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.
$8,500 / set
18th Century French Regence Walnut Armchairs
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Newly upholstered with silk velvet and Luigi Bevilacqua fabric. Comfortable.
Velvet, Walnut
Pair of Original Hand Painted Antique Regency circa 1810-1820 Side Chairs
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
We are delighted to offer for sale this lovely pair of original circa 1810-1820 Regency hand painted side chairs with period woven seats A very good looking well made and decorat...
Rattan, Pine
Round English Early 19th Century Regency Stool with Adjustable Red Leather Seat
Located in Atlanta, GA
An English Regency Stool with a round, adjustable red leather seat. This spectacular English stool sits firmly on four splayed legs decorated wi...
Leather, Wood
Early 19th Century Regency Pair of Hall Chairs by Gillows of Lancaster & London
By Gillows of Lancaster & London
Located in Dublin 8, IE
Early 19th century Regency pair of mahogany hall chairs by Gillows of London & Lancaster, the carved moulded back with centred armorial shield surmount...
Mahogany
Lovely Pair of Eichholtz Occasional Chairs Ebonized Frames Grey Linen Upholstery
By EICHHOLTZ
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
We are delighted to offer for sale this lovely pair of Eichholtz occasional chairs with ebonized frames and grey linen upholstery These are a very well made pair of chairs, the de...
Upholstery, Oak
Very Rare Gillows of Lancaster Regency Hardwood Harpist Height Adjustable Chair
By Gillows of Lancaster & London
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
We are delighted to this stunning and very rare original Gillows of Lancaster Rosewood height-adjustable Harpist musician stool A very good looking ...
Wood, Beech
Stunning Suite of Six Regency Hardwood Bergere Dining Chairs Velvet Chesterfield
By Chesterfield
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
We are delighted to offer for sale this sublime suite of six original Regency circa 1810-1820 sabre leg dining chairs These are a very well made set, the frames are ornately carved...
Upholstery, Hardwood
Lovely Antique Regency Oak Carved Bergere Armchair with Lions Head Arms Velvet
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
Wimbledon-Furniture Wimbledon-Furniture is delighted to offer for sale this lovely original Regency Oak Bergere armchair with Lions head arms Please note t...
Velvet, Oak
Regency Serpentine Hand Dyed Restored Whisky Brown Leather Chesterfield Sofa
By Chesterfield
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
We are delighted to offer for sale this stunning fully restored Regency circa 1810-1820 hand dyed cigar brown leather serpentine fronted Chesterfield club sofa This sofa is as rar...
Leather, Hardwood
Antique Regency circa 1810-1820 Claw & Ball Oak Framed Blue Leather Armchair
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
We are delighted to offer this lovely hand made in England Regency circa 1810-1820 oak framed Gentleman’s tub armchair with Royal blue leather upholstery A very good looking and d...
Leather, Oak
ANTIQUE REGENCY 1815 EBONiSED MOTHER OF PEARL SILK CHESTERFIELD SEAT SIDE CHAIR
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
Royal House Antiques Royal House Antiques is delighted to offer for sale this super rare original circa 1810-1820 Hand painted, Mother of Pearl inlaid side chair with unique, silk u...
Silk, Wood
Pair of Original Giltwood Famboo Regency Bergere Chairs with Period Gold Gilding
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
We are delighted to offer for sale this lovely pair of original Regency circa 1810 giltwood famboo chairs A very good looking and collectable pair of occasional chairs. These have the original and now distressed giltwood finish, the frames are famboo which means fake bamboo, at the latter part of the 18th to the early part of the 19th century Chinese furniture...
Giltwood
CHARMING PAIR OF OCCASIONAL HARDWOOD CHAIR WiTH STIPE FABRIC SEAT & STUDS
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
We are delighted to offer for sale this gorgeous pair of antique occasional chairs with fabric seats. This pair of chairs are standing on tapered legs with distinguished details on ...
Upholstery, Hardwood
4 Leather Oak Dining Chairs Country House Regency Style Racing Green Baronial
Located in London, GB
A very impressive and rare set of four strikingly attractive racing green leather and red oak Regency style dining chairs in lovely vintage condition. Likely made in the early-to-mid...
Brass
A large and fine pair of rosewood Regency armchairs
Located in Lymington, Hampshire
A large and fine pair of rosewood Regency armchairs, each with square backs and shell and scroll carved cresting rail, scrolling lion’s head arm supports and turned, gadrooned legs, ...
Rosewood
Pair of French Carved Mahogany Armchairs, 19th Century
Located in London, GB
An imposing pair of Louis Philippe Fauteuils Constructed in Honduras Mahogany, standing on swept lappeted gentle 'S' shaped legs to the fro...
Mahogany
Regency Style Childs Arm Chair This is a 19th Century chair with an upholste
Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight
Regency Style Childs Arm Chair This is a 19th Century chair with an upholstered seat, it has been upholstered with a Silk regency stripe in green and gold, the chair has a curved...
Walnut
Transitional Andrew Gower for Jasper Group Portrait Management Swivel Desk Chair
By Jasper Seating Co., Andrew Gower
Located in Secaucus, NJ
Fabulous transitional style portrait swivel and tilt management desk chair by Jasper Group, Elegant lines define portrait's timeless classic design, the serpentine front balances with the arms and the back's soft arc, Beautifully handcrafted by skilled artisans using high-quality materials, This piece blends traditional and modern contemporary design elements, creating a look that's classic yet modern, Will bring a sense of history and elegance to any interior at home or office. Please note I have three chairs available, selling them individually "The price listed is for one chair." Specifications: Upholstery: Black Naugahyde Button detail on the back creates a reverse diamond pattern Maple regency arms hand-carved and shaped Maple carved 5-star base feature prong steel interiors with hooded black double wheel casters Seat has synthetic sheet webbing with high resiliency seat polyurethane foam and Dacron wrap Frame interior is hardwood joined with double dowels Back has polypropylene webbing and polyurethane foam with Dacron wrap Pneumatic seat height adjustment from 17.5" to 21" Swivel 360 degrees Tilt lock and tilt tension adjustment Designed by Andrew Gower...
Steel
Antique Dolphin Arm Venetian Grotto Swivel Brown Leather Chesterfield Armchair
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
We are delighted to offer this super rare and highly collectable, circa 1830 Italian Venetian, fully restored swivel armchair What a find! I have never seen another carved with th...
Leather, Walnut
Pair Antique Regency Arm Chairs in Rosewood Dining Chair
Located in Potters Bar, GB
Stunning Pair of Regency Rosewood Chairs. These chairs having ring turned and carved front legs. The centre rail of typical Regency design an...
Rosewood