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 Pair of Large Venetian Wood Armchairs
Located in IT
19th century Pair of large Venetian wood armchairs. This important pair of very large armchairs was made in Venezia (Italy) in the first 19th century, Louis XIV-Regency. The armc...
Wood
Antique Dolphin Arm Venetian Grotto Swivel Brown Leather Chesterfield Armchair
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
We are delighted to offer this super rare and highly collectable, circa 1830 Italian Venetian, fully restored swivel armchair What a find! I have never seen another carved with th...
Leather, Walnut
Pair of English Regency Mahogany Leather Tufted Arm Chairs w/ Reeded Legs C 1815
By Gillows of Lancaster & London
Located in Charleston, SC
Pair of English Regency Mahogany leather tufted curvature arm chairs with stylized lyre back supports, curvature leather tacked seats, and resting on bulbous fluted reeded legs with ...
Brass
A large and fine pair of rosewood Regency armchairs
Located in Lymington, Hampshire
A large and fine pair of rosewood Regency armchairs, each with square backs and shell and scroll carved cresting rail, scrolling lion’s head arm supports and turned, gadrooned legs, ...
Rosewood
Antique Regency circa 1810 Oak Carved Armchair with Lions Head Oxblood Velour
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
We are delighted to offer for sale this lovely original Regency circa 1810-1820 carved oak frame depicting Lions heads armchair This chair is an absolute classic, designed as a Regency library chair, the frame is ornately carved in oak and depicts Lion's heads The chair is 100% solid and stable, the frame has been checked, we have also deep cleaned hand condition waxed and hand polished it from top to bottom. The velour oxblood upholstery is nice and vintage circa 1940's, it has one small repaired patch to the back, otherwise its all good Dimensions Height:- 77cm Width:- 71.5cm Depth:- 68cm Seat height:- 44cm Please note all measurements are taken at the widest point. This item is available for collection from our Pulborough warehouses RH20 1DF. A privately owned family ran business founded in Wimbledon SW19 and now based in Pulborough RH20. We specialise in finding, restoring very fine luxury antique leather seating...
Velvet, Oak
$18,000 / set
Pair of French Regence Gold Armchairs
Located in Queens, NY
Pair of French Regence style (19th Cent) walnut Armchairs with gold upholstery.
Gold
Pair Regency Arm Chairs Bergere Backs
Located in Potters Bar, GB
You are viewing a refined pair of Regency Revival arm chairs Circa 1930 on this pair Elegant tub-shaped back with a gently curved top rail Classic cane panel backs, adding lightness ...
Mahogany
REGENCY BRONZED PARCEL-GILT LiBRARY ARMCHAIR AFTER A DESIGN BY GEORGE SMITH 1815
By George Smith
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
Royal House Antiques Royal House Antiques is delighted to offer for sale this absolutely stunning, super collectable Regency Bronzed Parcel-Gilt Library armchair after a design by G...
Upholstery, Hardwood
Set of 4 Antique French Régence Style Gold Leaf Armchairs, Circa 1885.
Located in New Orleans, LA
Set of 4 Antique French Régence Style Gold Leaf Armchairs, Circa 1885.
Wood, Silk
Antique Regency Period Caned Armchair
Located in London, GB
An extremely beautiful and very well made antique Regency period caned armchair. This was made in England, it dates from around the 1810-1820 period. It is of very fine quality, the...
Cotton, Cane, Beech
Large and Imposing Regency Nautical Chair Made for the Alliance Assurance Comp
Located in Lymington, Hampshire
A large and imposing Regency nautical chair made for the Alliance assurance company, the rectangular leather covered back, padded arms and seat surmoun...
Leather, Wood
STUNNING VINTAGE CHESTERFIELD TUFTED PETROL BROWN LEATHER LIBRARY ARMCHAiR
By Chesterfield
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
Royal House Antiques Royal House Antiques is delighted to offer for sale this very comfortable and decorative vintage Chesterfield hand tufted library reading armchair in petrol bro...
Leather, Oak
Antique Regency circa 1810-1820 Claw & Ball Oak Framed Blue Leather Armchair
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
We are delighted to offer this lovely hand made in England Regency circa 1810-1820 oak framed Gentleman’s tub armchair with Royal blue leather upholstery A very good looking and d...
Leather, Oak
$8,500 / set
18th Century French Regence Walnut Armchairs
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Newly upholstered with silk velvet and Luigi Bevilacqua fabric. Comfortable.
Velvet, Walnut