The true “Regency Era” refers to the time in Great Britain when King George III’s son, the Prince of Wales, ruled as his proxy as Prince Regent from 1811 to 1820. When focusing on fashion and furniture the term more loosely refers to the period from 1795 to 1820.

"The Repository of Arts, Literature, Commerce, Manufactures, Fashions and Politics" (1809-1828), commonly known as Ackermann's Repository, was a Regency era British monthly magazine that made its debut in London in 1809. Each Regency era issue contained luxurious color plates of Regency fashion and decorating ideas. Although the British publication was primarily a fashion periodical it did contain some colorful plates of Regency furniture.