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.
Antique Correspondence Box, Irish, Walnut, Writing Slope, Austin, William IV
Located in Hele, Devon, GB
This is an antique ladies correspondence box. An Irish, walnut and brass writing slope case, dating to the William IV, circa 1833. A desirable, qual...
Brass
Silver Gilt Inkstand by William Bateman II
Located in New Orleans, LA
The unbridled boldness of William IV-period silver design is on full display in this grand silver gilt inkstand by William Bateman II. Hailing from one of the most legendary silversm...
Silver
William IV 19th century table top writing slope
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
William IV 19th century writing slope circa 1835. Elegant and good quality William IV rosewood writing slope. Clean elegant lines, come with original mother of pearl cartouche, nam...
Wood
English Inlaid Boulle Inkwell on Chase Feet, Circa 1840
Located in Charleston, SC
English Boulle brass inlaid one-drawer inkwell with original fluted glass brass capped ink bottles, decorative floral carrying handle and resting on original chased ball feet, Mid-19...
19th Century English Desk Box
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This English early 19th-century desk box exudes a refined charm with its dark wood construction and functional design, including a thin wide drawer and a set of upper compartments ac...
Wood
Napoleon III Gilt Bronze Inkwell from France, C. 1840
Located in Dallas, TX
This piece of nineteenth-century French elegance is sure to be the envy of any collector. The Napoleon III gilt bronze inkwell is a prized find, crafted in circa 1840 France with int...
Metal, Bronze
$906Sale Price|49% Off
H 6.7 in W 17.72 in D 9.06 in
19th Century French Walnut and Brass Writing Boxe
Located in LEGNY, FR
Beautiful walnut desktop box which opens into a writing slope. Decorated on the outside with 2 decorative inlaid tunbridge ware bands. Box opens out to a beige fabric writing slo...
Brass
Late 19th Century Desk Box - Bayley's England
Located in Casteren, Noord-Brabant
A beautiful antique desk box. Made of wood, covered with leather with beautiful gold details. Fine copper fittings. The interior has two small boxes, ...
Copper
Gilt Bronze and Champleve Enamelled Inkstand
Located in Cheshire, GB
19th Century gilt bronze and champlevé enameled inkstand with single well with hinge cover and pen rest. All raised up on bun feet. Dimensions H...
Bronze
$1,386Sale Price / set|65% Off
H 6.11 in W 11.82 in D 8.86 in
Victorian Military Campaign Burr Walnut, Brass Writing Slope & Leather Interior
Located in Reading, Berkshire
Antique British Military Campaign 19th Century Burr Walnut & Brass Bound Writing Slope With Ebonized Trim. The Interior Features a tooled Blue Leather Scriver, A Single Glass Ink...
Brass
$2,106Sale Price / set|40% Off
H 5.32 in W 12.01 in D 9.06 in
Victorian Military Campaign Burr Walnut Brass Bound Writing Slope With Key
Located in Reading, Berkshire
19th Century Victorian Military Campaign Burr Walnut Brass Bound Writing Slope With A Tooled Black Leather Scriver Slope will include A Single Glass Inkwell A vintage pen S moder...
Brass
Large Antique Campaign Burr Walnut Writing Box. English. Dated 1871
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Wonderful burr walnut writing box or slope Fabulous colour and figure in the wood Fine brass hardware Expertly restored Original brass topped inkwells Working secret drawers* R...
Brass
$2,450
H 6.69 in W 17.91 in D 10.63 in
19th Century Victorian Writing Slope/ Travel Desk Box, Brass Bound, UK ca. 1815
Located in Lichtenberg, AT
Impressive Victorian writing slope or travel desk - attributed to the famous company of Thompson - from the period around 1800 - 1815 in the United Kingdom. This fantastic Captain’s campaign writing slope dates back to the Napoleonic wars. Well constructed out of solid mahogany with screwed down mount re-enforcements, brass banding, and inset carrying handles at each end, this outstanding travel desk box was designed to withstand the harsh maritime life at sea. The exterior of this Victorian travel box shows an attractive mahogany grain, beautiful colour, and a lovely pleasing patina. There are a couple of old indented scars to the lid along with the usual minor surface scratching, but these imperfections confer it an absolutely unique charme. The box has a tri-fold operation, opening to reveal a secondary smaller writing surface for quick use, then opening again to reveal the main slope fitted with a green felt writing surface which is in reasonable condition and compliments the original interior. When it is completely opened you have two storage compartments underneath. The original lock works smoothly with the original key. The original interior is nicely fitted out with a dark green leather drop-down section in the lid which features four memoire pockets. This section can additionally be lowered to reveal a document wallet...
Brass
$1,711 / set
H 5.91 in W 8.67 in D 4.34 in
Antique English Brass Agate Cabochon Mounted Two Piece Desk Set Mid 19th Century
Located in London, GB
This is a fine antique Victorian brass and agate cabochon inlaid two piece desk set, circa 1860 in date. The set comprises a dome topped rectangular stationary casket and a matching...
Agate, Brass
19th Century Bookstand
Located in High Point, NC
19th century bookstand from England made from rosewood. The handles are hand-turned along with the spindles, which terminate on the ends with lovely lyre inspired shaped pieces. The ...
Rosewood
$1,800 / set
H 6.75 in W 4.5 in D 4.5 in
Pair Of 19th century Ormolu Swan Candlesticks After William Bateman II
Located in Sleepy Hollow, NY
A pair of 19th century English ormolu and parcel silvered swan candlesticks after an 1834 design by William Bateman II for Rundell, Bridge and Rundell. Each leafy acanthus-form nozzl...
Bronze
19th Century Sewing Box by Maison Aucoc, Paris
By A. Aucoc
Located in Paris, FR
Late 19th century oval sewing box decorated with crowned monogram. The case contains five gold and steel sewing utensils embellished with small flowers. Labeled on the inside: AUCOC A PARIS. Weight: 27.6 g, circa 1860 Dimension: W 4.5 in, D 2.4in, H .8in. Dimension: L 11.5cm, P 6cm, H 2cm. La Maison Aucoc...
Gold, Steel
William IV silver inkstand
Located in London, GB
Antique silver inkstand of impressive proportions, made at the end of King William IV's reign. The inkstand has finely detailed scroll and leaf pattern cast mounts and rets on four s...
Crystal, Sterling Silver
Antique William IV Sterling Silver Locking Travelling Compass
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
An exceptional, fine and impressive, unusual and rare antique William IV English sterling silver locking travelling compass; an addition to our diverse silver collection This exceptional antique William IV sterling silver travelling compass has a plain circular form. The surface of this impressive and unusual antique compass is plain and unembellished. The compass is embellished cardinal and intermediate marks forming a sixteen point compass rose, encircled with a chapter ring of degree marks around the outer edge; the piece bears an enamel dial as you would expect from a watch of this period. The face of this fully functional compass is visible through a circular glass 'window'. This antique silver compass...
Sterling Silver
A William IV rosewood desk tidy attributed to Gillows
By Gillows of Lancaster & London
Located in Lymington, Hampshire
A William IV rosewood desk tidy attributed to Gillows, of rectangular form with everted, bracket sides carved with S-scrolls and pointed trefoil corners, rai...
Rosewood
Antique Sterling Silver Inkstand with Glass Inkwells 1837 William IV
By Robinson, Edkins, & Aston
Located in London, GB
A beautiful Solid Silver rectangular Inkstand with an ornate shell, leaf and scroll border and standing on four scroll and shell feet. The Inkstand has a silver and cut glass Inkwell...
Sterling Silver
Sold
H 0.5 in W 8 in D 1.25 in
William IV Sterling Silver and Blue Guilloche Enamel Letter Opener/Paper Knife
Located in New York, NY
William IV, sterling silver and blue guilloche enamel letter opener/paper knife, London, year hallmarked for 1833, William Eaton - maker. Sterling silver blade is etched with flowers...
Sterling Silver, Enamel
19th Century William the IV Mahogany Connoisseur Gallery Magnifying Lens
Located in Lowestoft, GB
A mahogany gallery lens, circa 1835 in age, English in origin The wooden frame and handle are in very good condition, the lens has some wear/scuffs to the center These magnify...
Optical Glass, Mahogany
William IV Anglo Indian Solid Ebony Pen Tray
Located in Lymington, Hampshire
A Fine William IV Anglo-Indian solid ebony pen tray, of rectangular stepped form with three inkwells and a single frieze drawer, all surmounted by a fob watch holder flanked by turne...
Ebony
William IV Bronze and Ormolu Inkwell
Located in London, GB
A William IV period bronze and ormolu Pentray, having Gothic arch moulded inkwells and central waferbox with 'bunch of grapes' decoration. The Pentray, with bold acanthus and grapevi...
Bronze, Ormolu
Victorian Coromandel Wood and Brass Book Slide
By George Bentjemann
Located in New York, NY
The hinged arched ends mounted with oval ceramic plaques featuring Classical maidens set within in brass surrounds; Bearing brass makers plaque stamped "Betjemann's patent 462" and another "SELF CLOSING BOOK SLIDE...
Brass
19th Century Willliam IV Inlaid Mother-of-Pearl Boulle Inkstand
Located in London, GB
This is a lovely antique French mother-of-pearl marquetry and red Boulle encrier, or inkstand, circa 1830 in date. The encrier comprises two glass inkwells and a lidded stamp box wi...
Mother-of-Pearl