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.
English Brass Figural Knight & Bear Shield Door Stop with Step Back Base, C 1850
Located in Charleston, SC
English brass figural knight and decorative bear shield door stop with step back rectangular base, Mid 19th Century. Knighted Guy Earle of Warwick.
Brass, Lead
Staffordshire Pottery Cats on Cushions, Pair of Lilac Figures, Circa 1830
Located in Downingtown, PA
Staffordshire Pottery Cats on Cushions, Pair of Lilac Figures, Circa 1820–1840 This pair of Staffordshire pottery cats is modeled recumbent with the legs tucked beneath, each restin...
Pottery
English Marble Bust of Parliament Gentleman on Plinth, John Graham Lough C. 1855
By John Graham Lough
Located in Charleston, SC
English Marble bust of Parliament gentleman displayed on a circular plinth. Signed by maker John Graham Lough, London Mid 19th Century. Lough sculp...
Statuary Marble
Large Pair of Signed 19th Century Relief Portrait Busts of Wellington & Napoleon
By Nathaniel Palmer
Located in Ottawa, Ontario
A very handsome and impressive pair of relief portrait busts in copper depicting portrait busts of Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington (1769-1852) on the left, and Napoleon Bona...
Copper
Antique Flamed Hardwood Pedestal from Princess Diana's Family Home Spencer House
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
Royal house antiques. Royal house antiques is delighted to offer for sale this sublime antique William IV circa 1830 Flamed Mahogany Pedestal stand with small coat rail from Princess Diana Spencer’s London family home Spencer House...
Hardwood
Staffordshire Cat Figure, Circa 1970
Located in High Point, NC
Circa 1970 vintage figure of a cat from the Staffordshire region of England. The cat is decorated in black and white, and has a gold bow around its neck. This is a nice model, as i...
Ceramic
Gaudí Batlló 2 Door Knob by Antoni Gaudí
Located in Geneve, CH
Gaudí Batlló 2 Door Knob by Antoni Gaudí Dimensions: D8 x H4 cm Materials: Brass Before reissuing Gaudí’s furniture, BD, together with the archit...
Brass
Set of 13 Vintage English Brass Beehive Door Knobs
Located in Wormelow, Herefordshire
A rare set of 13 vintage English brass beehive door knobs, beautifully crafted and sourced from an English country house. Featuring classic beehive detailing and a warm gold-coloure...
Metal, Brass
$556Sale Price / set|20% Off
H 6 in W 3 in D 2 in
Pair of Diminutive Red Staffordshire Spaniels, circa 1860
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Pair of diminutive red Staffordshire Spaniels, circa 1860, Each one exceptionally painted with expressive faces.
Pottery
Antique Tekhi Wooden Pot from Nepal, Hand-Carved Hardwood, 1900s
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Antique Wooden Pot or Tekhi, from Nepal, 13" Tall, circa 1900s Early 20th century wood pot from Nepal, this particular style of wooden container, pot has a r...
Hardwood
19th Century Portrait Bust of William Shakespeare
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
19th century portrait bust of William Shakespeare, Vividly painted, a striking portrait of the English playwright, poet, and actor. Raised on a pedestal base with a neoclassical urn....
Pottery
$1,175
H 8 in W 11 in D 5 in
Sterrit-Gittings Kelsey Bronze Tennis Player on Marble Base Royal Copenhagen
Located in Westport, CT
Sterrit-Gittings Kelsey Bronze Tennis woman, marble base Royal Copenhagen 152/2500 signed and dated 1976.
Marble, Bronze
Pair of 19th Century Busts
Located in Madrid, ES
Pair of 19th century busts. These are 2 19th century Gesso painted busts of 2 archaeologists of the period. Measurements: 69 x 62 x 28 Y 65 x 60 x 30 Good condition.
Gesso
$1,100 / set
H 9.25 in W 4 in D 4 in
Pair of 19th Century French Terracotta Busts of Children Signed E. Guillemin
Located in Dallas, TX
Decorate an office shelf with this cheerful pair of antique terracotta children busts. Crafted in Paris, France circa 1880, each subject features a child face sculpture standing on a black painted socle base. Each figure has wonderful facial expressions and nice details. Both artworks are signed on the back E. Guillemin with marks reading "Quai Jemmapes 6". The busts are in excellent condition with the original terracotta patinated finish. Émile Coriolan Hippolyte Guillemin (1841-1907) was a French sculptor of the Belle Époque. He worked mainly in bronze and also made artwork subjects in terracotta. He studied under his father, the painter Auguste Guillemin, and under Jean-Jules Salmson. He showed work at the Salon of Paris from 1870-1899, and in 1897 received an honorable mention there. His sculptures incorporated themes inspired by the French revolution, Mediterranean mythology, and orientalist aesthetics. His oeuvre is reminiscent of other mid-18th century European bronze sculptors, including Jef Lambeaux, Marcel...
Terracotta
18th or 19th Century White Marble Bust of a Young Woman
Located in Berlin, DE
The marble bust facing frontal with her eyes looking to her right. The hair fastened in a skillfull knot behind, the drapery covers her shoulders and breasts, with another section un...
Carrara Marble
Pair of Staffordshire Cat Figures, Circa 1970
Located in High Point, NC
Circa 1970 vintage figures of cats from the Staffordshire region of England. The cat is decorated in rust and white, and has a gold bow around its neck. This is a nice model, as i...
Ceramic
21 Clesitera Glass Vase by Ettore Sottsass from Memphis Milano
By Memphis Group, Ettore Sottsass, Memphis Milano
Located in La Morra, Cuneo
The Clesitera glass vase with pendant, was originally designed by Ettore Sottsass in 1986. The vase is blown glass, and signed on the base, for further information please see authent...
Glass
Sold
H 30.75 in W 10.5 in D 14 in
English Lead Figural Statue of Pan Playing Flanking Flutes on Square Base C 1850
Located in Charleston, SC
English lead figural statue of pan playing flanking flutes standing on a squared rectangular base, Mid-19th century. Base measures 6.75 wide / 8 deep.
Lead
Sold
H 13.5 in W 14 in D 5.5 in
British Royal Navy Admiral Brass Ship Bell on Dolphin Cast Iron Yoke, c. 1840
Located in Charleston, SC
British Royal Navy Admiral solid brass ship bell mounted on flanking intertwined dolphin cast iron yoke. Mid 19th Century.
Brass, Iron
Sold
H 7.25 in W 4.75 in D 2.75 in
Early Staffordshire Bocage Figure Group of Gardener and Companion, circa 1825
Located in Downingtown, PA
Early Staffordshire bocage figure group of gardener and companion, circa 1825. The charming bocage figure group of male and female gardeners ...
Pearlware, Pottery
Sold
H 29 in W 8.5 in D 8.5 in
English Figural Lead Fountain with a Young Man Blowing on a Conch Shell, C. 1850
Located in Charleston, SC
English figural lead fountain with a young man blowing a conch shell while standing on a rocky plinth. Fountain is in working condition, Mid-19th century.
Copper, Lead
19th Century bronze model of two cherubs riding a dolphin
Located in London, GB
An attractive mid-19th century well cast bronze model of two winged cherubs riding a dolphin, supported on plinth base.
Bronze
Pair of English Cast Iron Poly Chromed Sitting Lions, Circa 1840
Located in Charleston, SC
Pair of English cast iron poly chromed sitting lions. Mid-19th century.
Iron
English Regency Brass Dolphin Doorstop. Circa 1850
Located in Charleston, SC
English Regency brass dolphin doorstop supported by rectangular molded plinth. Mid 19th Century