Regency Furniture. Contemporary Design.

Regency refers to the period in Great Britain when George, Prince of Wales, assumed control of the country after his father King George III was deemed mentally unfit to rule. It officially lasted from 1811 to 1820, when the old king died and the Regent became King George IV. In stylistic terms, however, British furniture from approximately 1800 to 1837 might be labeled Regency.

Regency furniture continues the popular Neoclassical style of the previous century but takes the references to ancient Greek, Roman, and Egyptian design even further. Greek Klismos chairs, Roman curule chairs, monopodium tables and scrolled-end couches all became popular pieces. Motifs from antiquity such as lyres, laurel wreaths, acanthus leaves, mythological creatures such as Sphinx, griffins, and gods often make appearances in great Regency pieces. Dark, heavy woods such as mahogany and rosewood were the most commonly used in these dramatic, strong pieces.

Today we are rounding up some of our favorite examples of contemporary designers using Regency period furniture in their work.