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.
ANTIQUE 1831 ORIGINAL WiLLIAM IV NEEDLEWORK SAMPLER DEPICTING A VERSE ON YOUTH
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
Royal House Antiques Royal House Antiques is delighted to offer for sale this rather stunning, 1831 dated needlework sampler made in the reign of King William IV I have various ot...
Cotton
Pair of John Gould Hand Colored Framed Lithographs Family of Toucans, Circa 1840
Located in Charleston, SC
Pair of John Gould hand colored framed lithographs family of toucans. "Pteroglossus Inscriptus" and " Pteroglossus Hypoglaurus" Each signed in plate. Printed by Charles Hullmandell. ...
Glass, Giltwood, Paper
Group of Three Framed Antique Watercolors of Birds, Priced Individually
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Lofty group of three 19th Century watercolors on paper of exotic birds including parrots and a toucan executed in a naturalist style, signed E A Roper, dated 1833 to 1845 and present...
Paint
English Oil on Canvas Horse Portrait in Burl Walnut Gilt Frame, Signed. C. 1866
Located in Charleston, SC
English oil on canvas horse portrait in burl walnut giltwood and beaded molded edge frame. Signed & Dated by Artist "J. Brown Coventry 1866"
Canvas, Wood, Giltwood, Paint
$5,950 / set
Set of Four Animal Stone Lithographs
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Intriguing set of four 19th century hand colored stone lithographs depicting animal species by the prolific Swiss artist and print maker Karl Joseph Brodtmann. Presented under glass ...
Mahogany
ANTIQUE 1838 ORIGINAL EARLY ViCTORIAN NEEDLEWORK SAMPLER IN THE PERIOD FRAME
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
Royal House Antiques Royal House Antiques is delighted to offer for sale this rather stunning, 1838 dated needlework sampler made in the second year of Queen Victoria's reign I ha...
Cotton
19th Century Framed Scottish Tapestry, Wool, William IV Style, Fair
Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight
19th century framed Scottish tapestry. This is a charming 19th century framed Scottish tapestry The tapestry is hand woven and set on a golden oa...
Wool
Antique Needlework Sample, English, Framed, Embroidery, Decor, William IV, 1835
Located in Hele, Devon, GB
This is an antique needlework sampler. An English, framed embroidered panel, dating to the William IV period, circa 1835. A fascinating exam...
Cotton, Glass
William IV Maple Hanging Wall Shelf
Located in Essex, MA
With a 3/4 wood gallery over three shelves all flanked by spindles. All with mirror backs.
Mirror, Maple
Portrait of a Handsome Regency Gentleman in Giltwood Frame
By Thomas Lawrence
Located in Brooklyn, NY
A handsome Regency or early Victorian blue-eyed gentleman from the school of Sir Thomas Lawrence (1769-1830). The fashionably dressed young man sports a frock coat with a high collar...
Canvas, Giltwood, Paint
Fine Shaped Burl Tabletop with Compass Star Inlay
Located in Greenwich, CT
Very fine English early 19th Century solid burl yewwood tabletop with molded edge and scalloped sides with mahogany and sycamore compass star inlay, the who...
Yew
Original Antique 19th Century Oil Painting Portrait of an Aristocratic Lady
Located in Lambertville, NJ
Oil on canvas, portrait of an aristocratic lady. The woman is sitting in a red armchair with a quiet gaze wearing embroidered trim dress with white lace...
Giltwood, Canvas
English 19th century needlework and hand painted silk picture, circa 1830
Located in Central England, GB
This exceptional needlework dates to the early 19th century and is a master class in the art of needlework. It incorporates many different types of thread and complicated stitches co...
Wool, Silk
Set of Four 18th Century Prints
Located in Long Island City, NY
Set of four 18th century prints of English Earls.
Paper, Wood
Antique Sampler, 1834 by Ann Kelk
Located in Chelmsford, Essex
1834 'Knowledge' Sampler by Ann Kelk. The sampler is worked in silk on a linen ground, in a variety of stitches. Simple embroidered border. Colors black, crea...
Oil on Canvas, Orientalist Scene, Signed Louis Saphier
Located in Houston, TX
Oil on canvas, orientalist scene, signed Louis Saphier. This lovely painting was executed around 1920. Louis Saphier was active and lived in both New Yor...
Canvas, Wood
$1,101
H 18.51 in W 15.36 in D 0.6 in
Pair Of Antique Bird Paintings, English, Framed Silk Art, Ornithology, Victorian
Located in Hele, Devon, GB
This is a pair of antique bird paintings. An English, framed silk art, dating to the late Victorian period, circa 1900. Wonderful ornithologica...
Silk
$144
H 11.62 in W 9.65 in D 0.79 in
Three black-caped lories. Watercolour or watercolor, framed. 20th century.
Located in Madrid, ES
Three tricolor lorises. Framed watercolor. Twentieth century. Framed watercolor painting showing three birds perched on branches. The tricolor lory (Lorius lory), or black-naped lor...
Other
Cy Twombly Abstract Gaeta Lithographs Group of Four
By Cy Twombly
Located in Atlanta, GA
Group of Four Abstract Photolithographs on Vellum by Cy Twombly, from the limited edition "Gaeta" portfolio produced by Hine Editions, San Francisco, CA, circa 1987. They have been p...
Glass, Wood, Paper
$3,950
H 30.5 in W 36.5 in D 0.5 in
Oil on Canvas Portrait of a Setter or Golden Retriever Signed Clarence E. Braley
Located in Stamford, CT
Oil on canvas portrait of a setter or golden retriever signed Clarence E. Braley, a Massachusetts artist (1854-1927).
Canvas
$1,186 / set
H 14.25 in W 16.25 in D 14.25 in
Antique Still Life Fruits Oil on Canvas English Oil Painting Giltwood Frame
Located in Dublin, Ireland
An exceptionally fine quality example of an elaborately framed English Still Life of fruits Oil Painting on canvas, in the style of Oliver Clare or Eloise Harriet Stannard, second qu...
Canvas, Giltwood
Antique Sampler, 1834, By Mary Thornhill
Located in Chelmsford, Essex
William IV Sampler, 1834, By Mary Thornhill. The sampler is worked in silk threads on a linen ground. Meandering strawberry border. Colours green, gold, silver, pink, brown and blue....
Silk
Antique Sampler, 1837, by Marianne Butland Gill
Located in Chelmsford, Essex
Victorian Sampler, 1837, by Marianne Butland Gill. The sampler is worked in silk threads on a linen ground, mainly in cross stitch. A wonderfully worked meandering floral border. Col...
Linen
Set Of Four Hand Colored Engravings Of Dogs
Located in Essex, MA
Nicely framed featuring four different dog types.
Glass, Wood, Paper
Oil on Canvas English School Marine Scene Eighteenth Century
Located in Madrid, ES
Oil on canvas English school marine scene eighteenth century On the back part it has a label with a note in ink: coast of Scarborough-England E...
Canvas
Sold
H 9.85 in W 12.6 in D 0.6 in
3 Antique Big Cat Illustrations, English, Framed Art, Wildlife Study, William IV
Located in Hele, Devon, GB
This is a trio of antique big cat illustrations. An English, framed wildlife study of three feline species by Sir William Jardine, dating to the William IV period and later, circa 18...
Glass, Paper
Sold
H 16.15 in W 14.57 in D 1.19 in
Antique William IV Botanical Study Of A Red Dahlia Original Watercolour Painting
Located in Bristol, GB
ANTIQUE FLOWER PAINTING An original watercolour study of a red flower, probably a red dahlia both front and rear with its foliage below. Uns...
Glass, Wood, Paint, Paper
William IV Sampler, 1832, by Ann Head
Located in Chelmsford, Essex
William IV Sampler dated 1832, by Ann Head. The sampler is worked in silk on linen ground, mainly in cross stitch. Geometric border. Colours blue, gold, silver, green and pink. Signe...
Silk
Sold
H 2.5 in W 2.13 in D 0.25 in
Continental Portrait Miniature of a Young Girl with Tableau Locket Frame
Located in Downingtown, PA
Continental Portrait Miniature of a young girl with Tableau Locket Frame, 19th century The rectangular-form watercolor portrait miniature is painted...
Other
Sold
H 9.26 in W 8.86 in D 0.4 in
1833 a Collection of Eight Lithographs "Residence In The Arctic Regions"
Located in Lowestoft, GB
A fine collection of eight hand tinted lithographs "residence in the arctic regions" during 1829, 1830, 1831, 1832, 1833 published by A.W Webster, 156 Regent Street London Each e...
Paper
19th Century English Oil on Canvas of Whippet in a Landscape
Located in Dallas, TX
A realistically painted oil on canvas of a Whippet standing in a landscape. As found. Image measures: 12" H x 16" W
Canvas, Wood
Miniature Portrait of a Lady in a Engine Turned Gutta-Percha Frame
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Miniature portrait of a lady delicately hand painted on ivory in an engine turned style gutta-percha frame. On the back the original hand ...
Brass
Sold
H 22 in W 25 in D 1 in
Early 19th Century Aquatint Engraving of Margrave by John Frederick Herring Snr
By John Frederick Herring Sr.
Located in Dallas, TX
Presenting a fabulous and very rare, original early-19th century chromolithograph engraving after a painting by John Frederick Herring Snr, engraved by Cha...
Paper
Plate Rack
Located in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire
19th century original painted plate rack, 1830. Dimensions 77 inches (196 cms) wide 8.5 inches (22 cms) deep 52 inches (132 cms) high.
Pine
Pair of English Silhouettes in Gilt Frames by T. Littell, Circa 1834
Located in Charleston, SC
Pair of English silhouettes depicting Mr. and Mrs. Robert Bosquet of Sindell, England in the original gilt frames under glass. Paper label of manufa...
Gold Leaf
Pair of English Carved Wood and Gilt Wall Brackets, Circa 1830
Located in Charleston, SC
Pair of English carved wood and gold gilt hanging fluted wall brackets with bulbous turned rings, floral motif and ball finials, Early 19th century.
19th Century William IV Mahogany Pole Screen
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
Mahogany pole screen complete with tapestry, circa 1830 Carved stem Tapestry depicts a young lady outside with dog Measure: Height 54 1/4" Base: 16 3/4" x 16 3/4".
Mahogany