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.
Late 19th Century British Antique Regency Furniture
Leather, Satinwood
Early 19th Century English Antique Regency Furniture
Rosewood
1930s American Vintage Regency Furniture
Velvet, Mahogany
20th Century British Regency Furniture
Lacquer
19th Century British Antique Regency Furniture
Brass
Early 19th Century English Antique Regency Furniture
Muslin, Upholstery, Giltwood, Wood
19th Century English Antique Regency Furniture
Brass
1980s Vintage Regency Furniture
Walnut
20th Century Regency Furniture
Rosewood
1820s Antique Regency Furniture
Wood
20th Century British Regency Furniture
Leather
Early 20th Century Regency Furniture
Mahogany
1810s English Antique Regency Furniture
Wood
Late 19th Century English Antique Regency Furniture
Wood, Pine
Early 19th Century English Antique Regency Furniture
Gold Leaf, Brass
Late 20th Century Regency Furniture
Wood
2010s Philippine Regency Furniture
Metal
Late 20th Century Regency Furniture
Metal
19th Century English Antique Regency Furniture
Mirror
Mid-19th Century English Antique Regency Furniture
Carrara Marble
Early 19th Century English Antique Regency Furniture
Rosewood
21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese Regency Furniture
Wood
1820s English Antique Regency Furniture
Mid-20th Century Regency Furniture
Silver Plate
Early 20th Century European Regency Furniture
Enamel, Iron
20th Century Italian Regency Furniture
Brass, Wrought Iron
1820s English Antique Regency Furniture
Mahogany, Paper
1820s English Antique Regency Furniture
Ormolu
1820s British Antique Regency Furniture
Marble
Late 20th Century American Regency Furniture
Stone
Early 19th Century British Antique Regency Furniture
Leather, Gesso, Pine, Paint
21st Century and Contemporary English Regency Furniture
Marble
19th Century English Antique Regency Furniture
Iron
1960s French Vintage Regency Furniture
Crystal
19th Century British Antique Regency Furniture
Bronze, Ormolu
19th Century British Antique Regency Furniture
Brass
Early 19th Century English Antique Regency Furniture
Carrara Marble
1970s Czech Vintage Regency Furniture
Brass, Steel
1760s English Antique Regency Furniture
Silver, Sterling Silver
Mid-20th Century Italian Regency Furniture
Ceramic, Mirror
19th Century English Antique Regency Furniture
Metal
20th Century Regency Furniture
Crystal, Bronze
21st Century and Contemporary American Regency Furniture
Brass
Early 19th Century English Antique Regency Furniture
Ormolu
1810s English Antique Regency Furniture
Mahogany
Early 19th Century English Antique Regency Furniture
Brass
Early 19th Century English Antique Regency Furniture
Leather, Cane, Mahogany
19th Century English Antique Regency Furniture
Rosewood
Early 19th Century French Antique Regency Furniture
Linen, Oak, Giltwood
Late 20th Century American Regency Furniture
Wood, Paint
Early 19th Century Antique Regency Furniture
Glass, Satinwood
1970s French Vintage Regency Furniture
Steel
Late 20th Century Italian Regency Furniture
Cane
Early 1800s English Antique Regency Furniture
Brass
1810s British Antique Regency Furniture
Brass
1940s American Vintage Regency Furniture
Mahogany
20th Century American Regency Furniture
Paper
Early 19th Century English Antique Regency Furniture
Mahogany
Mid-20th Century American Regency Furniture
Ceramic, Lucite
20th Century Italian Regency Furniture
Brass