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.
1980s Vintage Regency Furniture
Canvas
Late 20th Century American Regency Furniture
Mirror, Wood, Paint
1820s English Antique Regency Furniture
Rosewood
1980s Vintage Regency Furniture
Mahogany
19th Century Belgian Antique Regency Furniture
Brass
2010s American Regency Furniture
Mahogany
1820s British Antique Regency Furniture
Wood
1830s English Antique Regency Furniture
Mahogany
1810s English Antique Regency Furniture
Rosewood
Late 19th Century English Antique Regency Furniture
Cut Glass
Early 19th Century English Antique Regency Furniture
Mahogany
Early 19th Century English Antique Regency Furniture
Cane, Mahogany
1830s English Antique Regency Furniture
Wood
Mid-20th Century American Regency Furniture
Mirror, Wood
Mid-20th Century American Regency Furniture
Canvas, Wood, Paint
19th Century English Antique Regency Furniture
Giltwood
Mid-20th Century American Regency Furniture
Mirror, Wood
20th Century Regency Furniture
Giltwood
Mid-20th Century American Regency Furniture
Aluminum
Mid-19th Century English Antique Regency Furniture
Glass
Mid-20th Century Italian Regency Furniture
Mirror, Wood
Late 20th Century American Regency Furniture
Mirror, Wood
Early 19th Century Antique Regency Furniture
Rosewood
Late 20th Century North American Regency Furniture
Rope, Plaster
Late 18th Century English Antique Regency Furniture
Crystal, Bronze
Mid-20th Century Italian Regency Furniture
Mirror, Wood
Mid-20th Century Italian Regency Furniture
Metal
Late 20th Century Regency Furniture
Leather, Mahogany
Late 20th Century American Regency Furniture
Upholstery, Wood
1820s Antique Regency Furniture
Mother-of-Pearl, Lacquer
Early 19th Century English Antique Regency Furniture
Mahogany
Late 20th Century American Regency Furniture
Aluminum
Mid-20th Century American Regency Furniture
Mirror, Wood
Mid-20th Century American Regency Furniture
Mirror, Wood, Paint
1810s English Antique Regency Furniture
Porcelain
20th Century English Regency Furniture
Walnut
Mid-20th Century American Regency Furniture
Mirror, Wood
Mid-20th Century American Regency Furniture
Mirror, Wood
1950s Italian Vintage Regency Furniture
Mirror, Wood
Early 19th Century British Antique Regency Furniture
Mahogany
Mid-20th Century Regency Furniture
Wood
Early 2000s Philippine Regency Furniture
Glass, Mahogany
Early 19th Century English Antique Regency Furniture
Brass, Copper
20th Century Regency Furniture
Brass
Late 20th Century Regency Furniture
Leather
Early 20th Century American Regency Furniture
Brass
1830s British Antique Regency Furniture
Mahogany
1980s North American Vintage Regency Furniture
Wood
2010s Italian Regency Furniture
Satinwood
20th Century Regency Furniture
Leather, Upholstery
Mid-20th Century American Regency Furniture
Silver Plate
Early 19th Century American Antique Regency Furniture
Gold
19th Century Antique Regency Furniture
Metal
1810s English Antique Regency Furniture
Rattan, Ebony
20th Century Regency Furniture
Leather
Early 19th Century English Antique Regency Furniture
Elm, Yew
Late 20th Century American Regency Furniture
Agate, Metal
20th Century French Regency Furniture
Crystal, Bronze, Ormolu