William IV Desks and Writing Tables
WILLIAM IV STYLE
It was unexpected that, at the age of 64, William IV was crowned king of England. He had two older brothers, yet the death of Prince Frederick put him in line for the British throne when George IV died in 1830. His reign was brief, as he died on June 20, 1837, but it was a pivotal time of change, with parliamentary reform leading to the present-day constitutional monarchy. Antique William IV–style furniture reflects this period of transition, with forms that bridged the neoclassicism of the preceding Regency style and the more extravagant Victorian style that would follow.
Inspired by ancient Greece and Rome, William IV designs were often more imposing than Regency furniture and featured decorative attributes. There were sofas balanced on lion’s feet and tables with brass fittings. But furnishings of this period were largely marked by straight lines and subdued ornamentation compared to those of the George IV era. William IV had an unassuming way about him and was much more formal, whereas the ruler who preceded him was a king of extravagance. George IV had an affinity for French decor and was heavily invested in overhauling the private residences at Windsor Castle.
Carvings on William IV four-poster beds and cabinets included scrolling shapes, lotus leaves and acanthus, while popular pieces like tilt-top tables and upholstered seating on caster legs provided flexible interiors. Richly toned woods like mahogany and rosewood were used for sideboards, bedposts boasting reeded details and dining chairs with intricate chair backs and turned front legs.
William IV left no legitimate heirs, so his young niece, Victoria, became queen. She would lead an era of taste in which the innovations of the Industrial Revolution allowed for manufacturing showier furniture to fill elaborate interiors. With its comparatively refined forms and restrained designs, William IV style was a pause before a time of radical aesthetic change.
Find a collection of authentic William IV tables, armchairs, decorative objects and other 19th-century furniture and antiques on 1stDibs.
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Style: William IV
19th century William IV mahogany roll top writing desk
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
Fine quality English mahogany roll top desk circa 1830.
Rare piece of English furniture we found on our travels to Sweden. Tambour roll top is in good working order. Top rolls back ...
Category
Mid-19th Century English Antique William IV Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Brass
Antique library table
Located in Eindhoven, NL
Beautiful antique rosewood library table in perfect and completely original condition. Beautiful drawing of the rosewood and impressive ...
Category
1830s British Antique William IV Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Rosewood
Antique William IV Writing Table / Desk
Located in London, GB
An outstanding antique William IV writing table / desk. This was made in England, it dates from around the 1830-1840 period.
It is of the utmost quality, this stands on bold legs wi...
Category
1830s British Antique William IV Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Leather, Wood
Antique William IV Leather Writing Table / Desk
Located in London, GB
A fantastic original William IV period desk. This was made in England, it dates from around the 1830-1840’s.
It is of amazing quality and is of lovely proportions. The top has three...
Category
Early 19th Century English Antique William IV Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Leather, Wood
Small Antique Ladies Correspondence Table, English, Flame, Writing, William IV
Located in Hele, Devon, GB
This is a small antique ladies correspondence table. An English, flame mahogany writing table, dating to the William IV period, circa 1835.
Fine suite of functions and storage acros...
Category
Mid-19th Century British Antique William IV Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Wood
Architect's Plan Table in Mahogany
Located in London, GB
A rare William IV architect's plan table in mahogany, the top inset with gilt tooled leather above a hinged false drawer front revealing three baize lined trays, on carved bun feet a...
Category
1830s English Antique William IV Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Mahogany
EXQUISITE SMALL WILLIAM IV CIRCA 1830 HARDWOOD WRiTING TABLE DESK CARVED LEGS
Located in GB
Royal House Antiques
Royal House Antiques is delighted to offer for sale this stunning, small Antique William IV Circa 1830 Rosewood writing table with three drawers
Please note th...
Category
1830s English Antique William IV Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Hardwood
William IV Rosewood Writing / Games Table
Located in Laguna Beach, CA
William IV rosewood writing / games table, circa 1830. With a rectangular rosewood top with rounded corners, a beech wood and rosewood inlaid checker board that lifts up to a leather...
Category
1830s English Antique William IV Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Brass
William IV Library Table Desk 19th Century
Located in Potters Bar, GB
William IV Library Table.
Circa 19th Century
The Top of the Table Featuring Wonderful Rio Rosewood Timbers.
The Table Having 2 Working Mahogany Lined Drawers (note the fine dovetails...
Category
Early 19th Century Antique William IV Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Rosewood
English Writing Table or Desk with Embossed Leather Top in the William IV Style
Located in Austin, TX
A fine large English writing table or desk of patinated mahogany in the William IV style - featuring a moulded rectangular top with a handsome embossed leather writing surface, over ...
Category
19th Century English Antique William IV Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Metal, Brass
19th Century English William IV Fruitwood Writing Table or Desk
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Handsome 19th century English William IV writing table or desk crafted from mixed fruitwood and oak. The table has storage drawers on each end with patinated brass pulls. The top has...
Category
19th Century English Antique William IV Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Brass
Early 19th Century William IV Period Mahogany Library Writing Table
Located in Petworth,West Sussex, GB
A 19th century, William IV period mahogany library writing table. Rectangular green tooled leather top above frieze with geometric moulding to the centre, comprising two drawers with...
Category
Early 19th Century British Antique William IV Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Brass
Antique William IV Leather Top Writing Table / Desk
Located in London, GB
A fantastic original William IV period writing table / desk. This was made in England, it dates from around the 1830-1840’s.
The quality is superb and this is of useful proportions,...
Category
1830s English Antique William IV Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Wood, Leather
English Writing Table or Desk with Embossed Leather Top in the William IV Style
Located in Austin, TX
A fine English writing table or desk of patinated mahogany in the William IV style - featuring a moulded rectangular top with a handsome embossed leather writing surface, over a frie...
Category
19th Century English Antique William IV Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Metal, Brass
William IV Rosewood Library / Writing Table with Green Leather Top
Located in Dallas, TX
a William IV rosewood library table / writing desk with gilt embossed decoration and border on green leather work surface, two drawer...
Category
19th Century English Antique William IV Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Leather, Rosewood
William IV Mahogany Writing Table
Located in Essex, MA
Rectangular top with inset brown leather over two drawers and two opposing false drawers each with wood knobs, raised on a barley twist trestle ba...
Category
1830s English Antique William IV Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Leather, Mahogany
William IV Library Table in Coromandel
Located in Paddock Wood Tonbridge, GB
William IV library table
Produced in England in the Mid-19th Century this is a extremely rare example produced in Coramandel having solid dra...
Category
19th Century British Antique William IV Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Wood
19th Century William IV Rosewood Library Table
Located in Dublin 8, IE
19th century William IV rosewood library table. The rectangular top with rounded corners features a red tooled inset leather writing ...
Category
1830s Irish Antique William IV Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Leather, Rosewood
Rosewood 19th Century Writing Table
Located in Bedfordshire, GB
An exceptional quality mid-19th century, William IV Period, rosewood writing table having blind tooled leather inset to crossbanded top, over two drawers with original turned wooden knobs opposed by two false drawers, to extremely elegant shallow frieze, raised on reverse tapered, faceted, end supports with elegant carved scrolling feet and original recessed brass castors.
Dating to the William IV period, which of course has a most distinctive style of its own sitting, despite not lasting very long between the late regency and victorian periods of english furniture making, this writing table has a lot of stand out features.
Firstly it is a great size. A little bigger than many, indeed big enough to use as a day to day desk for working at, whilst not being overpoweringly large like many earlier georgian writing tables which one may find.
It is also of exceptional quality. Clearly constructed in a top workshop it is constructed using high end, decorative rosewood veneers on the outside and a lot of mahogany as secondary timbers on the inside which is a great sign of quality. The entire table oozes class and sophistication in fact from top to bottom.
The original turned wooden knobs are a nice feature, as is the high support...
Category
Mid-19th Century English Antique William IV Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Rosewood
19th Century Desk in Pollard Oak
Located in Petworth,West Sussex, GB
A stunning quality 19th century knee hole desk in pollard oak. Rectangular top above three oak lined drawers, above three cupboards, all standing on eight bun feet with brass castors. Warm rich colour and patina! Exceptional quality!
The dimensions are:
Height: 78cm (30.7in)
Width: 150cm (59.1in)
Depth: 68cm (26.8in)
This William IV period antique pollard oak bureau or desk remains structurally solid and sound, with the drawers running well. Overall, a clean example with lovely working space. In good antique condition throughout with minor signs of age.
Our workshops inspects, repairs, and restores all our items, so you can have full confidence that what you buy from us is ready for your home!
I'm Anthony from Anthony Short Antiques...
Category
19th Century British Antique William IV Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Oak
William IV Mahogany Writing Table
Located in Essex, MA
Rectangular top with inset blue leather with tooled edge over a frieze with drawers at each end raised on a trestle base with turned medial stretcher.
Category
1830s English Antique William IV Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Leather, Mahogany
William IV Rosewood Writing Table
Located in Essex, MA
Rectangular top with rounded corners and string inlay above a pair of drawers with opposing false drawers raised on a trestle base with roundel satinwood inlays. Shaped stretcher and...
Category
1830s English Antique William IV Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Rosewood
Antique English Regency Period Rosewood Writing Table, circa 1810-1820
Located in New Orleans, LA
Antique English William IV period rosewood writing table, Circa 1830.
Galleried top with leather and on original casters.
Category
Early 19th Century English Antique William IV Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Leather, Rosewood
Writing Table
Located in Bradford-on-Avon, Wiltshire
A small William IV mahogany writing on turned and reeded legs, 2 mahogany lined drawers with false drawers on the back and a fitted good quality green hide
...
Category
1830s English Antique William IV Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Mahogany
William IV Octagonal Rent / Drum Table
Located in Woodbury, CT
In a departure from the circular norm, this octagonal table has a rotating top with four functioning drawers and four dummy drawers, each with wood pulls. The three splay legs to the...
Category
19th Century British Antique William IV Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Leather, Mahogany
William IV Inlaid Mahogany Desk Attributed to Gillows
Located in Kittery Point, ME
The rectangular cocuswood cross-banded satine top above a central frieze drawer flanked to either side with three further drawers around a recess on foliate-carved cabriole legs with...
Category
19th Century English Antique William IV Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Mahogany
William iv Mahogany Writing Table
Located in Essex, MA
With rectangular brown leather top and crossbanded edge over three drawers on one side and two on the opposing side, shaped scrolled trestle supports. Casters.
Category
1830s English Antique William IV Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Other
English Burl Walnut Leather Top Davenport with Acanthus Cabriole Legs Circa 1840
Located in Hollywood, SC
English burl walnut Davenport desk with carved floral fret work, hinged lid revealing fitted interior with original ink wells, leather hinged writing surface with four fitted interio...
Category
1840s English Antique William IV Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Brass
Early 19th Century British Davenport Desk in the Manner of Gillows
Located in Dallas, TX
PRESENTING AN ABSOLUTELY STUNNING Early 19C British Rosewood Davenport Desk in the Manner of Gillows circa 1830.
A Davenport is a type of writ...
Category
Early 19th Century English Antique William IV Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Hardwood
English William IV Rosewood Davenport Table
Located in New York, NY
English William IV (circa 1835) rosewood davenport table desk with carved apron and supported on 2 pedestals connected with a stretcher and 2 drawers.
Category
19th Century British Antique William IV Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Rosewood
Unusual William IV Work and Writing Table
Located in Whaley Bridge, GB
Sn582 Excellent and very unusual William IV sewing table in rosewood, having three dummy drawers to frieze and one drawer which opens to reveal writing section with black leather and pen compartment above a silk pleated box...
Category
1830s English Antique William IV Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Rosewood
19th Century William IV Rosewood Writing Table
Located in Chelmsford, Essex
For sale is a fine quality William IV rosewood writing table, possibly Scottish, with velvet inset surface to the central ratchet action flap, the underside with remains a paper label which reads "of Callendar / Callendar House, / Falkirk". The table is in very good condition for its age, with a lovely patina. The velvet inset is original and usable but would benefit from being replaced.
Callendar House is a mansion set within the grounds of Callendar Park in Falkirk, Scotland. During the 19th century, it was extensively redesigned and extended in the manner of a French Renaissance château but with hybrid elements of Scottish baronial...
Category
Early 19th Century English Antique William IV Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Brass
19th Century Late William IV Rosewood and Gilded Library or Writing Table
Located in Hudson, NY
This very fine table made in England around 1830 to 1840 is produced in rare and costly rosewood. The top shows this wood to a degree as the choice veneers are book-matched making t...
Category
19th Century British Antique William IV Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Rosewood
William IV Mahogany Library / Writing Table
Located in Dallas, TX
a William IV mahogany partners writing table / desk with gilt tooled faded red leather inset writing surface, paneled inset drawers and sides, trestle supports each side, England, ci...
Category
19th Century English Antique William IV Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Leather, Mahogany
Antique William iv Writing Table / Desk
Located in London, GB
A lovely original antique William IV period writing table or side table. This was made in England, it dates from around the 1830-1840s.
It is of superb quality, the top has beautifu...
Category
1830s British Antique William IV Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Wood
William Iv desks and writing tables for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a broad range of unique William IV desks and writing tables for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the Mid-20th Century, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage desks and writing tables created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include tables, case pieces and storage cabinets and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with wood, animal skin and other materials. If you’re shopping for used William IV desks and writing tables made in a specific country, there are Europe, United Kingdom, and England pieces for sale on 1stDibs. It’s true that these talented designers have at times inspired knockoffs, but our experienced specialists have partnered with only top vetted sellers to offer authentic pieces that come with a buyer protection guarantee. Prices for desks and writing tables differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $1,011 and tops out at $28,000 while the average work can sell for $4,921.
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