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.
Scottish Mahogany & Rosewood Crossbanded Sofa Table
By William Trotter
Located in Glasgow, GB
A Scottish Regency mahogany and rosewood crossbanded sofa table attributed to William Trotter of Edinburgh. The richly figured mahogany top with boxwood stringing and rosewood cross...
Brass
Early 19th Century Irish Regency Sofa Table By Gillingtons Of Dublin, Ireland
Located in Dublin, IE
A stunning quality Irish Regency Gonzalo Alves sofa table attributed to Gillingtons of Dublin, the rounded rectangular hinged top with beaded edge, above a pair of frieze drawers wit...
Wood
A Very Fine Early 19th Century Regency Sofa Table
Located in Dublin, IE
A very fine early 19th Century Regency mahogany sofa table finely hand carved and of exceptional quality with rich patination and grain. The well figured moulded top, crossbanded wi...
Brass
$3,122Sale Price|33% Off
Tesselated Stone and Brass Sofa Table by Maitland Smith
Located in Cheshire, GB
Tesselated stone and brass Regency style sofa table the large rectangular top with rounded corners above two draws standing on splay legs with...
Stone
Antique Scottish Mahogany & Rosewood Crossbanded Sofa Table
By William Trotter
Located in Glasgow, GB
A Regency Scottish sofa table attributed to William Trotter of Edinburgh. The richly figured mahogany top with a rosewood crossbanded edge and D-end dr...
Brass
Antique Regency period rosewood and brass inlaid sofa table
Located in London, GB
An early 19th century Regency period figured rosewood sofa table, having a recatangular top with intricate pierced brass inlay, above two frieze drawers. The table, raised on turne...
Brass
Regency Brass Inlaid Sofa Table in Kingwood
Located in Bradford-on-Avon, Wiltshire
Regency standard-end brass inlaid sofa table in kingwood with Fine ormolu mounts and ebony and boxwood inlay; 2 oak-lined drawers with boxwood ...
Kingwood
$11,395
Antique Satinwood Sofa Table
Located in Bradford-on-Avon, Wiltshire
A satinwood sofa table with lovely matched veneers and tulipwood cross banding on the top; the drawers, which are designed without handles, have ebony stringing and the standard end ...
Satinwood
Vintage Bevan Funnell Burr Walnut Extending Sofa / Occasional Table Nice Timber
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
We are delighted to offer for sale this lovely vintage Bevan Funnell, Burr Walnut, extending sofa / occasional table. A very well made and decorativ...
Walnut
A Regency brass-inlaid rosewood sofa table attributed to Gillows
Located in Lymington, Hampshire
A Regency brass-inlaid rosewood sofa table attributed to Gillows, the rectangular D-end top with two hinged flaps all inlaid with brass beading to the vertical edges, above two friez...
Rosewood
English 19th Century late Regency Sofa Table with Black Chinoiserie Decoration
Located in Troy, NY
English 19th Century late Regency Sofa Table with Chinoiserie Decoration on a Black Lacquer background. The oblong top with drop-leaves at each end t...
Lacquer, Wood
Regency Sofa Table Mahogany Antique Furniture
Located in Potters Bar, GB
Mahogany Sofa table with crossbanded edging and 2 drawers either side Nice designs to the crossbanding to the front with lozenge motifs and hexagonal designs All supported on a stretcher base the splay legs finished with brass castors The top and flaps are crossbanded in mahogany with satinwood bands Elegant and refined piece of English antique furniture...
Mahogany
Regency Period Brass Inlaid Sofa Table
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A good quality Regency period brass inlaid Sofa table. Having two frieze drawers, outswept end supports each with brass mounts and the original brass cast...
Mahogany
A Fine Regency Lyre Ended Sofa Table A Very fine piece
Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight
A Fine Regency Lyre Ended Sofa Table A Very fine piece, with brass handles and claw feet, the table has 2 long divided drawers at one side these are dummy faced at the other. The pi...
Mahogany
$10,229Sale Price|20% Off
Regency Period, Brass Inlaid Sofa Table
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A good quality Regency period Rosewood veneered, brass inlaid sofa table, having two frieze drawers, out swept end supports each with brass mounts and the ...
Mahogany
Regency Brass Inlaid Rosewood Sofa Table, England, Early 19th Century
Located in Kittery Point, ME
The rectangular top with rounded drop leaves, above two frieze drawers and two dummy drawers to the reverse, raised on a faux-rosewood grain painted ring-turned standard continuing t...
Brass