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.
English Regency Brass Mounted Mahogany 5-Tier Corner Shelf, Attributed Gillows
By Gillows of Lancaster & London
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
English Regency Brass-Mounted Mahogany 5-Tier Corner Étagère, Attributed to Gillows of Lancaster, Mid-19th Century A rare and elegant English Regency period corner étagère, attribut...
Brass
Regency Rosewood Small Whatnot
Located in Bedfordshire, GB
A Superb Quality 19th Century Regency Period Rosewood Whatnot, Or Etagere, Having Three Superbly Figured Tiers, United By Extremely Elegant Reverse Tapered Turned Upright Supports, T...
Rosewood
$4,017 / item
Regency Six Tier Etagere Bookcase
Located in Westwood, NJ
A Regency style six tier etagere bookcase with X frame supports, carved finials and a lower two drawer shelf. Dimensions: 22" W x 10" D x 73.5" H. ...
Wood
Regency Yellow Painted Etagere
Located in Essex, MA
Rectangular top shelf with stick and ball gallery over two free shelves and base shelf containing a drawer. Toupie feet. Brass casters. Mustard yellow with green accents. Sides with ...
Pine
Restored Regency circa 1810 Revolving Hardwood Library Bookcase with Faux Books
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
We are delighted to offer this very fine, highly collectable original Regency circa 1810 revolving library bookcase in mahogany with leather faux books If you are looking at this ...
Leather, Hardwood
Vintage Billy Baldwin Brass Etagere With Green Lacquered Shelves
Located in Locust Valley, NY
A vintage brass Billy Baldwin etagere with five dark green lacquered shelves.
Brass
$1,450 / set
Pair Regency Style Gilt Eagle Wall Shelves
Located in Houston, TX
Pair of 20th Century Italian Regency Style hand-carved giltwood eagle wall shelves.
Giltwood
English Regency Period Walnut Four Tier Étagère, Circa 1820
Located in San Francisco, CA
English Regency Period walnut four tier étagère, Circa 1820. Faded walnut with an unrestored oxidized surface. Very fine / delicate turnings with ball finials on the top. Fitted with...
Brass
Regency Style Mahogany And Brass Etagere Display Shelf
Located in Stamford, CT
English Regency style mahogany display shelf with brass trim, the shelves backed with pale yellow water silk. The triangular form with a flat to...
Brass
Elegant 18th Century Mahogany Regency Style English Etagere
Located in Hopewell, NJ
Truly elegant mahogany and brass antique etagere or “what not”, having 4 shelves, lower single drawer, brass details on the drawer and gorgeous top finials. Feet terminate in brass ...
Brass
Tall Seven Shelf Brass & Mahogany Regency Style Etagere
Located in Locust Valley, NY
A striking blend of elegance and utility, this tall and narrow Regency-style étagère with seven shelves is a refined storage and display piece that brings timeless sophistication to ...
Brass
Antique 19th Century Regency Mahogany Two Tier Dumbwaiter
Located in Suffolk, GB
Antique 19th century Regency mahogany two tier dumbwaiter with two drop flaps to each tier, supported by a turned column with three reeded sabre legs. Dimensions: H 86.5 x W 62 x...
Other
Small 19th Century Rosewood Whatnot
Located in Bedfordshire, GB
A Very Good Quality Mid 19th Century Rosewood Whatnot, Or Etagere, Having Three Very Well Figured Rectangular Tiers, United By Elegant Turned Upright Supports And Tapering Turned Leg...
Rosewood
Vintage Two Drawer Bevan Funnell Flamed Hardwood Dwarf Open Library Bookcase
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
We are delighted to offer for sale this stunning vintage Bevan Funnell dwarf open library bookcase in flamed mahogany with twin drawers ...
Hardwood
English Regency Mahogany Four Tiered Ball Finial Etagere w/ Brass Casters C 1800
Located in Charleston, SC
English Regency Mahogany Etagere with four squared tiers, blocked baluster ring turned bulbous supports, flanking tiered ball finials, and resting on tapered ringed legs with the ori...
Brass
$4,812Sale Price|30% Off
English Regency Period Mahogany Étagère or Library Stand, circa 1815
Located in Kinderhook, NY
Elegant English Regency period, circa 1815, étagère or library stand of unusual form having solid mahogany construction with top platform on turned colonette-form supports with ball turned finials above single door locking cabinet with real leather-bound book spine veneer above lozenge band of boxwood inlay on bulbous turned feet. Book spines are 'Dickens Works...
Leather, Mahogany
Mid-20th Century Organic Modern Moroccan Style Rustic Iron Etagere With Glass Sh
Located in North Fort Myers, FL
Striking Mid-20th Century Moroccan Revival style iron etagere featuring an arched dome top with flame finials and beautifully detailed scrollwork. The iron f...
Iron
Vintage Regency Twisted Gilt Roses Etagere
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
The Vintage Regency Twisted Gilt Roses Etagere embodies American Regency opulence with its intricate gilt rose motifs and elegant twisted frame. Crafted with...
Metal
Vintage Regency Lacquered Stacked Etagere - A Pair
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Elevate your interior with this stunning pair of Vintage Hollywood Regency stacked étagères, lacquered in a pristine white finish. These striking pieces embody the glamorous and soph...
Metal
$6,517 / item
Wide Painted Etagere
Located in Westwood, NJ
English Regency style three-tier wide painted etagere, capturing the essence of old-world drama and modern luxury. Black lacquered, the solid hardwood ...
Metal
$10,800Sale Price|40% Off
English Regency Book Matched Mahogany Bookcase with Tiered Shelving, C. 1810
Located in Charleston, SC
English Regency book matched mahogany bookcase with three tiered shelving, cross hatching, turned bulbous ringed columns with urn finials, wooden k...
Mahogany
Regency Style Four-Tier Server
Located in Dallas, TX
Regency Style Four-Tier Server, on reeded column legs
English Regency Mahogany Etegere
Located in Charleston, SC
English Regency mahogany three tiered three drawer etegere with original ebonized knobs and original turned bulbous legs. Dealers please call ...
Regency Large Mahogany Whatnot
By Regency
Located in Tetbury, GB
A rare extra large Regency nineteenth century mahogany Whatnot /bookshelves /shelf display. In fantastic condition with all the finials original and intact , stringing detail on the ...
Mahogany
19th Century Rosewood Three-Tier What-Not
Located in Dublin 8, IE
19th century Rosewood three-tier what-not. The top shelf is surmounted with a brass gallery rail and carved cockbead detail to the edges. The whole piece stands supported by four fin...
Brass
Mahogany Wood Regency Style Four Tiered Display Etagere
Located in Tarry Town, NY
English Regency style mahogany wood four tiered display etagere with single drawer below lowest shelf. The display etagere features four turned ball finials at each corner of upper g...
Mahogany
Pair of Fine Antique Regency Hardwood Brass Gallery & Marble Dwarf Bookcases
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
We are delighted to offer for sale this exquisite pair of original Regency circa 1810-1820 mahogany open library bookcases with Italian marble tops surmounted with brass gallery rail...
Marble, Brass
C19th painted pedestal with storage
Located in London, GB
An English C19th pedestal base that is painted in a historic mid blue grey. Solid and sturdy this piece is good to use to display an urn or bust, has simple classical decoration on e...
Oak
English Regency Pine Etagere, Early 19th Century, Four Shelves, Turned Supports
Located in Atlanta, GA
An English regency period pine freestanding étagère from the early 19th century with four shelves, turned supports and petite finials. This English Regency period freestanding pine é...
Pine
Regency Mahogany 19th Century Rising Top Whatnot
Located in Bedfordshire, GB
A superb quality Regency period mahogany whatnot Having four well figured tiers and adjustable top with Turned upright supports over one frieze drawer raised On turned legs with original brass castors (A very elegant and good quality 19th century whatnot...
Mahogany
$4,350Sale Price|25% Off
Regency Mahogany Circular Three Tier Folding Dumbwaiter Etagere Brass Castors
Located in Stamford, CT
19th century English Regency mahogany three tiered etagere or dumbwaiter with three circular shelves that fold. The central turned support resting on a tripod base of three elegant l...
Brass
Mahogany Folio/Plan/Chart Stand
Located in Folkestone, GB
An exceptional quality early 19th century mahogany folio stand the two leaves adjustable for angle by pulling on the two decorative cords to disengage the ratcheted mechanism. The ce...
Mahogany
English Regency Style Bamboo Etagere with Lacquered Panels
Located in Queens, NY
English Regency-style (19th Century) bamboo and lacquered etagere cabinet with inlaid panels on 2 front doors and drawer and detailing.
Bamboo, Paint, Bone
Rare and Unusual Regency Etagere
Located in Folkestone, GB
A fine and rare Regency three tier Etagere attributed to GILLOWS constructed in Gonçalo Alves (Tigerwood), with each shelf edged in close bead-work. The top tier with three-quarter f...
Rosewood
VINTAGE REGENCY STYLE FLAMED HARDWOOD NiCELY CARVED BOOKSHELF 198CM TALL
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
Royal House Antiques Royal House Antiques is delighted to offer for sale this lovely hand made in England vintage Flamed Mahogany open bookshelf with nicely turned finials Please ...
Hardwood
Caribbean Regency Mahogany Four-Tiered Acorn Finial Fluted Trolley, Circa 1815
Located in Charleston, SC
Caribbean Regency mahogany four tiered trolley with turned bulbous acorn finials, flanking fluted ringed support columns, cross hatching with central...
Mahogany
$3,930
Regency Rosewood Whatnot
Located in Bradford-on-Avon, Wiltshire
Regency four-tier whatnot; elegant turned pillars surmounted by small finials; lovely variegated rosewood and a single drawer at the bottom; fine original condition.
Rosewood
English Regency Period 4-tier Goncalo Alves & Brass Whatnot Étagère
Located in London, GB
A Regency Period Four-Tier Whatnot Constructed from finely grained Goncalo Alves and lacquered brass, the free-standing étagère having four shelves, the lowest register incorporatin...
Wood
Regency Mahogany and Brass Plate Trolley
Located in Essex, MA
Circular with a lower conforming wider shelf all on a turned columnar post, with brass gallery plate holders and a pair of cutlery holders, raised on sa...
Brass
Antique English Mahogany Etagere or Stand with Shelves
Located in London, GB
A fine Étagère'of the Regency Period Constructed in a well figured and patinated mahogany, with brass accents; rising from four ‘hairy paw’ feet, the three main tiers having radiu...
Brass
19th Century Mahogany Waterfall Bookshelves with Panelled Doors
Located in London, GB
A pair of early 19th century Regency period well figured mahogany waterfall bookshelves, having galleried tops above beaded edged graduated shelves, above pleated panelled doors with...
Mahogany
Pair of 19th Century Regency Mahogany Waterfall Bookcases
Located in Shipston-On-Stour, GB
A smart pair of Regency mahogany waterfall open bookcases, with low gallery to the top shelf and bow centre section, above 4 further graduating shelves with turned spindles, raised...
Mahogany