-piece smoking set, handcrafted in Italy during the 1960s by the renowned master artisan Romano Bianchi. Sculpted...
Alabaster
$360 / set
H 3.39 in W 2.36 in D 2.36 in
Mid-Century Modern Onyx Smoking Set with Lighter & Ashtray, Italy
Located in Milano, IT
1960s Gorgeous smoking set in onyx. The table lighter works perfectly. Made in Italy. The items are in excellent condition. Dimension: Table Lighter diameter 2,36 x 3,39 H inches di...
Onyx
Romano Bianchi Alabaster Smoking Set, Handmade, Italy, 1960s
Located in Milano, IT
1960s Stunning alabaster smoking set by Romano Bianchi with ashtray, cigarette box and table lighter, everything is handmade carved. Made in Italy. This smoking set is in excellent c...
Alabaster
$480 / set
H 1.57 in W 7.08 in D 7.08 in
Alabaster Smoking Set by Romano Bianchi, Handmade, Green, Italy, 1960s
Located in Milano, IT
A rare and visually arresting three-piece smoking set designed by the renowned Italian sculptor Romano Bianchi during the 1960s. This set is a masterclass in Mid-Century Modern Itali...
Alabaster
Onyx Ashtray and Lighter - Ashtray Beautiful organic design
Located in Lugo, IT
Ashtray and lighter in onyx. Ashtray Beautiful organic design. defects Lighter not working Thanks
Onyx
Flavio Poli Murano Sommerso Glass Table Lighter, Italy, 1960s Design
By Flavio Poli
Located in Milano, IT
1960 Stunning table lighter in Murano sommerso glass by Flavio Poli for Seguso. Made in italy. The item is in excellent condition and it works perfectly. Dimension: diam 5,11 x 4,3...
Murano Glass
Vintage alabaster ashtray, Italy 1960s
Located in Miklavž Pri Taboru, SI
Authentic heavy alabaster ashtray made in Italy in the 1960s. Vintage glass ashtray is in very good vintage condition. Dimensions: Wid...
Alabaster
$420 / set
H 3.39 in W 2.36 in D 2.36 in
1960s Mid-Century Modern Italian Onyx Smoking Set with Table Lighter & Ashtray
Located in Milano, IT
Mid-Century Modern smoking set, meticulously crafted in Italy during the 1960s. The two-piece collection showcases the organic beauty of genuine onyx stone, celebrated for its striki...
Onyx
$480 / set
H 4.33 in Dm 2.75 in
1960s Mid-Century Modern Italian Alabaster Smoking Set by Romano Bianchi
Located in Milano, IT
Authentic three-piece smoking set designed by the celebrated Italian artisan Romano Bianchi during the 1960s. Masterfully hand-carved in Volterra, Italy, this brutalist-style set inc...
Alabaster
1970s Brass Smoking Set by Pierre Cardin: Lighter & Ashtray
Located in Milano, IT
1970s Gorgeous smoking set by Pierre Cardin in brass and metal. This exceptional two-piece desk smoking set is an authentic testament to the 1970s avant-garde industrial design era o...
Metal, Brass
Richard Ginori Porcelain Ashtray or Catchall for Villa d'Este Hotel Italy
Located in New York, NY
A Richard Ginori white porcelain ashtray or catchall for the iconic Villa d'Este Hotel Italy, circa early mid-20th century, Italy. Hotels' crest a...
Porcelain
Regency Marble Elephant Ashtray
Located in Queens, NY
English Regency-style (19/20th Century) black marble ashtray with 2 bronze elephants.
Marble, Bronze