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William IV Desks

WILLIAM IV STYLE

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.

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Style: William IV
Antique William IV Mahogany Glazed Bureau Bookcase, circa 1835
Located in Wisbech, Cambridgeshire
Antique fine quality William IV mahogany glazed bureau bookcase, circa 1835, 19th century. We have a key for the bookcase and a small internal door on...
Category

1830s Antique William IV Desks

Materials

Wood

Antique William IV Mahogany Glazed Bureau Bookcase, circa 1835
Antique William IV Mahogany Glazed Bureau Bookcase, circa 1835

Antique William IV Mahogany Glazed Bureau Bookcase, circa 1835

William IV Roll Top Desk Mahogany 19th Century Cylinder Period
Located in Potters Bar, GB
Impressive William IV Mahogany Cylinder Desk. This Cylinder Desk is Raised Upon Turned and Carved William IV Legs. Period 19th Century Having an Arrangement of 5 Mahogany Lined Drawe...
Category

19th Century Antique William IV Desks

Materials

Mahogany

William IV Roll Top Desk Mahogany 19th Century Cylinder Period
William IV Roll Top Desk Mahogany 19th Century Cylinder Period

William IV Roll Top Desk Mahogany 19th Century Cylinder Period

William IV Library Table in Coromandel
Located in Paddock Wood Tonbridge, GB
William IV library table Produced in England in the Mid-19th Century this is a extremely rare example produced in Coramandel having solid dra...
Category

19th Century British Antique William IV Desks

Materials

Wood

William IV Library Table in Coromandel
William IV Library Table in Coromandel

William IV Library Table in Coromandel

William IV Inlaid Mahogany Desk Attributed to Gillows
By Gillows of Lancaster & London
Located in Kittery Point, ME
The rectangular cocuswood cross-banded satine top above a central frieze drawer flanked to either side with three further drawers around a recess on foliate-carved cabriole legs with...
Category

19th Century English Antique William IV Desks

Materials

Mahogany

William IV Inlaid Mahogany Desk Attributed to Gillows
William IV Inlaid Mahogany Desk Attributed to Gillows

William IV Inlaid Mahogany Desk Attributed to Gillows

English Burl Walnut Leather Top Davenport with Acanthus Cabriole Legs Circa 1840
Located in Charleston, SC
English burl walnut Davenport desk with carved floral fret work, hinged lid revealing fitted interior with original ink wells, leather hinged writing surface with four fitted interio...
Category

1840s English Antique William IV Desks

Materials

Brass

English Burl Walnut Leather Top Davenport with Acanthus Cabriole Legs Circa 1840
English Burl Walnut Leather Top Davenport with Acanthus Cabriole Legs Circa 1840

English Burl Walnut Leather Top Davenport with Acanthus Cabriole Legs Circa 1840

William IV Library Table Desk Period Antique
Located in Potters Bar, GB
Quality William IV Library Table. 19th Century This Library Table Stands Upon Shaped and Carved Legs with Carved Claw Feet and Original Castors. The Supports Being of a Turned and Fl...
Category

19th Century Antique William IV Desks

Materials

Mahogany

William IV Library Table Desk Period Antique
William IV Library Table Desk Period Antique

William IV Library Table Desk Period Antique

William IV Desk Mahogany Writing Table 1820
Located in Potters Bar, GB
Gorgeous William IV freestanding desk with dummy drawers on the rear Period William IV circa 1820 Leather writing surface with gilt embossed edges Clean, elegant and practical piece ...
Category

1820s Antique William IV Desks

Materials

Mahogany

William IV Desk Mahogany Writing Table 1820
William IV Desk Mahogany Writing Table 1820

William IV Desk Mahogany Writing Table 1820

Antique English Flip Top Campaign Desk on Stand
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Remarkable rare 19th Century gentleman's traveling desk handcrafted in mahogany with geometric inlays, featuring a flip top compartment with tooled leather writing surfaces over stor...
Category

Early 19th Century English Antique William IV Desks

Materials

Brass

Antique English Flip Top Campaign Desk on Stand
Antique English Flip Top Campaign Desk on Stand

Antique English Flip Top Campaign Desk on Stand

English Mahogany William IV Carved Mahogany Library Console Table
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
Handsome hand carved Mahogany library table on casters, ,1830-1840. Fine detail carving with sturdy scrolling legs united by stretcher. Dovetailed drawers. Recently French polished. ...
Category

1830s English Antique William IV Desks

Materials

Mahogany

English Mahogany William IV Carved Mahogany Library Console Table
English Mahogany William IV Carved Mahogany Library Console Table

English Mahogany William IV Carved Mahogany Library Console Table

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H 37.01 in W 29.14 in D 18.12 in
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H 29.93 in W 43.31 in D 23.63 in
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H 33.67 in W 59.06 in D 13.98 in
Circa 1930's Waring & Gillow Ltd Lancaster Oak Desk on Bun Legs & Seven Drawers
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Circa 1930's Waring & Gillow Ltd Lancaster Oak Desk on Bun Legs & Seven Drawers
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H 28.55 in W 46.07 in D 24.41 in
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Antique English Leather Top Library or Writing Table
Antique English Leather Top Library or Writing Table

Antique English Leather Top Library or Writing Table

H 32 in W 60 in D 41 in
William IV Desk Writing Table Mahogany
Located in Potters Bar, GB
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William IV Desk Writing Table Mahogany
William IV Desk Writing Table Mahogany

William IV Desk Writing Table Mahogany

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William IV Mahogany Leather Top Writing Table

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H 29 in W 51 in D 26 in
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Located in Laguna Beach, CA
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1830s English Antique William IV Desks

Materials

Brass

William IV Mahogany Partners Writing Table
William IV Mahogany Partners Writing Table

William IV Mahogany Partners Writing Table

H 31 in W 72.25 in D 44.5 in
William IV Mahogany Writing Desk with Tooled Leather Top, English, ca. 1835
By John Bowman
Located in Banner Elk, NC
William IV Mahogany writing desk, of curved rectangular form, the writing surface with tooled and gilded green leather, above a single...
Category

Mid-19th Century English Antique William IV Desks

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Leather, Mahogany

William IV Mahogany Writing Desk with Tooled Leather Top, English, ca. 1835
William IV Mahogany Writing Desk with Tooled Leather Top, English, ca. 1835

William IV Mahogany Writing Desk with Tooled Leather Top, English, ca. 1835

H 30 in W 42 in D 21.25 in
Mid-19th Century English William IV Flame Mahogany Secretary Bookcase
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
A mid-19th century English mahogany secretary bookcase, the top with two glazed doors flanked by columns and opening to adjustable shelves, the base with fitted fold-down secretary w...
Category

Mid-19th Century English Antique William IV Desks

Materials

Mahogany

Mid-19th Century English William IV Flame Mahogany Secretary Bookcase
Mid-19th Century English William IV Flame Mahogany Secretary Bookcase

Mid-19th Century English William IV Flame Mahogany Secretary Bookcase

H 92 in W 48.5 in D 22 in
19th Century English William IV Oak Davenport Writing Table
Located in Chelmsford, Essex
For sale is a good quality William IV oak sliding top davenport. The top of the davenport has a lid that lifts to reveal a fitted interior including ample storage space for stationar...
Category

Early 19th Century English Antique William IV Desks

Materials

Oak

19th Century English William IV Oak Davenport Writing Table
19th Century English William IV Oak Davenport Writing Table

19th Century English William IV Oak Davenport Writing Table

H 33.5 in W 24 in D 24 in
William IV Mahogany Knee Hole Desk, English, circa 1830
Located in Banner Elk, NC
William IV mahogany knee hole desk, English, circa 1830, with hand carved dragooned edging on hand carved blind fretwork ogee bracket feet (original), raised panels and finished on a...
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1830s English Antique William IV Desks

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Mahogany

William IV Mahogany Knee Hole Desk, English, circa 1830
William IV Mahogany Knee Hole Desk, English, circa 1830

William IV Mahogany Knee Hole Desk, English, circa 1830

H 30 in W 44 in D 24 in
Antique, Writing Desk, William iv, Bonheur Du Jour, A Solomon, circa 1835
Located in Hele, Devon, GB
This is an antique writing desk, a William IV bonheur du jour, stamped A. SOLOMON 59 GT QUEEN ST. Abraham Solomon was a London furniture broker and ant...
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Early 19th Century English Antique William IV Desks

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Leather, Mahogany

Antique, Writing Desk, William iv, Bonheur Du Jour, A Solomon, circa 1835
Antique, Writing Desk, William iv, Bonheur Du Jour, A Solomon, circa 1835

Antique, Writing Desk, William iv, Bonheur Du Jour, A Solomon, circa 1835

H 45.67 in W 37.8 in D 23.63 in
19th Century English William IV Rosewood Circular Library Table
Located in Chelmsford, Essex
For sale is a Victorian burr walnut Davenport, the top having a rising lid, opening to reveal a fitted interior for stationary storage. Below this, the writing surface also lifts to ...
Category

Early 19th Century English Antique William IV Desks

Materials

Rosewood

19th Century English William IV Rosewood Circular Library Table
19th Century English William IV Rosewood Circular Library Table

19th Century English William IV Rosewood Circular Library Table

H 30 in W 54 in D 54 in

William Iv desks for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique William IV desks for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the Late 20th Century, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage desks created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include case pieces and storage cabinets, tables and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with wood, mahogany and other materials. If you’re shopping for used William IV desks made in a specific country, there are Europe, United Kingdom, and England pieces for sale on 1stDibs. It’s true that these talented designers have at times inspired knockoffs, but our experienced specialists have partnered with only top vetted sellers to offer authentic pieces that come with a buyer protection guarantee. Prices for desks differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $2,220 and tops out at $15,000 while the average work can sell for $6,201.

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