Regency Furniture
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.
1990s Regency Furniture
Giltwood, Paper
19th Century English Antique Regency Furniture
Other
Early 19th Century American Antique Regency Furniture
Giltwood, Paper
Late 20th Century Unknown Regency Furniture
Wire
1820s British Antique Regency Furniture
Velvet, Walnut
1820s British Antique Regency Furniture
Walnut
Mid-19th Century French Antique Regency Furniture
Mirror, Giltwood
1930s English Vintage Regency Furniture
Mirror, Giltwood
19th Century French Antique Regency Furniture
Brass, Steel
1970s American Vintage Regency Furniture
Brass
Early 20th Century American Regency Furniture
Leather, Mahogany
2010s Mexican Regency Furniture
Ebony
Late 20th Century Regency Furniture
Brass
Early 20th Century French Regency Furniture
Brass
Early 20th Century French Regency Furniture
Porcelain
1960s American Vintage Regency Furniture
Upholstery, Cherry
1940s French Vintage Regency Furniture
Walnut
1980s Philippine Vintage Regency Furniture
Upholstery, Resin
1820s British Antique Regency Furniture
Boxwood, Mahogany
Early 20th Century Unknown Regency Furniture
Metal, Wrought Iron
1880s French Antique Regency Furniture
Bronze
Early 19th Century English Antique Regency Furniture
Brass
Late 20th Century Unknown Regency Furniture
Metal
Early 19th Century British Antique Regency Furniture
Brass
1990s American Regency Furniture
Giltwood
1830s Antique Regency Furniture
Mahogany
1830s Antique Regency Furniture
Mahogany
Early 19th Century English Antique Regency Furniture
Bronze, Gold Leaf
Early 19th Century English Antique Regency Furniture
Brass
Early 19th Century English Antique Regency Furniture
Palisander
20th Century American Regency Furniture
Brass
18th Century English Antique Regency Furniture
Mahogany
Late 20th Century American Regency Furniture
Upholstery, Mahogany
18th Century English Antique Regency Furniture
Mahogany
1830s Antique Regency Furniture
Mahogany
1990s American Regency Furniture
Walnut
Early 19th Century English Antique Regency Furniture
Glass, Giltwood
19th Century English Antique Regency Furniture
Mahogany
Mid-20th Century English Regency Furniture
Leather, Mahogany
Early 20th Century Unknown Regency Furniture
Metal
18th Century English Antique Regency Furniture
Mahogany
Mid-20th Century German Regency Furniture
Porcelain
20th Century French Regency Furniture
Fabric, Wood
Early 1800s English Antique Regency Furniture
Porcelain
19th Century English Antique Regency Furniture
Other
21st Century and Contemporary Indonesian Regency Furniture
Upholstery, Cane, Mahogany
Early 19th Century European Antique Regency Furniture
Carrara Marble
1940s English Vintage Regency Furniture
Leather, Walnut
Mid-20th Century American Regency Furniture
Mahogany, Satinwood
1990s Regency Furniture
Mahogany
Early 1800s English Antique Regency Furniture
Porcelain
Early 20th Century European Regency Furniture
Upholstery, Wood
Early 19th Century English Antique Regency Furniture
Brass
Early 20th Century Regency Furniture
Glass, Mahogany
19th Century English Antique Regency Furniture
Beech
1820s English Antique Regency Furniture
Mahogany
19th Century British Antique Regency Furniture
Brass
Late 20th Century American Regency Furniture
Upholstery, Cherry