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Regency Inkwells

REGENCY STYLE

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.

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Style: Regency
Rare Early 19th Century George IV English Porcelain Inkwell by Coalport
Located in Dublin 8, IE
Rare early 19th century George IV English porcelain inkwell by Coalport in the naturalistic form. Referred to as ‘Coalbrookdale’ this piece has been modeled in the form of a lemon fr...
Category

19th Century English Antique Regency Inkwells

Materials

Porcelain

Antique French Gilt Bronze Inkwell on Rouge Marble Stand, 19th Century
Located in LOS ANGELES, CA
Antique French gilt bronze inkwell on rouge marble stand. It is of superb quality and features a central figure of Diana The Huntress. Provenance: From the estate of Texas Oil...
Category

19th Century Antique Regency Inkwells

Materials

Bronze

Early 19th Century Bronze and Ormolu Encrier
Located in London, GB
An early 19th century bronze and ormolu Encrier having lyre and flower handle flanked by engine-turned inkwells with penholders, raised on platform base ...
Category

Early 19th Century English Antique Regency Inkwells

Materials

Bronze, Ormolu

Inkwell Regency Gilded Bronze Porcelain England \\\'800
Located in Milano, IT
Porcelain inkwell, with a shaped body entirely enamelled with chinoiserie-style motifs: there are large red flowers on a decorated blue background, on the sides two reserves in which...
Category

19th Century English Antique Regency Inkwells

Materials

Bronze

English 20th Century Sterling Silver and Tortoise Shell Inkwell
Located in Stamford, CT
Stunning sterling silver inkwell with an inlaid tortoise shell lid. Circa 1912. Glass liner is missing.
Category

20th Century English Regency Inkwells

Materials

Sterling Silver

Antique Chinese Japanese Bronze Inkwell Male Bust Pair French Ormolu Desk Set
Located in Dublin, Ireland
Very stylish patinated bronze desk inkwell modelled as a bust of a Chinese or Japanese figure wearing a straw hat, together with a pair French or...
Category

19th Century Chinese Antique Regency Inkwells

Materials

Ormolu, Bronze

19th Century English Burl Wood & Rosewood Parkins & Gotto Inkwell Desk Letterbox
By Parkins & Gotto
Located in Philadelphia, PA
19th century English burl wood and rosewood Parkins & Gotto inkwell desk letterbox. Item includes a brass ormolu, glass inkwells, bun feet, beautiful...
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19th Century English Antique Regency Inkwells

Materials

Wood, Rosewood

Early 19th Century Regency Period Bronze and Ormolu Encrier
Located in London, GB
An early 19th century Regency period bronze and ormolu encrier, having penholders and triple inkwells with leaf cast lids contained in leaf decorated classical bath, supported on wre...
Category

Early 19th Century English Antique Regency Inkwells

Materials

Bronze, Ormolu

Antique English Regency Inkwell Mahogany Cristal Glas Brass Mounts
Located in Munich, DE
We see an important regency inkwell crafted out of mahogany with brass decorations in England, circa 1810. Measurements are taken without the crystal inkwells.
Category

1810s English Antique Regency Inkwells

Materials

Mahogany

19th Century English Silver and Tortoise Inkwell Signed Mappin and Webb
Located in Southampton, NY
19th century English Mappin and Webb silver and tortoise inkwell with original glass liner for the ink.  
Category

19th Century European Antique Regency Inkwells

English Regency Desk Set in Form of British Sailors Defending a Fort with Mortar
Located in London, GB
An extremely rare and very unusual bronze desk set in the form of British sailors ( or Jack Tars) defending or more likely attacking a fort with mortars. Set on bun feet with what ap...
Category

1810s English Antique Regency Inkwells

Materials

Bronze

English Regency Inkwell in Patinated Bronze and Ormolu with Dolphin Mount
Located in London, GB
English Regency patinated bronze and ormolu double inkwell. Set upon a rectangular base with mercury gilt ormolu moulding of "stiff leaf and dart" design. The inkwell holder itself, ...
Category

1810s English Antique Regency Inkwells

Materials

Bronze, Ormolu

Bronze Poodle Inkwell, France, 19th Century
Located in Norwalk, CT
A detailed figure of a standard poodle stands on this antique inkwell. All bronze with wood bottom. Interior holes for inkwells. No inserts. Acanthus l...
Category

Early 19th Century French Antique Regency Inkwells

Materials

Bronze

Regency period bronze and ormolu gothic encrier
Located in London, GB
An early 19th century Regency period bronze and ormolu encrier, having inkwells and star pierced sander, contained in Gothic fret body, supported on leaf decorated plinth base.
Category

Early 19th Century English Antique Regency Inkwells

Materials

Ormolu, Bronze

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20th Century Italian Big Sterling Silver Magnifying Lens
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Large, completely handmade, sterling silver magnifying lens Perfect for a prestigious desk. The lens frame is smooth while the hand is embossed by hand on both sides with scrolls ...
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1990s Italian Regency Inkwells

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A Louis Philippe bronze and ormolu desk set
Located in Lymington, Hampshire
A Louis Philippe bronze and ormolu desk set, comprising two ink wells and a powder shaker in the form of crenelated urns with anthemion-bud finia...
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1840s French Antique Regency Inkwells

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Early 19th Century Old Paris Porcelain Vase
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Early 19th century old Paris porcelain vase, hand-painted floral detailing and gilt gold design details on a white base. Measures: 8.5" H x...
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19th Century French Antique Regency Inkwells

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Early 19th Century Old Paris Porcelain Vase
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Located in Madrid, ES
Inkwell FRENCH MANUFACTURING OF THE EARLY 1900s Empire style inkwell in yellow Siena marble with gilded bronze inkwells and sphinx. 48 x 23 cm Height 20.
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Early 20th Century French Regency Inkwells

Materials

Marble

Antique French Gilt Bronze Encrier Inkwell Desk Stand, Signed JF
Located in Forney, TX
A most impressive fine quality antique Louis XV style French ormolu encrier / inkstand. Born in France in the 19th century, almost certainly Parisian work, exquisitely chased, chis...
Category

19th Century French Antique Regency Inkwells

Materials

Bronze, Ormolu

19th Century French Bronze and Marble Inkwell
Located in New Orleans, LA
Crafted of brilliant doré bronze and fine brocatelle marble, this wonderful Napoleon III-period inkwell is as functional as it is beautiful. In a style reminiscent of Louis XV Rococo...
Category

19th Century French Antique Regency Inkwells

Materials

Marble, Bronze

English Crown Derby Porcelain Potpourri Vessel, early 19th century
Located in New York, NY
An English porcelain potpourri vessel with gold gilt god-like heads and lion paw feet, Empire design, by Crown Derby, circa early-19th century, England. Red makers' mark date range c...
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Early 19th Century English Antique Regency Inkwells

Materials

Porcelain

Antique Bronze Marble Inkwell Desk Serpent Inkstand French c1880 FREE SHIPPING
Located in Mimizan, FR
Antique bronze marble inkwell desk crystal inkstand French c1880 Unusual serpent base Bronze on variegated marble base Holds pen across the top With crystal inkwell Free Shipping to...
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1880s French Antique Regency Inkwells

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Crystal, Marble, Bronze

Early 19th Century Empire Russian Malachite and Ormolu Paperweight Spaniel Dog
Located in Worpswede / Bremen, DE
A very fine Russian giltbronze mounted malachite veneered paperweight dating from the early to mid-19th century. The plinth of rectangular form surmounted by a fully sculpted giltbro...
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Mid-19th Century Russian Antique Regency Inkwells

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Malachite, Bronze, Ormolu

Crystal Inkwell, Italy, 20th Century
Located in Roma, IT
Crystal Inkwell with stopper is a beautiful decorative object. The Inkwell is hexagonal and it is in good condition. Light oxidation at the base of the stopper.
Category

20th Century Italian Regency Inkwells

Materials

Crystal

Crystal Inkwell, Italy, 20th Century
Crystal Inkwell, Italy, 20th Century
No Reserve
H 4.34 in Dm 3.94 in
20th Century Solid Brass Japanese Pagoda Inkwell
Located in Charlotte, NC
A vintage Asian Japanese decorative desktop inkwell, unbranded. Solid brass in the shape of a pagoda, center inkwell with a hinged lid, flanked on each side by pen rest trays, and ra...
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20th Century Japanese Regency Inkwells

Materials

Brass

19th century Embossed Bronze Inkwell
Located in Savannah, GA
Bronze inkwell intricately embossed with scroll work. Features include a pen vest and back tray and double inkwells with griffins on the back gallery. A continental piece possibly Au...
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Late 19th Century German Antique Regency Inkwells

Materials

Bronze

19th century Embossed Bronze Inkwell
19th century Embossed Bronze Inkwell
H 4.25 in W 14.5 in D 9.5 in
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A Regency period large bronze and ormolu inkstand
Located in London, GB
A large early 19th Century Bronze and Ormolu Pen tray having well scrolled handles, glass inkwells and central taperstick, supported on Lions paw feet.
Category

Early 19th Century English Antique Regency Inkwells

Materials

Bronze, Ormolu

Antique Victorian Brass Bound Traveling Desk Mahogany Wooden Writing Slope Box
Located in Dublin, Ireland
An exceptionally fine early English well figured solid plum-pudding grained mahogany ladies or gents travelling writing slope of outstanding quality and generous proportions. First q...
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19th Century English Antique Regency Inkwells

Materials

Brass

Coalport Inkwell, White with Flowers Style of William Pollard, Regency, ca 1820
Located in London, GB
This is a beautiful inkwell made by Coalport in about 1820, which was the Regency era. It is decorated with beautiful flowers in the manner of William Pollard...
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1820s English Antique Regency Inkwells

Materials

Porcelain

Mid-A 19th Century French Bronze and Ormolu Boat-Shaped Pentray
Located in London, GB
A mid-19th century French bronze and ormolu ribbed and scrolled hull boat-shape pen-tray, raised on serpent feet and handles, fitted with glass inkwells and lidded wafer box with acorn handle.
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19th Century English Antique Regency Inkwells

Materials

Bronze, Ormolu

19th Century Regency Period Rectangular Bronze & Ormolu Pentray
Located in London, GB
An early 19th century Regency period rectangular bronze & ormolu pen tray, having splayed carrying handles with cut-glass inkwells centered with wafer-box surmounted by well-cast gre...
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Early 19th Century English Antique Regency Inkwells

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Bronze

Antique 19th Century English Regency Style Inkstand
Located in Lambertville, NJ
Beautiful rosewood inkstand with 2 glass inkwells with a center square glass canister. The top with a place for pens on the front and back with a slim drawer for paper. Each side wit...
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1880s English Antique Regency Inkwells

Materials

Glass, Rosewood

Antique French Ormolu Bronze Desk Ink Set Encrier Acanthus Grand Tour Regency
Located in Dublin, Ireland
Stunning French “Grand Tour” Ormolu & Patinated Bronze Desk Set, Encrier or Pentray, of outstanding quality and compact proportions, early Nineteenth Century, possibly Regency period...
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19th Century French Antique Regency Inkwells

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Ormolu, Bronze

Rare Pearlware Ink Stand with Pineapple-Shaped Candleholder, Sewells, Newcastle
Located in Downingtown, PA
Rare Pearlware Ink Stand with pineapple-shaped candleholder, Sewells, St. Anthonys Pottery, Newcastle, Circa 1804-20. A wonderful pearlware inkstand complete with all its parts. The...
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Early 19th Century English Antique Regency Inkwells

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Ceramic, Pearlware, Pottery

French English Rosewood Brass Inlaid Boulle Writing Slope Box Desk, 19th Century
Located in Dublin, Ireland
An exquisite example of an early rosewood writing slope of small proportions of English origin, circa first half of the 19th century probably Fr...
Category

19th Century English Antique Regency Inkwells

Materials

Brass

French English Rosewood Brass Inlaid Boulle Writing Slope Box Desk 19th Century
Located in Dublin, Ireland
An exquisite example of an early rosewood writing slope of small proportions of Continental origin. Circa first half of the 19th century probably French or English Regency period. ...
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19th Century English Antique Regency Inkwells

Materials

Brass

Pietra Dura Inkstand with Bronze, Malachite, Hardstones, English Regency Period
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Large English Regency inkstand originally created for a partner's desk with a bronze handle of entwined serpents. The matching blown crystal inkpots have lids with embossed crowns. T...
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19th Century English Antique Regency Inkwells

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Stone, Marble, Bronze

19th Century Regency Brass Inlaid Desk Pen and Ink Stand
Located in Bournemouth, GB
A very handsome Regency period brass inlaid rosewood pen and decoratively cut glass inkwell stand with large central letter drawer and small centre lidded compartment below the ornat...
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Early 18th Century English Antique Regency Inkwells

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Brass

Regency inkwells for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique Regency inkwells for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the 20th Century, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage inkwells created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include decorative objects, serveware, ceramics, silver and glass and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with metal, bronze and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Regency inkwells made in a specific country, there are Europe, England, and United Kingdom pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original inkwells, popular names associated with this style include Coalbrookdale Foundry, Coalport Porcelain, and Parkins & Gotto. It’s true that these talented designers have at times inspired knockoffs, but our experienced specialists have partnered with only top vetted sellers to offer authentic pieces that come with a buyer protection guarantee. Prices for inkwells differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $370 and tops out at $5,755 while the average work can sell for $1,739.

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