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.
William IV Rosewood Credenza
Located in Essex, MA
Height excluding gallery 36 inches. With rectangular breakfront form top over a pair of doors flanked by reeded columns flanked by a pair of doors and flanked again by columns. Plint...
Rosewood
Antique Scottish Regency Rosewood Credenza Barley Twist & Brass Grilles Bookcase
Located in Portland, OR
A fine, elegant antique late Regency/William IV rosewood credenza, circa 1835. This cabinet extols the Regency style formed during the first quarter of the 19th century, highly infl...
Brass
William IV Sideboard or Chiffonier Server of Mahogany with Acanthus Leaf Accents
Located in Austin, TX
A fine English console sideboard or chiffonier server of flame-cut mahogany from the William IV period, featuring a moulded-edge rectangular top, supported by scrolling acanthus leaf...
Wood, Mahogany
Fine Quality Mahogany William IV Breakfront Front Sideboard
Located in Benington, Herts
A fine quality William IV flame mahogany inverted breakfront sideboard of good color. English, circa 1835 The raised carved back having a central anthemion cartouche, ...
Mahogany
Rosewood Tambour Door Credenza by Dyrlund
By Dyrlund
Located in Denton, TX
Rare Danish modern rosewood tambour door credenza with center dovetailed drawer section and adjustable shelf on each side.
Mahogany, Oak, Rosewood
Regency Mahogany Credenza
Located in Westwood, NJ
A fine Regency style mahogany veneered and yew burl banded buffet, the break bowfront top with an ebony and brass inlaid edge, above an arrangement of four frieze drawers above centr...
Wood
Scandinavian Modern Brazilian Rosewood Small Credenza
Located in North Hollywood, CA
This Swedish modern rosewood small credenza / storage cabinet showcases the exceptional craftsmanship and material selection that defined Scandinavian furniture design during the 196...
Rosewood
$12,800Sale Price|20% Off
H 33 in W 84.5 in D 20.25 in
Modern Black Lacquered Sideboard Credenza with Faux Parchment Fronts
Located in North York, ON
Modern black Lacquered sideboard credenza with Faux Parchment fronts. Featuring unique shaped design with ample storage options. Completed with a beautiful black lacquered finish and...
Wood
Danish Modern Rosewood 4-Drawer 2-Door Sideboard Credenza
Located in Kensington, MD
Refined lines and proportions are the defining feature of this incredible credenza in rosewood. Four graduated drawers on the left. Two doors opening to cabinet storage on the right....
Rosewood
$3,200Sale Price|20% Off
H 68 in W 60 in D 18 in
Mid century danish modern rosewood credenza with bookcase shelf unit
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Mid century danish modern tall rosewood credenza with bookcase has Key. Lower (2) door credenza with (4) drawers the other side has adjustable shelves. The top tall wall unit bookcas...
Rosewood
$5,800
H 29.14 in W 78.75 in D 16.54 in
Midcentury Black Lacquered Italian Credenza with Gold Leaf Glass Top
Located in Miami, FL
Midcentury black lacquered credenza with a sets of drawers and shelves, red lacquered inside. Gold leaf glass top.
Wood, Lacquer
Beautiful Mid-Century Modern Rosewood Credenza
By Tobia Scarpa
Located in Miami, FL
Beautiful Rosewood Credenza with removable hutch. Partly solid and veneered. Hutch is removable and has two glass sliding doors. Bottom credenza has four sliding doors, 4 drawers and...
Metal, Chrome
$9,952
H 47.64 in W 87.8 in D 17.72 in
Elegant Italian Midcentury Black Lacquered and Brass Sideboard or Credenza
Located in Rome, IT
Elegant Italian Midcentury Black lacquered side board with bar cabinet with four doors ornate with brass . Each door with precious etched mirror in a bronze frame . Round tap...
Glass, Wood
Kofod Larsen Rosewood Credenza
Located in Toledo, OH
Danish figured rosewood credenza by Kofod Larsen. This beautiful mid-century piece features tambour sliding doors, 3 adjustable shelves, 4 drawers with dovetail construction, and a f...
Rosewood
Gilbert Rohde Streamline Art Deco Cabinet Credenza Server
Located in Rockaway, NJ
Mid-Century Modern compact art deco two door credenza server cabinet by Gilbert Rhode. Burl wood front doors mahogany case.
Mahogany, Burl
$21,576 / item
H 32 in W 72 in D 20 in
Connect Credenza Cabinet or Sideboard Customizable in Steel and Aged Brass
By New Format Studio, Henry Norris
Located in Vancouver, BC
The Connect Credenza is designed to express the processes by which the piece is created, with visible construction and fastening details that are inte...
Brass, Steel
William IV Rosewood Credenza
Located in Essex, MA
Rectangular white marble top over a conforming case with carved frieze over a door flanked by a pair of doors all with brass grillwork with removable fabric panels. Plinth base.
Marble, Brass
William IV Rosewood Credenza
Located in Essex, MA
Rectangular breakfront form Siena marble top over a conforming case with central grill door enclosing shelves flanked by a pair of doors enclosing she...
Siena Marble, Brass
Mahogany Wood William IV Sideboard / Credenza
Located in Tarry Town, NY
Beautifully hand crafted mahogany wood sideboard / credenza with two side doors and four pull front drawer with brass detail and key. The sideboard is very handsome and beautifully h...
Brass
Sold
H 37 in W 85 in D 15 in
19th Century English Flame Mahogany Reverse Breakfront Side Cabinet Buffet
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
An English reverse-breakfront four-door side cabinet or buffet, the doors with dramatic flame mahogany panels. A bank of interior drawers is fitted in one section; the other three se...
Mahogany
William IV Satinwood Credenza
Located in Essex, MA
With bookcase section and shaped crest with bronze mount over an rosewood inlaid frieze with mounts and a pair of paneled cabinet doors enclosing shelves, flanked by rosewood inlays....
Satinwood
Superb Quality William IV Mahogany Chiffonier
Located in Benington, Herts
A superb quality William IV mahogany two door chiffonier. This chiffonier dating to circa 1835 has been constructed to the finest quality with stunning flame mahogany veneers havin...
Mahogany
Small William IV Mahogany Cabinet
Located in Essex, MA
With wonderfully figured rectangular marble top over two panelled doors with brass molding enclosing a shelf ,flanked by columns , conforming base.
Mid-19th Century English Chiffonier
Located in Long Island City, NY
Mid-19th century English chiffonier