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.
$27,650 / set
Set of 10 French Regence Carved Chairs
Located in Queens, NY
Set of 10 French Regence style (19th Cent) white painted and carved open chairs with cane seat and back. (2 arms 8 sides)
Cane, Wood
Set of 4 Outdoor English Regency Brass Side Chairs
Located in Queens, NY
Set of 4 Outdoor English Regency style (20th Cent) steel and brass trimmed sleigh back side chairs with stretcher and dolphin detail.
Brass, Steel
French Giltwood Side Chair
Located in Miami, FL
French giltwood side chair.
Giltwood
Set of Four Polished Nickel & Brass Regency Style Dining Chairs
Located in Danville, CA
Handsome quality set of four Nickel plated steel Dining Chairs with polished brass X splats and polished steel seat backs. The seats are freshly u...
Steel
Vintage Regency Phyllis Morris Faux Bamboo Lattice Lounge Chair
Located in North Fort Myers, FL
A fabulous vintage faux bamboo lounge side chair by Phyllis Morris, featuring an elegant geometric lattice back and sculptural bamboo-form legs. This is a match to the pair listed. ...
Aluminum
2 Lovely Regency Chairs with new Upholstered Seats
Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight
2 Lovely Regency chairs with new Upholstered seats A very attractive pair of chairs, they have a broad carved back top rail and a carved centre rail The chairs have slender tur...
Silk
Ebonized Regency Wood Side Chair in Black with Stick and Ball Gold Details
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
A fabulous ebonized black and gold side chair or ballroom chair. Upholstered in a peach and cream floral striped fabric, this petite chair will be great as a side chair, at a dining table, vanity, or in a great room. The spindle back is accented with gold circular carved wood pieces. It reminds us of stick and ball furniture...
Fabric, Wood, Paint
Pair of English Regency Hall Chairs
By Gillows of Lancaster & London
Located in Cambridge, US
England, ca. early 19th century. A fine pair of antique Regency mahogany hall chairs after the style of Gillows. Expertly crafted from solid mahogany with a rich, dark patina. Featur...
Mahogany
Pair of English Regency Style Brass Inlaid Oak and Cane Armchairs
Located in Queens, NY
Pair of English Regency stained oak armchair with floral brass inlay pattern, carved detail, cane seat, and removable beige tufted and upholstered seat cushion.
Brass
Set of 4 French Regence Red Floral Aubusson Side Chairs
Located in Queens, NY
"Set of 4 French Regence style (19th Cent) walnut high back side chairs with carved stretcher and upholstered red floral Aubusson seat and back. Antique condition, some wear to upho...
Upholstery, Walnut
Boho Chic Upholstered Bamboo Side Chair
Located in Pasadena, TX
Constructed of bamboo, this Boho Chic chair is upholstered. It has a spindled back and a gate like skirt. Reupholstery is strongly recommended.
Upholstery, Bamboo
Vintage Smith and Watson Dublin Grog Chair
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
This elegant Dublin Grog chair by the esteemed maker Smith and Watson showcases the timeless sophistication of traditional English-inspired design. Meticulously crafted with a solid ...
Fabric, Upholstery, Mahogany
$2,063Sale Price / set|24% Off
4 Metal Iron Regency Maitland Smith Style Dining Chairs
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
Dimensions- H: 35 3/4in W: 19 1/2in D: 20 1/4in SH: 19 1/2in This set of 4 Metal Regency Maitland Smith Style Dining Chairs are made of the highest quality and are perfect for you ...
Metal, Iron
$5,800 / set
Pair Of Regency Oak Hall Chairs
Located in Essex, MA
Each with a rectangular back and arched crest over a painted coat of arms, wood seat raised on square section tapered legs.
Oak
Pair of Original Hand Painted Antique Regency circa 1810-1820 Side Chairs
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
We are delighted to offer for sale this lovely pair of original circa 1810-1820 Regency hand painted side chairs with period woven seats A very good looking well made and decorat...
Rattan, Pine
Grosfeld House Regency Style Lacquered Dining Chairs, Mid 20th Century
Located in Lake Worth, FL
For FULL item description click on CONTINUE READING at the bottom of this page. Offering One Of Our Recent Palm Beach Estate Fine Furniture Acquisitions Of A Pair of Grosfeld House ...
Cotton, Wood, Lacquer
Pair of Antique Regency Chairs & Matching Table from Glenalmond Estate Scotland
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
We are delighted to offer for sale this stunning and exceptionally rare suite of two Queen Anne style side chairs with a matching occasional table in the original floral paint circa ...
Upholstery, Elm
NEW English Faux Rosewood Regency Style Side Chair with Hand Painted Decoration
Located in North Salem, NY
This NEW Wood & Hogan English-Made Regency Style Faux Rosewood Side Chair is an exquisite piece of furniture that embodies the elegance and craftsmanship of the Regency era. Cra...
Maple
Early 19th Century Rosewood Chair in the Gothic Style
Located in Martlesham, GB
A lovely quality Regency rosewood side chair in the Gothic style, the padded high back upholstered in a decorative floral pattern along with the cushioned seat, either side of the hi...
Rosewood
Very Rare Gillows of Lancaster Regency Hardwood Harpist Height Adjustable Chair
By Gillows of Lancaster & London
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
We are delighted to this stunning and very rare original Gillows of Lancaster Rosewood height-adjustable Harpist musician stool A very good looking ...
Wood, Beech
$2,900 / set
Set of Four Regency Rosewood Side Chairs
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Beautifully detailed Regency rosewood side chairs with cheetah print cushions, circa 1810-1820. Set of four.
Rosewood
Regency Style Gold Giltwood Spindle Chair circa 1900 Ornate Bird Upholstery
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
We are delighted to offer for sale this lovely circa 1900 Regency style gold gilt wood framed chair with ornate bird upholstery A good looking well made and decorative antique chair...
Upholstery, Wood
A Pair Of Painted Regency Faux Bamboo And Rush Seat Chairs
Located in London, GB
A Pair of Regency Faux Bamboo and Rush Seat Chairs with Original Patina. We are pleased to offer a charming pair of Regency faux bamboo chairs...
Rush, Beech, Paint