In the spring and summer of 2020, during the first Covid lockdowns, a new hashtag started trending on instagram as people delved through a country-inspired escape hatch of nostalgia from the pandemic. #Cottagecore brought forth screens filled with reassuring rose-strewn stone cottages, traditional picnic baskets, gingham frocks and old-fashioned ornaments and figurines worthy of grandma’s mantelpiece. But by the end of 2020, there was a new nostalgia in town, an effervescence of bright pastel colours and gilded twirls, inspired by the instantly popular Bridgerton. A modern take on early 19th century taste, #regencycore has become the latest microtrend in fashion and interiors, and has whisked us away to a fanciful escapist world. Here the hard edges of modernity are tempered by a layering of antique pieces, an infusion of floral patterns, a sprinkling of candy colours…
Inspired by ancient Roman designs, the elegant sweep of the scrolled legs, arms and back, along with original painted frame, make this a perfect example of Regency influences around 1810.
So, what is Regency style, and how can you introduce some of its decorative flourishes in your home?
The Regency period roughly spans four decades from the late 1780s to the early 1830s. These closing years of the Georgian era saw a growing interest in travel for those who could afford it, across Europe, Greece, Turkey, Egypt and to India, which drove stylistic influences primarily classical in origin. The recently-discovered ancient Roman site of Herculaneum saw archaeological digging get underway from the mid-1700s and drawings of found artefacts and painted interiors of the buildings found their way across Europe; Grand Tourists visited Rome in particular to view the classical Roman sculpture and ruins and to Venice to appreciate the architecture, itself influenced by the orient, and from the early 1800s Egypt and India became the latest ‘exotic’ influences on European design.
A lightness of construction, a proliferation of decorative swags, urn and vase shapes, and relief carving, are all readily found on Regency period pieces. Neo-classical and Greek revival styles proliferated; the influence of Egypt found its way in to design in the form of sphinx heads on furniture and obelisk shapes as ornament and adornment. Painted decoration – on furniture and walls – became exceedingly popular. The neo-classical Adams brothers architects were well known for this, introducing exuberant and colourful painted walls in to grand houses in the late 18th century, such as at Syon House in west London. Strawberry pinks, Etruscan reds, iced blues and buttery yellows were all the rage.
Illustrated above is a Regency era room inspired by Jane Austen’s Mansfield Park, styled by exhibitors Wakelin & Linfield in a special foyer display at a past Decorative Fair. The wallpaper was especially chosen and produced by historic paper manufacturers and designers Hamilton Weston, and the pattern dates to 1775 found in a house in Royal Crescent, Bath. It reflects the fashion for painted walls introduced by the well-known Adams brothers architects.
On the walls, striped, festooned and sprigged floral papers were popular, as were silk damasks in the grandest of houses. Colours were quite bold, especially in more expensive schemes: popular shades introduced by new developments in colour making were pea green, sky blue and its more intense cousin azure, Chinese (or chrome) yellow, crimson, verditer (a blue green derived from copper), and Pompeian red (a rich rust shade).
GET THE LOOK – these shades from Mylands could stand in to emulate favoured Regency colours
More ‘middling’ households would likely have used subtler, practical colours, shades of stone and grey for busy areas such as hallways, gentle shades of blue or green with white or black patterning for living room papers, sometimes in geometric patterns, and more likely floral sprigs in bedrooms and nurseries.
Wallpaper designed by Hamilton Weston and named ‘Dashwood’ for the Miss Austen at Home display; practical shades of greys and black helped disguise the effects of candle and fire smoke in smaller houses.
Here we share with you some lovely examples of furniture that have featured at recent Decorative Fairs: look out for pieces like these to bring a Regency flair to your interiors.
Carved walnut window seat circa 1800; the scrolled ends, and the use of bolster cushions are typical of the Regency style.
English platters in a colourful chinoiserie style, by Davenport, c1810 and an early C19th Wedgewood candlestick in the neo-classical style that featured so strongly in the Regency period.
A Regency period quill work picture. Dating to around 1820 this was probably made as a leisured pastime. Scrollwork, along with other artistic skills such as embroidery, drawing and painting with watercolours, were encouraged for young ladies.
Items of small but very useful furniture can be an easy way to introduce more traditional and storied looks in to a space; this is known as a Canterbury and would have stored sheet music, but today works perfectly as a magazine rack or somewhere to display larger books. This mahogany piece was made around 1820. Other useful smaller furniture of the period includes Pembroke tables (a table with extendable flaps either side that make it large enough for two people to sit either side for a light meal, plus a handy drawer) – nowadays decorators tend to use them for chair or sofa side lamps; candle tables have a very small circular top, and come in varying heights – perfect for table lamps or plant stands. Footstools are perfect as small ottomans.
Although dating to the 1930s, these Italian painted metal wall lanterns have a Regency flavour, and channel some of the decorative exuberance of the Prince Regent’s Brighton Pavilion.
A pair of Regency ebonised gilt decorated armchairs. English c. 1815. Painted furniture became enormously popular during this period. These very decorative occasional chairs can be quickly employed in various locations from dining to sitting rooms.
Elegantly spare sofa shapes with flat ends like here, which also work well in a modern context, means this style would suit small as well as larger rooms. George III mahogany sofa, English circa 1800
British School, Regency period oil on canvas, portraying sitters wearing the height of fashion, circa 1810.
Semi-circular demi-lune tables are incredibly useful items of furniture especially those designed as card tables, that fold out in to create a circular tabletop. These take up very little space against a wall, but can be brought out for use as a small dining table as required. This particularly fine example is painted satinwood, featuring neo-classical decorative detailing. Very pretty, and the height of Regency taste. (Image courtesy Cave Decorative Arts)
