Biedermeier Bookcases
Biedermeier Style
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.
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Style: Biedermeier
19th Century German Biedermeier Bookcase, Walnut, circa 1825
Located in Greven, DE
Early 19th Century Biedermeier Bookcase
Southern Germany
Walnut
Biedermeier around 1825
Dimensions: H x W x D: 174 x 108 x 42 cm
Description:
Small antique bookcase...
Category
1820s German Antique Biedermeier Bookcases
Materials
Walnut
Mid 19th Century Biedermeier Bookcase, Display Cabinet, Bleached Mahogany
Located in Greven, DE
Biedermeier Bookcase or Display Cabinet
North Germany
Mahogany
1st half of the 19th century
Dimensions: H x W x D: 210 x 118 x 38 cm
Description:
Beautiful bookcase from the North...
Category
19th Century German Antique Biedermeier Bookcases
Materials
Mahogany
Biedermeier Bookcase, 1810-20, walnut
Located in Belmont, MA
This unique antique Biedermeier library cabinet dates back to the early Biedermeier period 1810-20 and comes from Germany. It features a walnut and mahogany veneer on softwood. The t...
Category
1810s German Antique Biedermeier Bookcases
Materials
Walnut, Mahogany
19th Century Cabinet with Glass Door and Iron Key, Rustic Biedermeier
Located in Austin, TX
This handsome piece dates to the 19th century. It is most probably a Biedermeier display cabinet, characterized by its structured simple ge...
Category
Late 19th Century German Antique Biedermeier Bookcases
Materials
Brass, Gold Leaf
19th Century German Biedermeier Bookcase, Walnut, circa 1825
Located in Greven, DE
Early 19th Century Biedermeier Bookcase
Southern Germany
Walnut
Biedermeier around 1825
Dimensions: H x W x D: 174 x 108 x 42 cm
Description:
Small antique bookcase...
Category
1820s German Antique Biedermeier Bookcases
Materials
Walnut
Antique Biedermeier Austrian Country Secretary Bookcase Desk, Early 19th Century
Located in LOS ANGELES, CA
Antique Early 19th Century Biedermeier Austrian Country secretary bookcase desk
Additional information:
Materials: Fruitwood
Color: Sienna
Peri...
Category
Early 19th Century Antique Biedermeier Bookcases
Materials
Fruitwood
Biedermeier Open Bookcase or Shelves of Curly Maple
Located in Austin, TX
A fine English open bookcase (or set of shelves) in the Biedermeier style, featuring a moulded cornice top frieze of figured maple over five fitted shelves of curly maple, and restin...
Category
Early 20th Century English Biedermeier Bookcases
Materials
Birdseye Maple, Wood
Biedermeier Bookcase in Cherrywood, 19th Century
Located in Greding, DE
Cherrywood bookcase with ebonized flanking columns and diamond-shaped lattice work on the glazed doors. Inside, the cabinet offers plenty of space with four shelves with ebonized fro...
Category
19th Century German Antique Biedermeier Bookcases
Materials
Cherry
Mid 19th Century Biedermeier Bookcase, Display Cabinet, Bleached Mahogany
Located in Greven, DE
Biedermeier Bookcase or Display Cabinet
North Germany
Mahogany
1st half of the 19th century
Dimensions: H x W x D: 210 x 118 x 38 cm
Description:
Beautiful bookcase from the North...
Category
19th Century German Antique Biedermeier Bookcases
Materials
Mahogany
Biedermeier Bookcase, Cherry Veneer, South Germany circa 1820
Located in Regensburg, DE
Elegant straight-lined Biedermeier Bookcase or Display Cabinet in cherry veneer from South Germany around 1820.
Cherrywood veneered on softwood. The edges of the doors and the strip between the doors are set in ebony.
Book-matched cherrywood veneer inlay at the bottom front of the doors. Ebonized corner columns and moldings in the cornice and base.
Solid cherry wood square tapered legs. 4 old glass windows...
Category
1820s German Antique Biedermeier Bookcases
Materials
Brass
Mid 19th Century Bookcase, Late Biedermeier, Northern Germany
Located in Greven, DE
Antique bookcase
North Germany
Mahogany
middle 19th century
Dimensions: H x W x D: 198 x 138 x 49 cm
Description:
Front glazed bookcase from the late Biedermeier era circa 1850-18...
Category
Mid-19th Century German Antique Biedermeier Bookcases
Materials
Mahogany
Austrian Biedermeier Walnut Ebonized Bookcase
Located in Queens, NY
Austrian Biedermeier (Circa 1825) walnut veneer and ebonized trimmed bookcase with demilune 3 drawer commode base and upper section with 2 doors and 4 small drawers.
Category
19th Century Austrian Antique Biedermeier Bookcases
Materials
Walnut
19th Century German Biedermeier Pair of Mahogany Bookcase, Library Cabinets
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An antique pair of Northern German early Biedermeier bookcases made of shellac polished, partly veneered Mahogany in good condition. The top part of the tall library...
Category
Early 19th Century German Antique Biedermeier Bookcases
Materials
Metal, Wire
Austrian Biedermeier Bookcase
Located in Hudson, NY
This very fine bookcase is in excellent condition and has great color and style. The book case has four shelves and can work for books or as pictured hear as a display cabinet for ob...
Category
19th Century Austrian Antique Biedermeier Bookcases
Materials
Walnut
Austrian Biedermeier Cupboard/Bar Cabinet in Cherrywood with Vitrine, c. 1820
Located in Miami, FL
An Austrian Biedermeier cupboard in cherrywood with carved, open fretwork gallery, with ebonized details above crown molding. Arched Gothic style tracery work on interior of glass do...
Category
Early 19th Century Austrian Antique Biedermeier Bookcases
Materials
Cherry
19th Century Biedermeier Vitrine Cabinet or Bookcase, Nutwood Austria circa 1840
Located in Lichtenberg, AT
Beautiful Biedermeier bookcase or display cabinet from the famous period in Vienna around 1840. This fantastic looking 19th Century Austrian vitrine cabinet has been veneered in a very dark nutwood. A perfect sized antique bookcase/ vitrine cabinet offering a large, lockable door showing the still original glass plates, additonally adorned by carved ebonized wooden arches...
Category
Mid-19th Century Austrian Antique Biedermeier Bookcases
Materials
Glass, Nutwood, Spruce
19th Century Biedermeier Corner Cabinet
Located in Belmont, MA
Exceptional early Biedermeier corner cabinet with three open shelves and one drawer. Mahogany veneer with ebonized columns and brass capitals and bases. The cabinet was made in south...
Category
1810s German Antique Biedermeier Bookcases
Materials
Mahogany
19th Century Biedermeier Walnut Display Display Bookcase, Czechia
Located in Brandys nad Labem, Středočeský kraj
19th century Biedermeier display bookcase
Completely restored to shellac polish.
Material: Walnut
Period: 1830 - 1839
Source: Bohemia - Czechia.
Category
1830s Czech Antique Biedermeier Bookcases
Materials
Glass, Wood, Walnut, Lacquer
Single Glass Door Solid Cherry Tall Bookcase Cupboard Bottom Compartment MINT!
Located in Rockaway, NJ
Single Glass Door Solid Cherry Tall Bookcase Cupboard Vitrine Display Case Bottom Compartment MINT!
Category
20th Century American Biedermeier Bookcases
Materials
Cherry
Biedermeier Bookcase, 1810-20, walnut
Located in Belmont, MA
This unique antique Biedermeier library cabinet dates back to the early Biedermeier period 1810-20 and comes from Germany. It features a walnut and mahogany veneer on softwood. The t...
Category
1810s German Antique Biedermeier Bookcases
Materials
Walnut, Mahogany
19th Century Biedermeier Bookcase Display Cabinet Solid Larch , Wax Polished
Located in Vigonza, Padua
Antique Austrian Biedermeier bookcase display cabinet, restored and polished to wax, in solid larch.
The glass of the two doors has been removed for the restoration and will be asse...
Category
Mid-19th Century Austrian Antique Biedermeier Bookcases
Materials
Wood
19th Century Biedermeier Style Bookcase or Vitrine
Located in Berlin, DE
Biedermeier bookcase or vitrine, circa 1815.
Cherry tree on solid partly ebonized. On stepped frame base, high-rectangular corpus, partly blackened. In the front two triple-sectione...
Category
19th Century German Antique Biedermeier Bookcases
Materials
Wood, Cherry
China Closet Biedermeier
Located in Kraków, Małopolska
Every piece of furniture that leaves our workshop from the beginning to the end is subjected to manual renovation, so as to restore its original condition from many years ago.
Sim...
Category
1880s Polish Antique Biedermeier Bookcases
Materials
Birch
19th Century Austrian Biedermeier Flame Mahogany Neoclassical Style Bookcase
Located in Dallas, TX
Exceptional 19th century Austrian Biedermeier flame mahogany neoclassical style bookcase. The cabinet has 3 adjustable shelves for books an...
Category
Mid-19th Century Austrian Antique Biedermeier Bookcases
Materials
Glass, Mahogany
Biedermeier Bookcase, circa 1820
Located in Greding, DE
Biedermeier bookcase with two doors with three-quarter glazing and a flat profiled cornice. The cabinet stands on square feet and is veneered in mahogany. The interior is fitted with...
Category
1820s German Antique Biedermeier Bookcases
Materials
Mahogany
19th century biedermeier bookcase
Located in Banská Štiavnica, SK
19th century biedermeier bookcase in very good original condition.
Category
1820s Slovak Antique Biedermeier Bookcases
Materials
Wood
19th Century German Walnut Biedermeier Cabinet
Located in Dallas, TX
This 19th century German walnut Biedermeier cabinet exudes classic elegance and fine craftsmanship. Its stunning woodwork, simple yet sophisticated design, and ample storage space ma...
Category
19th Century German Antique Biedermeier Bookcases
Materials
Walnut
Biedermeier Bookcase, Cherry Veneer, South Germany circa 1820
Located in Regensburg, DE
Beautiful, straightlined Biedermeier bookcase or display cabinet in cherry wood veneer from southern Germany around 1820.
* Blonde book-matched cherry wood veneered on softwood.
* Th...
Category
1820s German Antique Biedermeier Bookcases
Materials
Glass, Cherry, Ebony, Softwood
Pair of Biedermeier Walnut and Ebonized Vitrine Cabinets
Located in Dallas, TX
Beautiful pair of 19th century Biedermeier walnut and ebonized vitrine or bookcase cabinets.
Category
Mid-17th Century German Antique Biedermeier Bookcases
Materials
Walnut
China Closet Biedermeier
Located in Kraków, Małopolska
Every piece of furniture that leaves our workshop from the beginning to the end is subjected to manual renovation, so as to restore its original condition from many years ago.
Simpl...
Category
1890s Polish Antique Biedermeier Bookcases
Materials
Palisander
Architectural Early 19th Century German Biedermeier Cabinet
Located in Worpswede / Bremen, DE
A very rare and elegant Biedermeier cabinet of architectural form. Very simple in design with a fantastic and warm burr-ash veneer, accentuated with ebonized thread inlay, discs and ...
Category
Early 19th Century German Antique Biedermeier Bookcases
Materials
Ash, Fruitwood
Biedermeier Bookcase, Walnut, Glass, Austria circa 1825
Located in Regensburg, DE
Elegant, unadorned Biedermeier Bookcase in Walnut Solid wood and veneer from Austria circa 1825.
Solid walnut body with slanted edges. Ebonized cornice and skirting board. 3 glass wr...
Category
1820s Austrian Antique Biedermeier Bookcases
Materials
Iron
Library - antique display case, Northern Europe, around 1890.
Located in Chorzów, PL
A historic site - a library from the end of the 19th century.
Furniture in very good condition, after professional renovation.
Dimensions: height 182 cm / width 126 cm / depth 38 cm
Category
Late 19th Century Unknown Antique Biedermeier Bookcases
Materials
Walnut
Historic vitrin from around 1860
Located in Chorzów, PL
Showcase - a library from the mid-19th century in the Biedermeier style.
Antique furniture with a more beautiful form will add elegance to any interior.
This piece of furniture is ...
Category
Mid-19th Century Unknown Antique Biedermeier Bookcases
Materials
Walnut
Free Standing Biedermeier Book Shelf
Located in New York, NY
A fine free standing Biedermeier shelf.
Cherrywood with carved details.
Category
1820s Austrian Antique Biedermeier Bookcases
Materials
Cherry
Mahogany Bookcase, First Half of the 19th Century
Located in Greding, DE
Two-doored mahogany bookcase with a straight base and a slightly protruding top, decorated with a carved female head.
Category
19th Century European Antique Biedermeier Bookcases
Materials
Mahogany
Biedermeier Bookcase in Mahogany, circa 1820
Located in Greding, DE
Biedermeier bookcase with a straight, multi-profiled cornice and doors with two-thirds glazing including c-shaped bar, each decorated in the centre with a bronze rosette. The cabinet...
Category
1820s German Antique Biedermeier Bookcases
Materials
Bronze
China Closet Biedermeier
Located in Kraków, Małopolska
Every piece of furniture that leaves our workshop from the beginning to the end is subjected to manual renovation, so as to restore its original condition from many years ago.
Simpl...
Category
1890s Polish Antique Biedermeier Bookcases
Materials
Palisander
Biedermeier bookcases for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a broad range of unique Biedermeier bookcases for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the 21st Century and Contemporary, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage bookcases created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include case pieces and storage cabinets and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with wood, hardwood and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Biedermeier bookcases made in a specific country, there are Europe, Germany, and Austria pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original bookcases, popular names associated with this style include and Morelato. 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 bookcases differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $2,102 and tops out at $49,700 while the average work can sell for $7,649.