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 20th Century English Regency Furniture
Silk, Mahogany
Mid-20th Century American Regency Furniture
Brass
Early 19th Century English Antique Regency Furniture
Steel
1820s Antique Regency Furniture
Wood
Late 19th Century English Antique Regency Furniture
Brass
20th Century Regency Furniture
Brass
1810s Scottish Antique Regency Furniture
Brass, Steel
1980s Unknown Vintage Regency Furniture
Aluminum
1820s English Antique Regency Furniture
Mahogany
Early 19th Century English Antique Regency Furniture
Walnut
Early 1900s American Antique Regency Furniture
Mirror, Giltwood
Late 20th Century Spanish Regency Furniture
Iron
Early 2000s American Regency Furniture
Mahogany
Late 20th Century American Regency Furniture
Bronze
21st Century and Contemporary British Regency Furniture
Mahogany, Boxwood, Olive, Satinwood
1950s American Vintage Regency Furniture
Wood
1820s English Antique Regency Furniture
Porcelain
Late 18th Century English Antique Regency Furniture
Porcelain
19th Century Antique Regency Furniture
Brass
20th Century American Regency Furniture
Upholstery, Wood, Giltwood
19th Century French Antique Regency Furniture
Bronze
Early 19th Century English Antique Regency Furniture
Brass
Early 19th Century English Antique Regency Furniture
Leather, Palisander
20th Century Unknown Regency Furniture
Brass
Early 20th Century French Regency Furniture
Crystal, Bronze
Mid-20th Century American Regency Furniture
Brass
20th Century American Regency Furniture
Glass, Mahogany, Walnut
1890s English Antique Regency Furniture
Mahogany
Late 20th Century French Regency Furniture
Porcelain
Early 19th Century English Antique Regency Furniture
Brass
Late 20th Century American Regency Furniture
Brass
20th Century Regency Furniture
Brass, Bronze
Mid-20th Century American Regency Furniture
Ceramic
Early 1900s English Antique Regency Furniture
Gold Leaf
20th Century Regency Furniture
Brass
1980s Philippine Vintage Regency Furniture
Upholstery, Resin
Early 19th Century English Antique Regency Furniture
Upholstery, Mahogany
20th Century Regency Furniture
Mahogany, Satinwood, Walnut, Zebra Wood
Mid-19th Century English Antique Regency Furniture
Mahogany, Oak
Early 19th Century English Antique Regency Furniture
Fabric, Mahogany
Early 19th Century English Antique Regency Furniture
Mahogany
19th Century English Antique Regency Furniture
Other
Early 1800s English Antique Regency Furniture
Porcelain
Early 19th Century English Antique Regency Furniture
Mahogany
Early 19th Century English Antique Regency Furniture
Brass, Wrought Iron
Mid-20th Century Unknown Regency Furniture
Ceramic, Clay
Early 19th Century English Antique Regency Furniture
Mahogany
20th Century English Regency Furniture
Glass, Mirror, Wood, Plaster
21st Century and Contemporary British Regency Furniture
Mahogany, Satinwood
19th Century English Antique Regency Furniture
Brass
1990s German Regency Furniture
Crystal
Early 19th Century English Antique Regency Furniture
Cane, Mahogany
20th Century Irish Regency Furniture
Crystal
21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese Regency Furniture
Wood
Early 19th Century English Antique Regency Furniture
Metal, Brass
21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese Regency Furniture
Brass
20th Century Regency Furniture
Brass
Late 20th Century Regency Furniture
Porcelain