William IV Decorative Baskets
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.
1850s English Antique William IV Decorative Baskets
Brass, Tin
Mid-19th Century English Antique William IV Decorative Baskets
Silver, Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Indonesian William IV Decorative Baskets
Wood, Teak
20th Century Italian William IV Decorative Baskets
Brass
Early 1900s English Antique William IV Decorative Baskets
Sterling Silver
20th Century Italian William IV Decorative Baskets
Brass
Mid-19th Century French Antique William IV Decorative Baskets
Brass, Bronze
1930s French Vintage William IV Decorative Baskets
Metal
Early 1900s European Antique William IV Decorative Baskets
Sterling Silver
20th Century Italian William IV Decorative Baskets
Brass
1910s American Vintage William IV Decorative Baskets
Sterling Silver
Early 20th Century American William IV Decorative Baskets
Sterling Silver
1960s Swiss Vintage William IV Decorative Baskets
Cement
Mid-20th Century Egyptian William IV Decorative Baskets
Wood
1820s English Antique William IV Decorative Baskets
Brass, Lead
