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.
Pair of Regency Shell Art Floral Bouquets under Glass Domes
Located in Dallas, TX
PRESENTING A ‘FANTASTICALLY’ RARE, EXCEPTIONAL QUALITY and MUSEUM QUALITY Pair of Regency Shell Art Floral Bouquets under Glass Domes. Made in Englan...
Shell, Glass, Mahogany
$3,600Sale Price|20% Off
An English Regency Blue John and Marble Clockcase with an enamel portrait
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
An extremely rare English Regency Blue John and marble clockcase that has been retrofitted with a gilt bronze framed enamel portrait medallion of a lady. Presumably the clock that o...
Marble
Colorful Insects Under Antique Glass Dome
Located in Munich, DE
The Green Jungle Nymphs called Hétéropterix Dilaltata are form Papua New Guinea, Indonesian province. Set in an antique glass globe with wooden ba...
Glass, Organic Material, Wood
$395
H 18 in W 8.5 in D 6 in
Mexican Dia De Los Muertos Day of the Dead La Catrina Folk Art Figure Sculpture
Located in Studio City, CA
A quite wonderful Mexican Day of the Dead (Dia De Los Muertos festival held throughout Mexico) La Catrina symbolic skeleton figure. La Catrina is the festival’s most recognizable image/figure. She is the model of a high-society woman who has met Death, her maker. She represents something between the fear induced by her skeletal form and the revelry exhibited by the comical way she is typically portrayed, making her a perfect symbol of the Mexican holiday. She often appears in paintings, window displays, and costumes all around Mexico during the Day of the Dead festivities. La Catrina was originally conceived in the early 1900s by newspaper illustrator and printmaker José Guadalupe Posada...
Textile, Wood, Paper
Pair of 1950s Carved Horns with Dragon Motif on Wood Base
Located in Tarrytown, NY
Pair of 1950s carved horns with dragon motif on wood base. They are a definite statement piece.
Horn, Wood
$1,020
H 10.5 in W 6.5 in D 4.5 in
Yoruba Male Figure, an Ibeji or Twin Figure, Nigeria, Africa with Cowrie Cloak
Located in Point Richmond, CA
Yoruba male figure, rare example dressed in old cowrie covered cloak. an Ibeji or twin figure, rare example dressed in old cowrie covered cloak, Nigeria, Africa, well loved with very...
Wood
$899
H 10.5 in W 12.25 in D 4.75 in
Antique Art Deco Hand-Carved Wooden Sculpture of a Nude Female Holding a Basket
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
This hand-carved Art Deco sculpture is unsigned, but presumed to have originated from France and date to approximately 1920 and done in the period Art Deco style. The sculpture is done in a softwood and depicts a stylized recling nude female holding a basket high above her head. The sculpture is mounted on a stepped base with painted inset accent squares. This could be a depiction of a woman giving...
Softwood
$450
H 10 in W 3.25 in D 3 in
Yoruba Male Figure, an Ibeji or Twin Figure, Nigeria, Africa, Weathered, Beads
Located in Point Richmond, CA
Yoruba weathered and eroded old male figure, an Ibeji or twin figure, Nigeria, Africa, well loved heavy patina and use. Strong face with projecting eyes. A finely carved Yoruba male...
Wood
$1,070
H 9.5 in W 6.5 in D 5 in
Yoruba Female Figure, an Ibeji or Twin Figure, Nigeria, Africa with Cowrie Cloak
Located in Point Richmond, CA
Yoruba female figure, rare example dressed in old cowrie covered cloak. an Ibeji or twin figure, rare example dressed in old cowrie covered cloak, Nigeria, Africa, well loved with ve...
Wood
Yoruba Female Figure, an Ibeji Figure, Nigeria, Africa with Cowrie Cloak
Located in Point Richmond, CA
Yoruba female figure, rare example dressed in old cowrie covered cloak. an Ibeji or twin figure, Nigeria, Africa, well loved with very piercing eyes, and great detailed hat.. A fine...
Wood
Hand Carved Wood Folk Sculpture of John Bull
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This hand carved and slight fragment of painted surface in good condition. Very little blue painted surface remaining.
Wood
Metal Sculpture of a King and Queen In the Manner of John Risley
Located in New York, NY
Large and whimsical copper sculpture of a King and Queen in a twisted mesh of metal in the manner of John Risley. It's a very fun and lively sculpture and works well with both Modern...
Marble, Copper
1850s Pair of Floral Seashell Dioramas in a Glass Dome
Located in Marbella, ES
An exquisite pair of floral dioramas, crafted with a meticulous composition of seashells, conch shells, and mother-of-pearl, arranged in the form of three-dimensional floral bouquets...
Metal
$580
H 10 in W 3.5 in D 3.38 in
Yoruba Female Figure, an Ibeji or Twin Figure, Nigeria, Africa, Worn Loved Face
Located in Point Richmond, CA
Yoruba female figure, an Ibeji or twin figure, Nigeria, Africa, well loved with very worn face, large eyes. A finely carved Yoruba female Ibeji figure with pointed headdress, large ...
Wood
Circa 1790/1810 Regency Irish Carved Ships Figurehead
Located in Lowestoft, GB
A very well carved Regency ships figurehead believed to off been originally from an Irish ship. The head has obviously been severed from the rest of th...
Pine
19th Century Cast Iron Lion profile
Located in Surrey, BC
Beautiful decorative Cast iron architectural lion with original painted surface. This untouched example was found in Ontario and believe to be from...
Iron
Derby Porcelain Hound Stirrup Cup by Stevenson & Hancock Derby.
By Royal Crown Derby Porcelain
Located in Downingtown, PA
The large Stevenson & Hancock Derby porcelain naturalistic stirrup cup is painted in shades of brown and white with a gilt collar reading "Tally Ho!. Mark: In puce Crown crossed b...
Porcelain