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Regency Desks and Writing Tables

REGENCY STYLE

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.

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Style: Regency
Lexington's Palmer Home Collection Mahogany Tooled Leather Drafting Desk W/ Tray
Located in Germantown, MD
A very rare, limited edition Lexington Furniture's Palmer Home Collection Mahogany and Tooled Leather Slant Top Drafting Desk, drafting table with brass ...
Category

Late 20th Century American Regency Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Leather, Mahogany

Regency Amboyna and Gilt Library Table Attributed to Seddon and Morel
By Morel & Seddon
Located in Lymington, Hampshire
A Regency amboyna and gilt library table attributed to Seddon and Morel, with a rectangular top set upon solid end supports with a turned, reeded an...
Category

1810s English Antique Regency Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Amboyna

19th Century Regency Writing Table, circa 1820
Located in Richmond, London
A superb quality Regency side table in the manner of Gillows. Rare combination of the most beautiful figuring of the carefully selected veneers, superb craftsmanship, compact scale a...
Category

Early 19th Century European Antique Regency Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Leather

Regency Style Walnut Desk
Located in Westwood, NJ
A refined homage to the elegance of early 19th-century English furniture design. Crafted in classic style with an exquisite use of figured walnut, it features a warm finish that brin...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese Regency Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Brass

Regency Neoclassical Mahogany Library Table in the manner of Richard Bridgen
By Richard Bridgens
Located in Glasgow, GB
A superb quality late Regency mahogany and ebonised library table in the manner of the architect and designer Richard Bridgens (1785-1846). With a canted top with a green and gilt t...
Category

Early 19th Century English Antique Regency Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Brass

Regency Mahogany And Inlaid Writing Table
Located in Essex, MA
Removed from the one time residence of William Randolph Hearst and Marion Davies Beverly Hills home. With rectangular top with 3/4 brass gallery and blac...
Category

Early 19th Century English Antique Regency Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Mahogany

Regency period brass inlaid Library table, circa 1820
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A very good quality Regency period Rosewood Library table, having brass inlaid stringing, an inset leather top, a single frieze drawer, end supports, raised on elegant out swept feet...
Category

Early 19th Century French Antique Regency Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Mahogany

Regency Mahogany writing table with Rachet top
By King & Sons
Located in Dereham, GB
Regency Mahogany writing table with Rachet top Mahogany top with removeable book rest, Top lifts up and adjusts the height with the rachet support, inside fitted with pen tray and i...
Category

Early 19th Century British Antique Regency Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Mahogany

19th century Rosewood Writing Table
Located in Seaford, GB
Manner of Gillows Regency Rosewood Library Table Regency Craftsmanship This superb Regency rosewood library or writing table is a stunning example of craftsmanship and elegance, e...
Category

Early 19th Century British Antique Regency Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Brass

Regency Mahogany Writing Table By Gillows Of Lancaster
Located in Essex, MA
With a rectangular top with leather writing surface that can adjust. The ends with hinged compartments. The frieze with a drawer. Raised on a trestle base with spindles and turned st...
Category

1810s English Antique Regency Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Mahogany

19th Century English Regency Ebonized Desk
Located in Houston, TX
19th Century English Regency Ebonized Desk. Offered is an unusually shaped early 19th century period English Regency ebonized desk with two drawers which is finished on both sides. O...
Category

1810s English Antique Regency Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Bronze

Late Regency Rosewood Free Standing Library Table by James Winter
Located in Lymington, Hampshire
A late Regency rosewood free standing library table, by James Winter, the rectangular leather-inset top with a gadrooned edge and frieze enclosin...
Category

Early 19th Century English Antique Regency Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Rosewood

Regency Style Writing Table
Located in Hudson, NY
A very nice mahogany and crotch mahogany veneered writing table raised up on marble columns with bronze bases. The writing surface is leather with gold tooling. This table though not...
Category

20th Century English Regency Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Mahogany

Antique Writing or Occasional Table
Located in Bradford-on-Avon, Wiltshire
A good Regency mahogany occasional table or writing table on a four-splay base. The drawer pulls out and the top hinged section slants for writing on; there is also a small ink drawer
Category

Early 19th Century English Antique Regency Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Mahogany

Early 19th Century English Writing Table In The Manner Of George Bullock
Located in Dublin, IE
A very fine Early 19th century English REgency bird's maple writing table in the manner of George Bullock, of rectangular outline the shaped top with leather inset writing surface ab...
Category

Early 19th Century English Antique Regency Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Birdseye Maple

Regency Gilt Bronze Mounted Rosewood Writing Table in the style of John McLean
Located in Kittery Point, ME
The bronze-mounted rectangular top with rounded incurved corners‚ above a single frieze drawer‚ raised on a trestle base ending in downswept legs on casters joined by a turned stretcher. This very elegant table beautifully illustrates the most refined Regency furniture where rosewood is contrasted with gilt bronze. This type of furniture is traditionally associated with the celebrated cabinet maker John McLean (1770-1825) who is believed to have furnished pieces to the Prince Regent...
Category

19th Century English Antique Regency Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Metal

Antique English Rosewood Regency Inlaid Lap Desk, circa 1830
Located in New Orleans, LA
Antique English rosewood regency inlaid lap desk, circa 1830.
Category

19th Century English Antique Regency Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Rosewood

A fine Regency period satinwood and leather top writing desk . Parcel gilt
Located in Dallas, TX
A fine 19th century Regency satinwood and parcel gilt two drawer writing desk . Original leather top .
Category

Early 19th Century English Antique Regency Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Satinwood

19th Century English Regency Walnut Writing Table in the Manner of Holland &Sons
Located in Dublin, IE
A George IV walnut rectangular writing table, the top with inset leather scriver above a shaped frieze drawer, raised on pairs of turned side supports with lotus collars and stretche...
Category

19th Century English Antique Regency Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Walnut

Exquisite Regency Period 1815 Hardwood Kneehole Desk with Lion Hairy Paw Feet
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
We are delighted to offer for sale this lovely original circa 1815 Regency bow front kneehole partner desk in solid mahogany with Lion hairy paw feet A good looking and well-made ...
Category

Early 19th Century English Antique Regency Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Hardwood

Antique circa 1830-1850 James Winter & Sons London Satinwood Green Leather Desk
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
We are delighted to offer for sale this very rare and important original fully stamped James Winter & Son’s 101 Wardour St Soho London Satinwood & Regency green leather partner desk circa 1830-1850 This is a very rare and fine piece of English craftsmanship, the timber is sublime, the leather top nicely aged and the stamps to the drawer’s crisp, this piece is pure quality The renowned cabinet makers James Winter & Sons were based in Soho London between 1823 to 1870 and produced some amazing pieces of antique furniture. James Winter founded his company in 1823 as a cabinet maker, undertaker, dealer, appraiser and specialised as a restorer of second hand and antique furniture to retail in his Soho shop. His sons joined his firm and then the business was renamed James Winter & Sons, 101 Wardour St., Soho, London. It was throughout the Regency and Victorian period, James Winters Company...
Category

1830s English Antique Regency Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Leather, Satinwood

English 19th Century Painted Bamboo Style Table
Located in Southampton, NY
English 19th century painted bow front table with bamboo carved legs.
Category

1810s European Antique Regency Desks and Writing Tables

Regency Rosewood Writing Table with Later Marble Top
Located in New York, NY
Early 19th century Regency rosewood writing table with later marble top.
Category

19th Century British Antique Regency Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Marble

Regency free standing Gonzalo Alves writing table or library table
Located in Lymington, Hampshire
A late Regency free standing Gonzalo Alves writing table or library table, the rectangular top set above two frieze drawers on one side and dummy drawers to the reverse, raised upon ...
Category

1820s English Antique Regency Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Wood

Pair of English Regency Period Rosewood Writing Tables
Located in Stamford, CT
Pair of English Regency period rosewood writing tables with gold tooled green leather tops. The pair were most likely formerly used as school desks for privately educated students.
Category

Early 19th Century English Antique Regency Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Rosewood

Regency desks and writing tables for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique Regency desks and writing tables for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the 21st Century and Contemporary, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage desks and writing tables created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include tables, case pieces and storage cabinets, asian art and furniture and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with wood, mahogany and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Regency desks and writing tables made in a specific country, there are Europe, United Kingdom, and England pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original desks and writing tables, popular names associated with this style include Baker Furniture Company, Gillows of Lancaster & London, Ira Yeager, and Maitland Smith. It’s true that these talented designers have at times inspired knockoffs, but our experienced specialists have partnered with only top vetted sellers to offer authentic pieces that come with a buyer protection guarantee. Prices for desks and writing tables differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $1,095 and tops out at $162,452 while the average work can sell for $7,229.

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