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.
19th Century Geometric Brass Lantern
Located in Dublin 8, IE
19th Century unusual brass lantern of geometric form. Featuring hexagonal and square glass panels, including a door with a chain locking mechanism. Boasting four scroll arms and tref...
Brass
A Very Fine Silver over Bronze Chandelier in the Regency taste.
Located in Atlanta, GA
Exquisite & Elegant Example of Regency style Silver over Bronze Chandelier, originally for candles now electrified. France, circa 1860. 12 lights. Dimensions: Height 53 Diameter 40".
Bronze
$2,900
Gilt Bronze Chandelier
Located in Atlanta, GA
A fine gilt bronze 6-light chandelier. Great quality. Original patina. France, circa 1920. Dimensions: Height 21", diameter 22" CW3080.
Bronze
19th Century Regency Pair of Bronze and Gilt Brass Table Lamps
Located in Dublin 8, IE
19th century Regency pair of bronze and gilt brass table lamps in the form of miniature street lamps, each with hexagonal pierced lantern.
Brass, Gilt Metal
Regence Style Giltwood Chandelier
Located in Atlanta, GA
A very fine Regence style giltwood chandelier - original water gilding. France, circa 1910. Dimensions: Height 38", diameter 33" NA129.
Giltwood
19th Century English Pagoda Lamp
Located in Southampton, NY
19th century English pagoda mahogany lamp.
$22,500 / set
Antique Magnificent Giltwood Sconces
Located in Atlanta, GA
Pair of opulent and extraordinary Regence style hand carved gilded wood sconces with five electrified lights, featuring a female mask at the bottom and lion mask at the top, two pair...
Wood
Early 19th Century Regency Carved Giltwood Eagle Wall Sconces
Located in GB
A very fine pair of Early 19th Century Regency hand carved giltwood Eagle Wall Sconces. Original designed to hold candles, they have sympathetically modified for electricity. Exqu...
Giltwood
Regency Style Painted Brass Candle Lamp, Three Candle Design, 1920s
Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight
Regency Style Painted Brass Candle Lamp This is a beautiful and attractive design, the lamp has 3 slender candles set on a 3 sided base, the lamps can all be switch on and off separ...
Brass
Early 19th Century Regency Set of Four Glass and Gilt Metal Wall Lights
Located in Dublin 8, IE
Early 19th century Regency set of four glass and gilt metal wall lights, electrified. Each central frame surrounding a glass sunburst, with an anthemion crown and acorn finial, with ...
Glass
Pair of Late 19th Century English Regency Style Carved Gilt Eagle Sconces
Located in Southampton, NY
Pair of late 19th century English Regency style eagle, bow, tassel carved, wooden gilt scones.
19th Century English Red Painted Tole Urn as a Lamp
Located in Southampton, NY
19th century English red tole painted with gold design urn as a lamp.
Tôle
Set of Early 19th Century Bronze and Ormolu Lustre Candlesticks
Located in London, GB
An unusual set of early 19th century bronze & ormolu Lustre candlesticks, 2 singles & 1 double, having pierced canopies raised on unusual “hippocampi” supported on plinth with acanth...
Bronze, Ormolu
Pair of Early 19th Century Ormolu Candlestick Lamps
Located in London, GB
A pair of early 19th Century ormolu Candlesticks having beaded nozzles, supported on tapering stems with lion's paw feet ending on engine turned circular bases. Now converted to lamp...
Ormolu
Pair of 19th Century Bronze and Ormolu Candlestick Lamps
Located in London, GB
A pair of early 19th century bronze & ormolu candlesticks, having lotus leaf sconces above reeded tapering stems with leaf & berry decoration, raised on leaf & flower decorated circu...
Bronze
$22,079 / set
Pair of Regency Cut-Glass Candelabra by John Blades
By John Blades
Located in Brighton, West Sussex
A rare pair of Regency twin-light gilt bronze mounted, pillar and file cut, glass candelabra by John Blades. The firm of John Blades was first recorded in the London guide for 178...
Cut Glass
19th Century English Tea Canaster Converted into Lamp. Lovely Color And Patina.
Located in Buchanan, MI
Handsome 19th century English tea canaster converted into lamp. Lovely Color And Patina.
Metal
Vintage Regency Faux Horn Lamp
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Illuminate your space with elegance through this Vintage Regency Faux Horn Lamp. Featuring gracefully arched faux horn accents, this lamp perfectly captures the opulence of Regency d...
Metal
A Very Fine Pair of Gilt Bronze Wall Sconces in the Regence taste.
Located in Atlanta, GA
A Very Fine Pair of Gilt Bronze Wall Sconces in the Regence taste. Good Bronze chasing & original gilding. France, circa 1910. Third wall sconce available. Dimensions: Height 25 1/2...
Bronze
Vintage Regency Crossed Swords Swag Wall Sconce
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Incredible vintage regency wall sconce. A glamorous swag design with two crossed swords. Acquired from a Palm Beach estate.
Metal
Set of 3 Large Giltwood Régence Wall Lights
Located in London, GB
A very fine set of three large giltwood wall sconces in the Régence style, ornately carved with foliate flourishes and palmettes, and swan neck twin branches. French, early 20th cen...
Giltwood