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.
An antique black fossil and Portoro marble fireplace made during the 1830's
Located in Tyrone, Northern Ireland
An antique black fossil and Portoro marble fireplace made during the William IV period (1830’s). The shelf, jambs, frieze and foot-blocks are made from black marble with subtle fossi...
Marble
Antique William IV Marble Fireplace Mantel
Located in London, GB
A large early 19th century surround in "Old English" Carrara marble. Having a generous and moulded mantel, with a plain frieze. The brackets with carved guilloche in a fielded panel,...
Carrara Marble
Antique Carved White Statuary Marble Fireplace
Located in Tyrone, Northern Ireland
The fireplace features beautifully carved corbels set on canted jambs, scrolled and carved with floral detail at the bottom. The deep shelf is serpentine s...
English William IV Statuary Marble Fireplace Surround
Located in Twickenham, GB
A William IV Statuary Marble Fireplace Surround, English c.1835, the moulded shelf sits above a tiered frieze flanked each side with a trio of bull’s eye roundels, the double pilaste...
Statuary Marble
Pair of English Brass Dragon Finial Andirons with Scrolled Leg & Paw Feet C 1840
Located in Charleston, SC
Pair of English brass flanking dragon finial andirons with decorative foliage plinths, original rear wrought iron spiral dog legs, and resting on scrolle...
Brass, Wrought Iron
Pair of English Polished Steel and Nickel Silver Andirons. Circa 1850
Located in Charleston, SC
Pair of English polished steel and nickel silver andirons with a urn top finial, twisted centered column, adjustable spit hooks, and terminating on sc...
A William IV Antique Register Grate by Carron, early 19th Century
Located in London, GB
An ornately decorated Register Grate in the manner of the William IV, made by the Carron Foundry in Falkirk. Scottish early 19th Century. External Height: 38″ – 96.5 cm External Wid...
Iron
William IV Statuary Marble Chimneypiece
Located in London, GB
An elegant and architectural William IV statuary marble chimneypiece, the stepped frieze raised on double pilaster jambs on block feet. Restored, polished and ready to install. Dim...
Statuary Marble
Large Scottish William iv Manner Statuary Marble Fireplace Surround
Located in Edinburgh, GB
A large and elegant Scottish, lightly veined statuary marble fireplace surround in the manner of William IV. A generous top shelf with rounded corners sits above a stepped full lengt...
Statuary Marble
English William IV Ormolu Brass Fireplace Grate with Dragons & Serpents
Located in Bensalem, PA
Stunning pierced and engraved brass & iron English grate with opposing dragons and serpents interspersed with foliage and centred by flowers
Brass, Iron
Antique Irish Kilkenny Marble Fireplace Mantle
Located in London, GB
A William IV period Irish carved corbel fireplace in highly fossilised Kilkenny marble. The pilaster jambs with elegant carved corbel brackets supporting wide and generous mantle wit...
Marble
Pair of English Brass Spiral Ball Andirons with Flanking Lion & Pegasus. C. 1840
Located in Charleston, SC
Pair of English brass spiral ball on ball andirons with bulbous urn finials, squared plinths with centered mask lions, matching brass ball log stops with...
Brass, Wrought Iron
English Brass Navette Form Coal Hod with Flanking Unicorn & Lion Crest. C. 1850
Located in Charleston, SC
English brass navette form coal hod with centered chased handle, two hinged lids revealing original tin lined interior, flanking unicorn and lion crest, and resting on an oval base w...
Brass, Tin
A Magnificent Finely Carved Statuary William IV Chimneypiece
Located in London, GB
A magnificent finely carved statuary William IV chimneypiece. The moulded shelf sits over a finely carved continuous frieze with central acanthus bloom, harebells and foliage details. The foliate and berry corner blocks, set over scroll and flower in relief. The jambs echo the finely detailed frieze with anthemion, harebell and floral motifs. The inner moulding framing the opening in fine carved lambs...
Statuary Marble
A Magnificent Finely Carved Statuary William IV Chimneypiece
Located in London, GB
A magnificent finely carved statuary William IV chimneypiece. The moulded shelf sits over a finely carved continuous frieze with central acanthus bloom, harebells and foliage details. The foliate and berry corner blocks, set over scroll and flower in relief. The jambs echo the finely detailed frieze with anthemion, harebell and floral motifs. The inner moulding framing the opening in fine carved lambs...
Statuary Marble
English Brass Flanking Lion Coat of Arms Fire Place Tools on Rope Stand, C. 1840
Located in Charleston, SC
English brass flanking lion coat of arms fire place tools with a spiral urn bulbous finial, adjustable flanking candle holders, and resting on a stylized rope Stand. Set consists of ...
Brass, Iron
Set of English Polished Steel Urn Finial Fire Place Tools on Stand, C. 1840
Located in Charleston, SC
Set of English polished steel urn finial fire place tools on stand, Mid 19th century Set consist of tong, pierced shovel, and poker.
Steel
Antique William IV Marble Fireplace Mantel
Located in London, GB
A large and imposing English William IV fireplace in pencil vein Carrara marble, with paneled pilaster jambs with twin corbel brackets supporting a long wide and generous mantel. Som...
Carrara Marble
Pair of English Brass Melon and Figural Cherub Medallion Andirons, Circa 1850
Located in Charleston, SC
Pair of English brass three-tiered andirons with fluted finials, turned bulbous centered melon columns resting on squared plinths, matching finial log stops, flanking figural cherubs...
Brass, Wrought Iron
Antique Cast Iron Georgian Fireplace Insert
Located in Ware, GB
This original William IV register grate is embellished with ornate acanthus detailing throughout the hood of the opening. A very grand piece, that has been fully restored in-house...
Iron
$4,475 / set
H 16 in W 5 in D 18 in
Pair of Custom Modernist Minimalist Polished Nickel Rectangular Andirons
Located in New York, NY
This refined pair of andirons were custom fabricated by artisans in New York State, exclusively for us. They feature a minimalistic rectangular front panel presented in polished nick...
Iron, Nickel
Pair of Arts & Crafts Andirons
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Pair of Arts & Crafts andirons.
Upholstery
$1,800
H 26 in W 13.5 in D 21 in
Pair of Mid 20th Century Virginia Metalcrafters Brass Andirons with Paw Feet
Located in Middleburg, VA
Pair of mid 20th century Virginia Metalcrafters brass Andirons with paw feet Engraved with "VM". United States, circa 1960. Meas...
Brass
An Antique French Louis XV Marble Fireplace Mantel
Located in London, GB
A carved Carrara Marble antique 19th century Louis XV style "Tres Coquilles" fireplace. The Cantered console jambs with scrolled panels and surmounted by a carved shell. The serpenti...
Carrara Marble
21st Century Marble Nero Portoro Fireplace Mantlepiece
Located in London, GB
21st Century Marble Nero Portoro Fireplace Mantlepiece This Luxury Marble Fireplace Mantlepiece Is Hand Carved From natural Nero Portoro Marble...
Breccia Marble
Pair of Modernist Polished Steel Andirons - France 1960s
Located in New York, NY
Pair of chic modernist andirons with polished steel finish. In fair vintage condition. These andirons will ship from France and can be returned to either France or to an upstate NY ...
Steel
21st Century Nero Portoro Marble Fireplace Surround
By Acquisitions
Located in London, GB
21st Century Nero Portoro Marble Fireplace Surround This Recently Made Contemporary Fireplace Lightly Based On An Art Deco Design. It Has Been...
Marble
Regency Style Bullseye Statuary Marble Fireplace Surround
Located in Tyrone, Northern Ireland
A pure white marble fireplace of early 19th century design, popular in both Ireland and England during this period A design which clearly stood th...
Marble
21st Century Nero Portoro Marble Fireplace
Located in London, GB
21st Century Nero Portoro Marble Fireplace . This Contemporary Fireplace Mantlepiece Design Is Actually Based On A Traditional Art Deco Desig...
Marble
$4,475 / set
H 18 in W 5.5 in D 20.5 in
Pair of Modernist Curved Deco Inspired Nickel Andirons, Manner of Karl Springer
Located in New York, NY
Handmade by artisans in New York state, this pair of modernist andirons embody the old world craftsmanship and design aesthetic of a bygone era. With their skyscraper style construct...
Nickel
Antique Victorian Arched Carrara Marble Fireplace Mantel
Located in New York, NY
This early 20th century white arched Carrara marble mantel was acquired from a New York City townhouse. The design is simple, with continuous arched panels running from the plinths t...
Carrara Marble
Antique Fireplace Mantel
Located in Haarlem, Noord-Holland
Antique Black Marble Corbel Fireplace Mantel with Fossil Inclusions Offered by Schermerhorn Antique Fireplaces This elegant 19th-century black marble fireplace mantel is a sophisti...
Marble, Belgian Black Marble
Nineteenth century English Carrara Marble Fireplace
Located in London, GB
Nineteenth century English Carrara marble fireplace, c.1830, with lamb's tongue corbels supporting the shelf, all on pilaster jambs. Dimensions: 119.5cm (47") High, 178.5cm (70¼") W...
Carrara Marble
A large Antique English Carrara Marble Fireplace Mantel
Located in London, GB
A Large English William IV period Carrara marble fireplace surround. The wide pilaster jambs with slim panel to centre. The long running frieze from side to side under a large simple...
Carrara Marble
A Fine English Ornate Brass Register Grate
Located in London, GB
A fine English Ornate Polished Brass Register Grate. The brass front surround with pomegranates and foliage in relief framed with beaded moulding. The front basket with three polished wrought fire bars is flanked by brass sunflower embellished hob-fronts set over a fluted fret interspersed with sunflowers...
Brass, Steel, Iron
19th Century Cast Iron Fireplace Insert
Located in London, GB
19th Century Cast Iron Fireplace Insert. William IV To Early Victorian Period. Dated Circa 1830 - 1840 Original Cast Iron Front Fireplace Facisa Insert. In Traditional Blackened (Bla...
Iron
William IV Black Belgian Marble Fireplace
Located in London, GB
An English William IV period Black Belgian marble fireplace, the frieze flanked by jambs headed by stylised lotus leaf corbels, on block feet. Opening width 95cm x 92.5cm high, Out...
Belgian Black Marble
William IV Carrara Marble Fireplace
Located in London, GB
An English William IV Carrara marble fireplace, circa 1835, with stepped frieze flanked by plain corbels, the cushion moulded jambs on block feet. Opening width 95 cm x 93.5 cm high...
Carrara Marble
Sold
H 53.5 in W 32 in D 23.25 in
William IV Hardwood & Needlepoint Tapestry Fire Screen, U.K., circa 1840
Located in Chatham, ON
Fine William IV hardwood and tapestry fire screen - exceptional hand made quality with warm aged patina - featuring fantastic fretwork and barley ...
Tapestry, Hardwood
William IV Brass Serpentine Fender
Located in New York, NY
Pierced with a repeating urn and geometric motif.
Brass
19th Century 'Old English' Marble Fireplace
Located in London, GB
A good nineteenth century ‘Old English’ marble fireplace, of architectural form with plain pilaster jambs and simple ingrounds, on square foot...
Carrara Marble
Sold
H 25.5 in W 39.75 in D 9 in
English Brass Pierced Gallery Acanthus Foliage Fire Place Fan Screen, circa 1840
Located in Charleston, SC
English brass pierced gallery urn finial acanthus foliage folding fire place fan screen with decorative centered cat tail and shell motif, Mid 19th Century.
Brass
Sold
H 26 in W 10.75 in D 12 in
Pair of English Brass Foliage Medallion Andirons with Urn Finial Log Stops, 1840
Located in Charleston, SC
Pair of English cast brass flanking foliage pierced medallion andirons with centered acanthus plinths, matching urn finial log stops, and resting on scrolled legs with stylized flare...
Brass, Iron
William IV Black Belgian Marble Fireplace
Located in London, GB
A William IV Black Belgian marble fireplace, the frieze flanked by jambs headed by stylised lotus leaf corbels, on block feet. Measures: Openin...
Belgian Black Marble