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.
C1780s William 1v Library Chair
Located in London, GB
A Beautiful Leather Library Chair This chair has been Restored and Reupholstered Dates C1780s Just Been Upholstered in lovely Brown Leather and Plaid Fabric
Leather
$4,089 / item
Leather Club Chair
Located in Westwood, NJ
A leather upholstered club chair, in a vintage cigar brown aniline top-grade leather with a deep upholstered cushion backrest and seat cushion with rollover upholstered arms, finishe...
Leather
Antique Restored Leather William IV Hardwood Chesterfield Captains Armchair
By Chesterfield
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
We are delighted to offer for sale this lovely, antique, fully restored original mahogany framed circa 1830 hand dyed Chesterfield Bordeaux leather director's chair. Please note t...
Leather, Hardwood
Unusual Antique Quality William IV Leather and Mahogany Library Chair
Located in Suffolk, GB
Unusual antique quality William IV leather and mahogany library chair having a newly reupholstered seat and back in a quality chestnut colour leather, shaped open arms with turned su...
Other
19th Century Pair of Round-back Upholstered Armchairs
Located in Dublin 8, IE
19th century pair of round-back upholstered armchairs. Dates from the transition period between square William IV lolling chairs and curvilinear Victorian; the carved embellishment t...
Mahogany
William IV Style Burl Wood and Diamond Brocade Upholstered Armchair
Located in Germantown, MD
A William IV Style Burl Wood Finish and Diamond Brocade Upholstered Armchair. Measures: 24.5" in width, 24.5" in depth and 35" in height. Seat height is 18". Arm height is 26". Seat ...
Upholstery, Burl
William IV Polished Antique Brown Leather Chesterfield Library Chair On Castors
Located in Reading, Berkshire
A British 1830's William IV polished antique brown leather chesterfield backed mahogany library armchair with brass stud detailing on brass castors. .
Brass
$2,391 / set
Pair of Antique William IV Period Armchairs
Located in London, GB
An outstanding pair of antique William IV period armchairs. They were made in England, they date from around the 1830-40’s. They are of superb quality and are a lovely, compact size...
Fabric, Wood
William IV Velvet Scroll Arm Library Slipper Chair In The Manner of Gillows
Located in Reading, Berkshire
William IV Scroll Arm Button Back Library Slipper Armchair With Purple Velvet Button Back Upholstery upon Porcelain & Brass Castors In The Manner of Gillows Extra dimensions Depth o...
Brass
$3,061Sale Price|20% Off
Library reading chair with carved swan head detail W1V period
By King & Sons
Located in Dereham, GB
William 1V period Mahogany & leather library reading chair Recently covered in leather & coloured to chestnut, brass studded detail Fine pair Mahogany carved Swan Heads elbows Sc...
Leather, Mahogany
English Mahogany Leather Wing Back Chair With Acanthus Ball & Claw Feet. C .1840
Located in Charleston, SC
English mahogany leather wing back chair with acanthus carved skirt, knee, and terminating on ball and claw feet. Mid 19th Century
Brass
William IV Mahogany Barber's or Dentist's Chair, England, circa 1830
Located in San Francisco, CA
Mahogany barber's or dentist's chair with single back splat and two smaller side splats with heart shape cut-outs and hand woven cane seat. The sturdy scrolling arms curving around, ...
Mahogany, Cane
19th Century English Oak Leather Library Chair
Located in Shipston-On-Stour, GB
A fantastic quality C19th carved oak library open arm chair of generous proportions, the shapely back with carved lappets and moulded frame leading onto scrolled arm supports with further lappets below and carved gothic quatrefoils with moulded rails, raised on carved legs with large brass buckets...
Brass
SUBLIME ANTiQUE RESTORED ENGLISH OAK & HAND DYED LEATHER WILLIAM MORRIS ARMCHAIR
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
Royal House Antiques Royal House Antiques is delighted to offer for sale this very unique circa 1830-1840 fully restored English oak and had dyed brown leather William Morris Librar...
Leather
William IV Mahogany & Leather Library Chair
Located in Kent, Dover
An English, William IV mahogany library chair, with fluted legs and anthemion decoration. It has been upholstered in green leather, with buff leather buttoning.
Mahogany
Restored William IV Reclining Library Reading Brown Leather Armchair Footstool
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
We are delighted to offer for sale this absolutely stunning 100% period correct William IV circa 1835 mahogany reclining library reading armchair with built in footrest This chair...
Leather, Hardwood
Antique William IV Period Cane and Leather Armchair
Located in London, GB
A beautiful and very well made antique William IV period leather caned armchair. This was made in England, it dates from around the 1830-1840 period. It is of very fine quality, the...
Leather, Cane, Wood
SCULPTURAL FRAME ANTiQUE CHESTERFIELD WILLIAM IV BROWN LEATHER LIBRARY ARMCHAIR
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
Royal House Antiques Royal House Antiques is delighted to offer for sale this absolutely stunning Antique William IV 1830 hand carved Mahogany Framed with period castors, Brown Leat...
Leather
EXQUISITE ANTIQUE WILLIAM IV 1830 CHESTERFIELD TUFTED WALNUT LIBRARY ARMCHAiR
By Chesterfield
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
Royal House Antiques Royal House Antiques is delighted to offer for sale this absolutely stunning antique circa 1830 William IV Chesterfield tufted library armchair with ornately ca...
Upholstery, Walnut
Antique William IV Leather Library Armchair
Located in London, GB
An exceptional antique William IV leather library armchair. This was made in England, it dates from around the 1830-1840 period. The quality is outstanding, this is an extremely fin...
Leather, Wood
Late 19th Century English Reclining Chair
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This English reclining lounge chair is a remarkable example of pre-modern craftsmanship. The chair features a turned mahogany frame that supports a fully adjustable back and a slide-...
Linen, Mahogany
William IV Shaped Mahogany Library Chair
Located in Lymington, Hampshire
A William lV shaped mahogany library chair of generous proportions. Reupholstered in our own workshops in distressed burgundy leather. Raised on turned legs and brass casters.
Leather, Mahogany
Fine Quality William IV Mahogany Button Back Chair
Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight
A fine quality William IV mahogany button back chair This is a superbly comfortable arm chair, it has a curved deeply buttoned back, the chair is...
Mahogany
Fine Antique 1830 William iv Cockfighting Brown Leather Chair Original Castors
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
We are is delighted to offer for sale this important handmade made in England circa 1830 William IV Cockfighting armchair. This really is an exquisite armchair, it is pure art furni...
Leather, Hardwood
Antique William IV Mahogany Elbow Chair with Green Upholstered Seat
Located in King's Lynn, GB
An antique William IV mahogany elbow chair, dating from the William IV period (1830–1837). The chair features carved tulip-shaped front legs and scrolled arm supports, with a green u...
Mahogany
ORIGINAL ANTIQUE ROBERT DAWS HARDWOOD BROWN LEATHER RECLINiNG LIBRARY ARMCHAIR
By Robert Daws
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
Royal House Antiques Royal House Antiques is delighted to offer for sale this absolutely stunning 100% period correct, fully stamped Robert Daws, William IV circa 1830 Rosewood recl...
Brass
$1,038 / set
English William IV Mahogany Desk Chair
Located in Kent, Dover
An English William IV carved mahogany desk chair, with good patina, with a green wool seat.
Mahogany
A Large William IV Mahogany Library Chair
Located in London, GB
England, circa 1840 A William IV mahogany library chair of large scale, with scrolling arms and uprights, the front legs carved with tulip motives and terminating in brass castors. ...
Mahogany
19th Century Mahogany Leather Library Chair
Located in Bedfordshire, GB
A superb quality mid-19th century William IV period mahogany library armchair of bold proportions having swept and scrolling arms with superbly carved x framed supports, over large b...
Leather, Mahogany
$2,459 / item
W1V Mahogany & carved leather Library Chair
By King & Sons
Located in Dereham, GB
W1V Mahogany & carved leather Library Chair William 1V period 1830-1837 Mahogany frame, with open scroll arms carved detail on front. Deep Butto...
Leather, Mahogany
$4,900
Leather Library Chair
Located in Greenwich, CT
A 19th century library armchair upholstered in well-worn original brown leather with an aged dark brown patina trimmed with brass nail heads, a button-tufted backrest, leather padded...
Leather, Mahogany
Great set of 8 19th century English Saber Leg Mahogany Armchairs
Located in Richmond, VA
Great set of 8 19th century English mahogany armchairs. All 8 chairs are armchairs and sit very comfortably. Upholstered seats could be redone- currently 4 have one pattern and the o...
Mahogany
RESTORED ANTiQUE WILLIAM IV CHESTERFIELD BROWN LEATHER ARMCHAIR + WRITING SLOPE
By Gillows of Lancaster & London
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
Royal House Antiques Royal House Antiques is delighted to offer for sale this absolutely stunning fully restored hand dyed Cigar brown leather, period William IV Chesterfield Librar...
Brass
William IV Carved Mahogany Library Armchair with Red Velvet Upholstery
Located in London, GB
Constructed in mahogany, rising from caster shod scrolled toe cabriole legs to the front and rear, the knees carved with addorsed 'C' scrolls, dressed with pendant foliates, the seat...
Mahogany
ANTIQUE WILLIAM IV CHESTERFIELD OXBLOOD LEATHER RECLINING ARMCHAiR WRITING SLOPE
By Chesterfield
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
Royal House Antiques Royal House Antiques is delighted to offer for sale this absolutely stunning fully restored reddish brown leather, period William IV circa 1830 Chesterfield Library reclining...
Brass
$7,800 / set
Pair William IV Style Tufted Leather Armchairs
Located in New York, NY
Pair of William IV Style Tufted Leather Armchairs. The chairs have a solid walnut frame and tufted leather upholstery. The chairs have a nice ...
Leather, Walnut
HUGE ORNATELY CARVED ANTiQUE FULLY RESTORED CHESTERFIELD KING / QUEENS ARMCHAIR
By Chesterfield
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
Royal House Antiques Royal House Antiques is delighted to offer for sale this exceptionally rare, custom made to order, fully restored circa 1900-1920 hand dyed Chesterfield cigar b...
Leather, Oak
"Worrell" by Lee Stanton English Wing Chair in Belgian Linen or Custom Fabric
Located in Los Angeles, CA
The Worrell by Lee Stanton Editions is an English-style wing chair with tapered wood feet and rolled arms. Upholstered in cream-colored Belgian linen, the chair can also be upholster...
Upholstery
19th Century William IV Period Mahogany & Leather Library Armchair, circa 1835
Located in Petworth,West Sussex, GB
A very stylish, high-quality 19th-century William IV period library armchair in mahogany and buttoned leather. Circa 1835 and in lovely original condition. This attractive library ar...
Leather, Mahogany
ANTiQUE WILLIAM IV 1830 CHESTERFIELD TUFTED BARLEY TWIST FRAME LEATHER ARMCHAIR
By Chesterfield
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
Royal House Antiques Royal House Antiques is delighted to offer for sale this absolutely stunning antique circa 1830 William IV Chesterfield tufted library armchair with faded oxblo...
Leather, Hardwood
PAiR OF GEORGE SMITH WILLIAM IV LIBRARY ARMCHAIRS UNIQUE UPHOLSTERY
By George Smith
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
Royal House Antiques Royal House Antiques is delighted to offer for sale this stunning pair of George Smith William IV RRP £16,000 Library armchairs with stunning upholstery Pleas...
Upholstery
PAIR OF EXQUISITE ANTIQUE WILLIAM IV FLAMED HARDWOOD CIRCA 1830 CLUB ARMCHAIRs
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
Royal House Antiques Royal House Antiques is delighted to offer for sale this stunning, recently reupholstered pair of rare circa 1830 William IV club armchairs with sublime Flamed ...
Upholstery, Hardwood