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, Northern Europe Embossed and Burnished Metal Mirror
Located in IT
19th century, Northern Europe embossed and burnished metal mirror Small and refined mirror of the 19th century in Regency style, made in the north of Europe, in embossed and burni...
Metal
French Regence Period Mirror, 18th Century
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
French Regence Period mirror. Carved giltwood decorated with leaves volutes masks and topped by a bust. Use restorations.
Mirror, Giltwood
Painted Repoussé Brass Parecloses Mirror, France, Late 19th Century
Located in Isle Sur La Sorgue, Vaucluse
Rectangular beveled "parecloses" mirror with pediment, enclosed in a repoussé brass frame, painted off-white. Shell, flower and palmette motifs. Wooden back.
Brass
19th Century English over Mantel Regency Adam Style Pediment Mirror
Located in Southampton, NY
19th century English Regency over Mantel Adam style mirror having and architectural form with a pediment on top. Hand gesso and carved with classical motives of urns, swags, bows and...
Gesso, Mirror, Wood
Antique 19th Century French Gilded Mirror
Located in High Peak, GB
St051 Antique 19 century French giltwood Pier Mirror, having original foxed glass in moulded and gilded frame with ripple effect and floral motifs to each corner. this antique mirror...
Gold Leaf
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
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.
Neoclassical Regency Gilt Wood Round Mirror, Spain, 1970
Located in Madrid, ES
This round 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 emphasis on...
Wood
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 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
$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
A French 18th century Regence period rectangular giltwood mirror
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An elegant French 18th century Regence period rectangular giltwood mirror. The mirror showcases a stunning frame with a lattice designed background with foliate reserves on the corne...
Giltwood
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
$4,031 / set
Pair of 20th Century French Convex Mirrors
Located in Gloucestershire, GB
A rare pair of early 20th Century French giltwood convex mirrors. Adorned with giltwood eagles facing left and right. Circa 1900.
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
Regency Ebonized and Parcel-Gilt Two-Light Girandole Mirror
Located in Montreal, QC
Regency Ebonized and Parcel-Gilt Two-Light Girandole Mirror. Bearing Gludded Tag of Print & Drawing Mounter near Regent Circus London 26 princes St
Wood
19th Century English Regency Giltwood Convex Mirror
Located in Dallas, TX
An elegant 19th century English Regency convex mirror. Giltwood frame with ornately carved acanthus leaf pattern crest. Made with convex mercury glass. No obvious markings on the m...
Glass, Giltwood
Vintage Regency Carved Rope and Tassle Gilt Mirror
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Dive into opulent charm with our Vintage Regency Carved Rope and Tassel Gilt Mirror. American-crafted, this mirror features exquisite rope and tassel motifs in gilt, blending classic...
Mirror, Wood
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
Vintage Regency Chelini Giovanni Carved Wall Mirro
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A fantastic vintage Regency wall mirror. Made by the coveted Giovanni Chellini group. Beautiful harp d carved detail with gilt tipping. Acquired from a Palm Beach estate.
Mirror, Wood