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.
$3,600 / set
Antique English Mirrored Two Light Wall Sconces
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Pair of 19th century William IV wall sconces with scallops and beveled mirrored backplates, now distressed, and two turned brass candle cups on gra...
Brass
Pair 19th Century English Gilt Brass and Crystal Neoclassical Style Sconces
Located in Pittsburgh, PA
This handsome pair of William IV three light sconces feature classical motifs including urn and acanthus leaf designs, and cut crystal obelisks.
Crystal, Brass
Set of Eight English Brass and Crystal Two-Arm Floral Wall Sconces, Circa 1840
Located in Charleston, SC
Set of Eight English brass and crystal two arm wall sconces with decorative floral and beading motif. Sconces were originally candle powered and have been electrified. Mid-19th century.
Crystal, Brass
$11,856 / set
Pair of William IV Ormolu and Glass Wall Lights
Located in Steyning, West sussex
A pair of English William IV three-light ormolu-mounted cut-glass wall lights the ormolu back plate surmounted by three-leaf cut candle arms with flute cut nozzles and drip pans hung...
Ormolu
Pair of English Brass Foliage Two Arm Mirrored Sconces, circa 1850
Located in Charleston, SC
Pair of English brass mirrored foliage sconces with two scrolled arms, medallions, graduated bell flowers, and acanthus motif. Pair have been elec...
Brass
Set of Six English Bronze Coat of Arms and Floral Motif Sconces, Circa 1830
Located in Charleston, SC
Set of six English two-arm bronze sconces with foliage paladin cornices , centered floral coat of arms, fluted bobeches with tampered spheres, and terminating with a lower centered decorative winged...
Bronze
Pair of Italian Chrome and glass Arm Wall Lights
By Venini
Located in London, GB
Contemporary Art Deco inspired Italian wall lights in the style of ‘Venini’. Each light comprises of a circle of slim Murano glass rods capped top and bottom by round brass plates...
Chrome
Pair Two-Light Silver Plated Wall Light Sconces
Located in New York, NY
Pair silvered bronze 2-light wall lights (sconces) in the English Regency style
Bronze
$842 / set
H 8.08 in W 4.73 in D 3.75 in
Set of Two "BUBBLE" Tynell Style Glass Wall Light Sconces, Germany, 1970s
By Glashütte Limburg, J.T. Kalmar, Helena Tynell
Located in Kirchlengern, DE
Article: Set of two Wall light sconces Origin: Germany Age: 1970s This set of two modernist lights was produced in France in the 1970s. It is made from glass with a abs...
Metal
$6,179Sale Price / set|25% Off
H 13.39 in W 4.14 in D 3.35 in
Unique Austrian Set of Six Murano Smoke "Citrus" Wall Sconces by Kalmar, 1970s
By Kalmar Lighting, J.T. Kalmar
Located in Badajoz, Badajoz
Unique, beauty and stunning Set of Six Austrian MidcCentury smoke Murano Glass Wall Sconces, model "Citrus" 4663. These sconces were designed and manufactured during the 1970s in Aus...
Metal, Brass
Antique French Bagues Style Two Light Sconces
Located in New York, NY
A pair of circa 1930’s French Bagues double light sconces with mirrored cut crystal body
Metal
Swing-Arm Wall Sconce
Located in Oakville, CT
Steel Swing-Arm Wall Sconce with Milk Glass Shade Overall Length: 47″ Bracket Height: 29″ Height from top of arm to bottom of bulb: 12 1/4″ Arm Length:...
Steel, Metal
Pair of Murano Glass Wall Lights
Located in London, GB
A stylish pair of Murano Glass & Brass wall lights. Simple gilt brass brackets and bulb holder supporting rope twisted murano glass shades, which diffuse a wonderful light when illu...
Brass
$2,887 / set
H 17.72 in W 9.06 in D 8.67 in
Antique 18th Century Double Eagle Wall Mirrors Candle Sconces Repoussé Brass
Located in Munich, DE
This pair of 18th centurty repoussé brass walls sconces has retained its original condition and patina as well as the original mirror glass. A pair...
Brass
Serge Mouille - Rotating Sconce with 2 Arms (1 Curved)
Located in Stratford, CT
DESCRIPTION: The long straight arm of this sconce is 69 inches allowing for illumination deeper into a room when needed while the shorter arm maintains lighting closer to the wall. M...
Brass, Aluminum, Steel
$3,800 / set
H 38.5 in W 15 in D 4 in
Pair of Early 19th Century Continental Neoclassical Giltwood Sconce Mirrors
Located in Essex, MA
Pair of early 19th century continental sconce mirrors with original early glass and original gilding. Two arm sconces for candles. Great size and wo...
Mirror, Beech, Giltwood
$2,100 / set
H 20 in W 8.5 in D 4 in
Pair of English Midcentury Silver Plated Two-Light Wall Sconces with Foliage
Located in Atlanta, GA
A pair of English vintage silver plated wall sconces from the mid 20th century, with two lights and foliage motifs. Created in England during th...
Silver Plate
$11,429
H 20.87 in W 13 in D 1.19 in
18th Century, Giltwood Pair of Italian Louis XV Candle Wall Sconce with Mirror
Located in IT
Pair of Piedmontese Italian candle wall sconce in carved and gilded wood with mirror. Turin (Italy), Louis XV period, mid-18th century The precious pair of sconce, made around th...
Mirror, Giltwood
Sold
H 9.75 in W 11.5 in D 6 in
Pair of English Gilt Tole Decorative Foliage Two Arm Shaded Wall Sconces, C 1830
Located in Charleston, SC
Pair of English Gilt Tole decorative foliage flanking two arm shaded wall sconces, Early 19th Century. Pair were originally candle powered and have been electrified.
Tin
Large Scale 19th Century English Cut Crystal Single Sconce
Located in Pittsburgh, PA
This huge candle powered three arm sconce features rule cut prisms with jewel cut rondels, and silver plated fittings.
Crystal