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.
19th Century mahogany cellarette of sarcophagus form
Located in Martlesham, GB
19th Century mahogany cellarette of sarcophagus form, the hinged and gadrooned lid opening to reveal a large compartment space, panels to all sides, raised on gadrooned feet with con...
Mahogany
An Elegant William IV Gilt Bronze Mounted Cellarette
Located in Palm Desert, CA
An elegant William IV gilt bronze mounted cellarette, 2nd quarter of the 19th century.
Giltwood
Outstanding Quality Antique William IV Mahogany Serpentine Shaped Wine Cooler
Located in Suffolk, GB
Outstanding quality antique William IV mahogany serpentine shaped wine cooler/cellarette having a magnificent quality fiddleback mahogany serpentine shaped stepped lift up lid openin...
Other
Antique English Willian IV Flamed Mahogany Wine Cooler with Lion Head Handles
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
This antique English flamed mahogany wine cooler dates to circa 1830 and done in the period William IV style. The cabinet is done in flamed mahogany with rope motif border decoration...
Brass
English Mahogany Wine Cooler, circa 1890
Located in Evergreen, CO
The perfect way to display and serve the wine of the day or night, this open wine cooler is both convenient and stylish. Made in England from imported mahogany during the late-19th c...
Mahogany
Pair Of George III Style Brass Mounted Carved Mahogany Cellarettes
Located in Bridgeport, CT
A pair of mahogany George III style brass mounted urn form cellarettes with lead lined interior. The urns surmounted by detachable lids with brass acorn form finials. The urns with c...
Brass, Lead
Vintage Champagne Bucket / Wine Cooler with Swan handles, France
Located in Stockholm, SE
Vintage Champagne bucket / wine cooler with swan handles, France. A rare and magnificent large champagne cooler from the early 20th century, crafted in Lyon, France. With its grand h...
Steel
George III Mahogany And Brass Bound Cellarette
Located in Essex, MA
Octagonal hinged lid opening to a compartment [ lacking liner ]. Conforming case section. With a flute carved top of base with four molded legs and casters. Key.
Brass
English Regency Mahogany Sarcophagus Shaped Wine Cooler
Located in Bedfordshire, GB
A fine quality regency perioid mahogany sarcophagus shaped wine cooler, or cellarette, retaining original brass carrying handles and fine colour throughout, raised on original plinth...
Mahogany
George III Period Oval Mahogany Wine Cooler
Located in Lymington, GB
An oval mahogany wine cooler, George III period, circa 1790. With excellent, unrestored, deep, rich color and patination, and original solid-brass carrying handles to either side. This smart Georgian wine cooler (cellaret or cellarette) retains its original waxed surface and patina. It is brass-bound (of coopered construction) supported on its separate, original stand. Raised on square tapering legs terminating in its original brass cappings and castors. It can be also used as a small side table or lamp table. Comes with a bespoke, clear, safety glass cover. Nb. An antique oval wine cooler of this design is quite rare, and makes a very elegant addition to a dining room sideboard, or an occasional table in a drawing room. By removing the top, some examples of this form of wine cooler were often later converted to be used as jardinières. See Christies, 23rd May 2013, lot 23: a mahogany oval wine cooler sold @ £17,500. Literature: Ralph Edwards CBE FSA 'Shorter Dictionary of English Furniture', Hamlyn, London (Fourth Impression 1972) p. 640: “In late Georgian times the wine cooler was generally a plain mahogany tub hooped with brass and standing on four legs. Mary Kenyon in a letter to her mother (October 30th 1775) wrote that among the furniture in the parlour of her new house in Lincoln’s Inn Fields was a ''handsome cistern of mahogany with brass hoops etc. under the sideboard”. A typical example of a brass-bound wine cooler is shown in a picture by Zoffany, representing William Ferguson...
Mahogany
English Satinwood and Rosewood Cellarette
Located in Charleston, SC
English Satinwood and Rosewood two bottle Cellarette with original tin liner, inlaid pateras, and terminating on bracket feet. Dealers please call f...
Regency Wine Cooler or Cellarette
Located in Pasadena, CA
This is a classic Georgian Mahogany Cellarette that dates to the late 18th or early 19th century. The cellarette lacks its original mahog...
Brass
$2,715Sale Price|20% Off
H 22.05 in W 20.67 in D 13.19 in
Small Regency mahogany sarcophagus shaped Cellarette
By Gillows of Lancaster & London
Located in Folkestone, GB
A fine qualioty Regency period mahogany celleate of small size with brass line inlaid edges and raised on turned and reeded inverted vase-shaped legs and fitted with original ring ca...
Mahogany
Panther Wine Cooler
Located in Paris, FR
Wine Cooler Panther with structure in steel in chrome finish, with 2 panther handles.
Steel, Chrome
$3,408
H 56 in W 75 in D 48 in
19th century English wine cooler, Regency, sarcophagus shape, flame mahogany
Located in Central England, GB
This superb English Regency period lead lined wine cooler is of a sarcophagus design intentionally retrained in its decoration to promote and show off the magnificent quality of the ...
Mahogany
$1,870Sale Price|20% Off
H 9.45 in W 12.6 in D 7.88 in
Valentí Lucite and Brass Ice Bucket / Wine Cooler with Horse Head Handles
By Valenti
Located in Barcelona, ES
Midcentury Equestrian Lucite and Brass Cylinder Ice Bucket with Horse Head Handles, Spain, 1960-1970. Manufactured by Valentí. Stylish Mid-Century Modern cylinder shaped ice containe...
Brass, Bronze
Circa 1835-60 English William IV Wine Cooler
Located in Chapel Hill, NC
Circa 1835-60 William IV wine cooler, English. A handsome, smaller size, sarcophagus form of mahogany with ring turned handles & flattened ball feet. Fiddle grain veneers on solid ti...
Metal
19th Century George IV Mahogany Cellarette
Located in Dublin 8, IE
19th Century George IV mahogany cellarette, or vin de garde, of sarcophagus form, with hinged lid and brass side carrying handles, raised on castors. Featuring a flat rectangular top...
Brass
Sold
H 23.5 in W 33 in D 20.5 in
19th Century William IV Mahogany Jardiniere/Cellarette of Sarcophagus Form
Located in North Miami, FL
19th Century William IV Mahogany Jardiniere/Cellarette of sarcophagus form, each corner mounted with an anthemion carving, the case with figured panels, the interior with a tole line...
Metal, Brass
Fine Antique William IV Carved Mahogany Wine Cooler
Located in Suffolk, GB
This is a fine antique William IV antique carved mahogany wine cooler in a sarcophagus shape, fantastic quality expertly carved lift up lid, original fitted interior, beautiful carve...
Mahogany
English William IV Period Mahogany Cylindrical Tole Lined Planter
Located in Atlanta, GA
The upper edge with a molded edge, the middle section wrapped in mahogany veneers and having brass elongated ring handles, raised on a circular plinth, retaining original tole liner,...
Mahogany
Sold
H 19.5 in W 25.5 in D 19.5 in
Antique English William iv Bookmatched Flame Mahogany Dome Top Cellarette
Located in CHARLESTON, SC
Fabulous quality antique English William IV bookmatched flame figured mahogany dome top cellarette with original partitioned liner with a drain in the bottom. (Ice from the ice barge...
Mahogany
William iv Mahogany Cellarette
Located in New Orleans, LA
This refined William IV period wine cellarette is crafted of rich mahogany and boasts beautifully carved details. The sarcophagus form is distinguished by handsome lion paw feet and ...
Mahogany
Turned Mahogany Peat Bucket with Ebonized Decoration
Located in Greenwich, CT
Fine early 19th century Dutch peat bucket with original brass liner, the fine bail handle over turned coopered body, the rich mahogany highlighted wi...
Brass
William IV Mahogany Sarcophagus-Shaped Wine Cellarette
Located in Stamford, CT
Early 19th century William IV mahogany sarcophagus wine cellarette. Carved grape motif on lid. Original zinc liner and replaced velvet panel on the inside lid.
Zinc
Antique Burr Elm Wine Cooler Cellarette
Located in Bedfordshire, GB
An extremely rare William IV period burr elm wine cooler cellarette of sarcophagus form having lift up lid and foliate carved decoration standing on original tablet feet.
Elm