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 Fireplace Mantel
Located in Wormelow, Herefordshire
A grand and impressive 19th century pine fireplace surround, detailed with decorative composition embellishments. This classical style mantel with decorative frieze features a centra...
Composition
Large Regency `Fentham` Convex Mirror
Located in Shipston-On-Stour, GB
An excellent example of Regency carved gilt wood convex mirror by Thomas Fentham, with acanthus, foliate and scrolled pediment surmounted with eagle holding balls and chains in his b...
Glass, Mercury Glass, Giltwood
Basket Top Mirror in Antique White with Gold Metal Leaf Trim
Located in New York, NY
Basket top mirror in antique white with gold metal leaf trim Measure: H 48" x W 27", centre mirror panel clear Showroom model only.
Composition
19th Century English Regency Gilt Neoclassical Mirror
Located in Long Island City, NY
19th century carved giltwood mirror. The oval mirror plate within rectangular frame, surmounted by classical frieze with figures flanked by Reeded Pilasters.
Mirror, Giltwood
Grand Regency Overmantel Mirror
Located in London, GB
A grand late Regency overmantel mirror of exceptional quality. The giltwood frame is richly embellished with acanthine and scrollwork decoration, with a particularly magnificent cres...
Giltwood
Neoclassical Regency Gilt Wood Rectangular Mirror, Spain, 1970
Located in Madrid, ES
This mirror was handcrafted in Spain in 1970 in the Neoclassical Regency style. The piece features a solid wooden frame that has been carefully hand carved, with attention to symmetr...
Wood
Magnificent Large-Scale Regency Giltwood Convex Mirror
Located in London, by appointment only
A magnificent and very large early 19th century convex mirror, the large convex mirror flanked by broad candle arms and the whole surmounted by a finely carved and gilt eagle.
$15,800 / item
English Regency Gilded Convex Mirrors
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Period hand-carved, English Regency, gilded and painted convex mirrors topped with hippocampus. Sold separately.
Mirror, Giltwood, Paint
Regency Style Giltwood Pier Mirror
Located in London, GB
A large giltwood pier mirror in the Regency taste, the breakfront cornice with suspended balls above frieze with central panel, the plate flanked by barley twist columns. Dimensio...
Giltwood
Neoclassical Regency Gilt Wood Rectangular Mirror, Spain, 1970
Located in Madrid, ES
This rectangular mirror was handcrafted in Spain in 1970 in the Neoclassical Regency style. The piece features a solid wooden frame that has been carefully hand carved, with an empha...
Wood
19th Century Gilt Overmantle Mirror With Velvet Border
Located in Dublin 8, IE
19th Century overmantle mirror with aged velvet border to the gilt frame. The frame features highly ornate carved scrollwork and Prince of Wales feathers to top and central shell det...
Giltwood
19th Century Overmantel Mirror
Located in Dublin 8, IE
19th Century overmantel mirror with sweeping acanthus leaf and scroll detailing throughout. The gilt frame is embellished with subtle Chinese Chippendale style features, including pa...
Mirror, Giltwood
19th Century Quatrefoil Mantle Mirror
Located in Dublin 8, IE
19th Century quatrefoil mantle mirror housed in a gilt frame featuring ornate scroll acanthus leaf motif and floral design with vine detail. Circa 1830.
Giltwood
Early 19th Century Gilt and Ebonised Mirror
Located in Dublin 8, IE
Early 19th century gilt and ebonised compartmental overmantel mirror. The mirrored glass flanked by robe twist half columns with similar molding above.
Mirror, Ebony, Giltwood
Continental Giltwood Mirror with Original Glass
Located in Buchanan, MI
Continental giltwood mirror with original glass.
Mirror, Giltwood
Neoclassical Regency Style Gold Foil Hand Carved Wooden Mirror, 1970
Located in Madrid, ES
Neoclassical Regency style handcrafted mirror, made in Spain circa 1970. The mirror features a rectangular hand carved wooden structure with a gold foil finish. Fully handcrafted, th...
Wood
Neoclassical Regency Style Rectangular Gold Foil Hand Carved Wooden Mirror, 1970
Located in Madrid, ES
Neoclassical Regency style handcrafted mirror. Rectangular hand carved wooden structure with gold foil finished, Spain, 1970.
Wood
Neoclassical Regency Style Round Gold Foil Hand Carved Wooden Mirror, 1970
Located in Madrid, ES
Neoclassical Regency style handcrafted mirror. Round hand carved wooden structure with gold foil finished. Spain, 1970.
Wood