Biedermeier Rotunda Cupboard
20th Century Biedermeier Cupboards
Marble
20th Century Biedermeier Cupboards
Wood, Maple, Pine
People Also Browsed
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Pedestals and Columns
Wenge, Plywood, Oak, Rosewood, Walnut
Mid-20th Century English British Colonial Cupboards
Steel
20th Century Biedermeier Bookcases
Glass, Wood, Pine
Antique 19th Century German Biedermeier Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Birdseye Maple
Vintage 1930s Argentine Art Deco Cabinets
Mahogany
Antique Early 19th Century Austrian Biedermeier Pier Mirrors and Console...
Mirror, Mahogany
20th Century Neoclassical Cupboards
Wood, Pine
Antique Late 19th Century French Louis XVI Vitrines
Bronze
Antique Early 19th Century Austrian Biedermeier Commodes and Chests of D...
Walnut
Antique Early 19th Century French Empire Porcelain
Porcelain
Antique 19th Century Cabinets
Antique 1880s French French Provincial Shelves and Wall Cabinets
Wood, Mahogany
Vintage 1920s English Aesthetic Movement Porcelain
Porcelain
Antique 19th Century French Napoleon III Cabinets
Marble
Early 20th Century French Cabinets
Glass, Wood
Vintage 1930s Cabinets
Mahogany
Recent Sales
20th Century German Biedermeier Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Birdseye Maple
A Close Look at biedermeier Furniture
The authentic Biedermeier furniture on 1stDibs is representative of the first modern European decorative style not dictated by the tastes of the aristocracy. Following the Napoleonic wars, a growing, wealthy urban middle class in the German-speaking states of Central Europe began to demand rights and privileges once granted only to nobles. To avoid trouble, the upwardly striving confined their political discussions to one another’s homes. And so the salon was born.
Cabinetmakers in cities such as Vienna, Berlin and Mainz began to offer goods that reflected the tastes and needs of the new class. The makers of Biedermeier chairs, tables and other furniture used little or no gilding, silver hardware or other lavish ornament. Ebonized trims are common on Biedermeier cabinetry, and neoclassical elements — lyre-shaped chair splats, carved scrollwork, table supports shaped like Greek columns. But the strongest aesthetic statement came from the wood — richly-grained, honey-colored, often book-matched veneers of walnut and fruitwood.
There are two iconic Biedermeier furniture forms, both made to outfit rooms designed for conversation. One is the sofa, deeply upholstered with a strong, architectural wooden frame. The second is the circular pedestal table, which stood at the center of the room, offering a surface on which to place coffee and cake services; or to roll out a map, or sketch out ideas on paper.
“Biedermeier” was originally a derogatory term — it derives from the pen names of two German magazine writers who mocked bourgeois manners. Looking at the elegant and refined antique, new and vintage Biedermeier furniture offered on 1stDibs, that is now an amusing irony.
Finding the Right Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets for You
Of all the antique and vintage case pieces and storage cabinets that have become popular in modern interiors over the years, dressers, credenzas and cabinets have long been home staples, perfect for routine storage or protection of personal items.
In the mid-19th century, cabinetmakers would mimic styles originating in the Louis XIV, Louis XV and Louis XVI eras for their dressers, bookshelves and other structures, and, later, simpler, streamlined wood designs allowed these “case pieces” or “case goods” — any furnishing that is unupholstered and has some semblance of a storage component — to blend into the background of any interior.
Mid-century modern furniture enthusiasts will cite the tall modular wall units crafted in teak and other sought-after woods of the era by the likes of George Nelson, Poul Cadovius and Finn Juhl. For these highly customizable furnishings, designers of the day delivered an alternative to big, heavy bookcases by considering the use of space — and, in particular, walls — in new and innovative ways. Mid-century modern credenzas, which, long and low, evolved from tables that were built as early as the 14th century in Italy, typically have no legs or very short legs and have grown in popularity as an alluring storage option over time.
Although the name immediately invokes images of clothing, dressers were initially created in Europe for a much different purpose. This furnishing was initially a flat-surfaced, low-profile side table equipped with a few drawers — a common fixture used to dress and prepare meats in English kitchens throughout the Tudor period. The drawers served as perfect utensil storage. It wasn’t until the design made its way to North America that it became enlarged and equipped with enough space to hold clothing and cosmetics. The very history of storage case pieces is a testament to their versatility and well-earned place in any room.
In the spirit of positioning your case goods center stage, decluttering can now be design-minded.
A contemporary case piece with open shelving and painted wood details can prove functional as a storage unit as easily as it can a room divider. Whether you’re seeking a playful sideboard made of colored glass and metals, an antique Italian hand-carved storage cabinet or a glass-door vitrine to store and show off your collectibles, there are options for you on 1stDibs.