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.
Maitland-Smith Regency Style Mahogany Wall Shelves, Gilt Acanthus Leaves & Beads
Located in Cincinnati, OH
These large Regency-style mahogany wall shelves were crafted by high-end furnishings and accessories manufacturer, Maitland-Smith. The shelves have serpentine-edged display surfaces...
Wood, Paint
$33,600Sale Price|30% Off
19th Century Regency Mahogany Lawyers Bookcase Wall Cabinet Biotech, 1811-1819
Located in West Hollywood, CA
19th Century Regency Mahogany Lawyers Bookcase Wall Cabinet Biotech, 1811-1819 . Rare early 19th century Regency graduated lawyer’s bookcase cabinet . Tapered scale 13" depth to 17" at the base, which gives it a lot of charm and takes away the heavy look of some other bookcases. All the original hardware still intact in lions head knobs with a ring This antique library bookcase has the original glass with one cracked that we never replace . Each shelf opens upward. 4 Regular size and the shelf on top of the Two lower drawers is for larger items to be exhibited and stored away. Perfect for a library, lawyers office...
Glass, Mahogany, Wood
Antique English Regency Carved Mahogany Fretwork Hanging Corner Shelf / Bracket
Located in Brooklyn, NY
English Regency-style carved stained mahogany fretwork hanging corner shelf/wall bracket with three triangular tiers (ca. late 19th Century, England). Elegant, sturdy piece with ampl...
Mahogany
$2,300
H 37.5 in W 33.5 in D 11 in
Antique English Plate Rack Wall Shelf Hanging Wall Decor Carved Oak 19th C
Located in Tyler, TX
CHARMING Antique English Oak Hanging Wall Shelf Plate Rack~~19th Century The perfect decorative accent piece for displaying your favorite Imari, Majolica, Staffordshire or other an...
Oak
A Pair of Carved Gilt Wood Wall Shelves
Located in Lambertville, NJ
A pair of giltwood wheat motif wall shelves, Italy, mid 20th Century, the good size measuring 15 inches high, 12.5 inches wide, and 6 iches deep.
Giltwood
$1,420
H 20.08 in W 15.75 in D 8.47 in
Antique 19th Century Neoclassical Wall Cabinet / Small Cabinet Carved Oak
Located in Ijzendijke, NL
Lovely antique 19th century Neoclassical wall cabinet / small cabinet Germany 1880. This German Grunderzeit cabinet is made from hand carved oak & is richly decorated. A true display of craftsmanship & quality. This cabinet has 2 doors and comes with a working lock & key. Its interior has 2 oak shelves. The cabinet has a very nice old restoration to the right side dating from the 1940s. A piece of furniture history with the right antique charm...
Brass
$1,547
H 29.53 in W 20.08 in D 9.85 in
Antique Swedish Empire Wall Cabinet 19th Century Walnut Gilt Bronze Hanging
Located in Ijzendijke, NL
Gorgeous & stylish Swedish wall cabinet in Empire style 19th century. with carvings in walnut & gilt bronze decorations Really nice solid wood quality with hand carved decorations. ...
Bronze
$3,950
H 37.75 in W 25.75 in D 11.75 in
19th Century Painted Skåne Wall Cabinet with Reeded Doors, Sweden
Located in Atlanta, GA
An exceptional nineteenth-century painted wall cabinet originating from the Skåne region of southern Sweden, an area celebrated for its richly decorated folk furniture traditions. Cr...
Wood
$1,547
H 22.45 in W 13 in D 6.3 in
Antique French Renaissance Revival Richly Carved Wall Cabinet 19th Century Brass
Located in Ijzendijke, NL
Luxurious & romantic French Renaissance revival Wall cabinet / small cabinet , richly carved & decorated with brass. Very nice craftsmanship with impressive carvings. When opened...
Brass
Antique English Barley Twist Carved Fruitwood Wall Shelf / Etagere
Located in Kennesaw, GA
This is a late 19th century large scale English wall shelf with barley twist supports. It is in very good condition for its age. Proper anchoring is...
Oak
19th Century Mahogany Corner Bracket with Inlaid Vignettes
Located in Long Island City, NY
19th century mahogany corner bracket with inlaid vignettes. The vignettes depict a woman and a man fishing.
Chinese Chippendale Mahogany Two Drawer Hanging Wall Shelf
Located in Germantown, MD
A cute Chinese Chippendale Mahogany Two Drawer Hanging Wall Shelf. Very Attractive and functional. Three shelves between open fret work sides for convenient and elegant organizatio...
Mahogany
$781
H 24 in W 14 in D 9.5 in
Mid 20th Century Mahogany Corner Shelf Intricate Fretwork and Brass Finials
Located in Germantown, MD
A Mid 20th Century three-tier mahogany corner display shelf featuring intricate carved fretwork and decorative brass finials. Measures 14" in with, 9.5" in depth and 24.5" in height...
Mahogany
Early 19th Century Swedish Wall Cabinet from Stockholm
Located in Atlanta, GA
An early nineteenth-century wall cabinet from Stockholm, showcasing the distinctive craftsmanship and regional character of Swedish furniture from this period. The cabinet has been c...
Wood
Late 19th Century English Oak Wall Shelf
Located in High Point, NC
Late 19th century oak hanging wall shelf from England. On the top of the shelf sits a lovely crown molding, following down to a pierced and scalloped frieze. There are two shelve...
Oak
Sold
H 39 in W 19 in D 17 in
Monumental Regency Style Wall Shelves With Palm Fronds & Birds 39” H - Pair
Located in Kennesaw, GA
This is a pair of very large regency style cast palm frond wall shelves with attached birds. The shelves are cast resin / composition and are very heavy. There are two surfaces for d...
Composition
Regency Rosewood And Brass Hanging Shelf
Located in Essex, MA
Can sit on a table or cabinet or be hung on a wall. Beautiful quality with rosewood shelves and brass spindles at the ends. Pierced brass gallery.
Brass
Sold
H 12.5 in W 16 in D 7.5 in
Vtg Italian Ceramic White Swan Bird Form Regency Style Wall Bracket Wall Shelf
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Vintage Italian ceramic white swan bird form regency style wall bracket wall shelf. Circa mid 20th century. Measurements: 12.5" H x 16" W x 7.5" D.
Ceramic
English Regency Style Plum Pudding Hardwood Wall Bracket/ Shelf
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
English Regency style plum pudding hardwood wall bracket/ shelf. England, Circa 1900s. A single substantial carved plum pudding hardwood wall bracket/shelf, large enough to hold a c...
Hardwood
Pair of Regency Faux Tortoiseshell Wall Shelves
Located in New York, NY
Each with two shelves fronted by a trellis gallery; with pierced fretwork panels to the sides; surmounted by a triangular trellis cresting headed by a foliate clasp; with trellis spa...
Wood, Paint
Pair of Dark Brown Italian 1940's Petite Wall Mounted Shelves
Located in North Miami, FL
Pair petite Italian 1940's console tables in mahogany, wall mounted shelves or night tables. Elegant vintage Italian serpentine carved mahogany wood wall mounted console tables...
Wood
Vintage White Lacquered Carved Swag Wall Shelf
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Incredible vintage swag wall shelf. Hand carved wood in a fresh white lacquer. Great as a shelf or even just as a fabulous wall sculpture. Acquired from a...
Wood
19th Century English Regency Carved Mahogany Hanging Shelf
Located in Stamford, CT
19th Century English Regency mahogany hanging shelf with three tiers supported by carved fretwork sides depicting stylized birds. A handsome and...
Mahogany
Regency Rosewood and Brass Inlaid Hanging Wall Shelf
Located in Essex, MA
Three shelves flanked by spindles with spindle finials , three drawers with brass knobs.
Rosewood
Sold
H 36 in W 22 in L 36 in
Vtg Italian Regency Carved Wood Wall Shelf Display Curio Shadowbox Blue Paint
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Vintage Italian Regency Carved Wood Wall Shelf Display Curio Shadowbox Blue Paint. Item features blue painted interior, solid wood construction,...
Wood, Paint
Sold
H 41 in W 26.75 in D 9.75 in
English 1830s Regency Black and Gold Serpentine Front Wall Hanging Shelf
Located in Atlanta, GA
An English Regency wall hanging shelf from the early 19th century, with black and gold finish and lower doors. Created in England during the second quarter of the 19th century, this ...
Wood
Pair of Rosewood Grain Painted and Gilt Composition Brackets
Located in WEST PALM BEACH, FL
This stately pair of composition brackets are painted over all in a faux grain rosewood with the top over a gilt fret frieze and terminating in a gilt ornamental taper, 20th century.
Composition