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.
$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
Neoclassical Regency Rectangular Silver Hand Carved Wooden Mirror, 1970
Located in Madrid, ES
Neoclassical Regency style handcrafted mirror. Rectangular hand carved wooden structure with silver foiled finish, Spain, 1970.
Silver Leaf
Exquisite Regency Circa 1810-1820 Gilded Gesso Mirror Hand Carved Large Eagle
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
We are delighted to offer this absolutely exquisite original Regency circa 1810-1820 hand carved gilded gesso wall mirror with oversized eagle top This is a very decorative and be...
Mirror
Mid 18th Century Ornate Gilt Oval Girandole Mirror attributed to John Booker
Located in Dublin 8, IE
Mid 18th Century Irish carved giltwood oval girandole mirror attributed to John Booker. Boasting a highly ornate carved giltwood border surrounded by vine stock with leaves and bunch...
Mirror, Giltwood
19th Century 'Regency Period, 1820s' English Giltwood Convex Mirror with Unusual
Located in North Miami, FL
19th Century (Regency Period, 1820s) English giltwood convex mirror with unusual bold carved eagle surmounted to top and foliate carved decoration on bottom.
Wood, Giltwood
Neoclassical Regency Rectangular Triptych Silver Hand Carved Wooden Mirror, 1970
Located in Madrid, ES
Neoclassical Regency style handcrafted mirror. Rectangular triptych mirror, hand carved wooden structure with silver foiled finish. Spain, 1970.
Silver Leaf
Regency Mahogany Cheval Mirror
Located in Swadlincote, GB
A very nice quality Regency mahogany and parcel gilded cheval mirror with bevelled glass, in excellent overall colour and condition. 44" high 26" wide 27" depth You are welcome to ...
Mahogany
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
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
Regency Dressing Mirror in Mahogany
Located in Potters Bar, GB
A Very Pretty Regency Mahogany Dressing Mirror. 19th century Featuring 3 Shaped Mahogany Lined Drawers (note the fine dovetails) Having turned Bun feet. The Swivel Mirror Support...
Mahogany
Neoclassical Regency Style Acanthus 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 round hand-carved wooden frame adorned with acanthus leaf detailing and finished in gol...
Gold Leaf
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
English 19th Century Regency St. Giltwood Mirror Labeled Thomas Fentham and Co.
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A stunning and extremely decorative English 19th century Regency st. patinated and giltwood convex mirror labeled Thomas Fentham and Co. circa 1830. The...
Mirror, Wood, 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
$1,311 / set
An Early 19Th Century Oak Overmantel Mirror
Located in London, GB
An Early 19th Century Mahogany Overmantel Mirror. The mahogany frame formed of architectural style columns with decorative gilt terminals. The lovely time worn mirror framed with a s...
Mirror, Oak
Regency Carved Giltwood Convex Wall Mirror
Located in London, GB
A Fine Example of a Regency Carved Giltwood and Gesso Convex Wall Mirror. Rare to find of this quality in its original unrestored condition. The pediment surmounted with a finely car...
Gesso, Mirror, 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