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.
Early 19th Century English Antique Regency Furniture
Oak
Early 19th Century English Antique Regency Furniture
Wood
Late 20th Century American Regency Furniture
Wood, Paint
Early 19th Century English Antique Regency Furniture
Wood, Mirror, Giltwood
Early 19th Century English Antique Regency Furniture
Brass
Early 19th Century English Antique Regency Furniture
Brass, Tin
1970s American Vintage Regency Furniture
Brass
19th Century English Antique Regency Furniture
Satinwood
Late 18th Century Scottish Antique Regency Furniture
Brass
20th Century English Regency Furniture
Brass, Copper
Early 19th Century English Antique Regency Furniture
Marble, Brass
20th Century English Regency Furniture
Leather, Hardwood
Early 19th Century English Antique Regency Furniture
Giltwood, Mirror
2010s Unknown Regency Furniture
Marble
1950s American Vintage Regency Furniture
Metal
19th Century Antique Regency Furniture
Brass
Early 19th Century British Antique Regency Furniture
Brass, Bronze
20th Century British Regency Furniture
Brass
1970s Italian Vintage Regency Furniture
Metal
18th Century Chinese Antique Regency Furniture
Porcelain
19th Century British Antique Regency Furniture
Bronze
1810s English Antique Regency Furniture
Porcelain
21st Century and Contemporary British Regency Furniture
Walnut
19th Century Antique Regency Furniture
Mahogany, Rosewood
Early 19th Century English Antique Regency Furniture
Porcelain
Early 19th Century English Antique Regency Furniture
Statuary Marble
Late 20th Century Regency Furniture
Wood
Early 19th Century English Antique Regency Furniture
Rosewood
Mid-20th Century American Regency Furniture
Wood, Lacquer
Early 19th Century English Antique Regency Furniture
Mahogany
Early 19th Century French Antique Regency Furniture
Bronze, Ormolu
19th Century Unknown Antique Regency Furniture
Fabric, Upholstery, Wood, Mahogany
Early 19th Century English Antique Regency Furniture
Ormolu
1810s English Antique Regency Furniture
Brass
Late 20th Century American Regency Furniture
Leather, Upholstery
19th Century English Antique Regency Furniture
Walnut
19th Century Belgian Antique Regency Furniture
Carrara Marble
1830s British Antique Regency Furniture
Mahogany
2010s American Regency Furniture
Mahogany
Early 1800s American Antique Regency Furniture
Brass
Early 20th Century Regency Furniture
1810s British Antique Regency Furniture
Mirror, Giltwood, Paint
1930s American Vintage Regency Furniture
Silver Plate
21st Century and Contemporary English Regency Furniture
Walnut, Burl
Early 19th Century English Antique Regency Furniture
Marble
Early 19th Century English Antique Regency Furniture
Clay
1960s American Vintage Regency Furniture
Brass
Early 19th Century English Antique Regency Furniture
Paint, Giltwood
1960s American Vintage Regency Furniture
Metal, Brass
Early 19th Century English Antique Regency Furniture
Blown Glass
20th Century American Regency Furniture
Brass
1950s Italian Vintage Regency Furniture
Metal
Early 19th Century English Antique Regency Furniture
Rosewood
1990s Indonesian Regency Furniture
Wood
1810s English Antique Regency Furniture
Porcelain
Early 20th Century Italian Regency Furniture
Giltwood
1820s English Antique Regency Furniture
Glass
19th Century English Antique Regency Furniture
Brass