Biedermeier Cherrywood Bookcase, Germany, circa 1820
Located in Greding, DE
Large-scale Biedermeier bookcase featuring a four-door lower case articulated by pilasters. Above, a slightly recessed upper section rises with glazed, mullioned sliding doors, plain...
Glass, Cherry, Spruce
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.
Brass
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.
Metal, Wire
19th Century Biedermeier Bookcase, Southern Germany or Austria, circa 1825
Located in Greven, DE
Biedermeier bookcase with interesting decorative moulding Southern Germany / Austria Cherry Biedermeier circa 1825 Dimensions: H x W x D: 184 x 110 x 39 cm Description: Interestin...
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.
Walnut, Mahogany
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...
Walnut
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...
Wood, Cherry
19th c. German Biedermeier Walnut Side Cabinet
Located in Dallas, TX
The 19th c. German Biedermeier Walnut Side Cabinet is a stylish and elegant piece . Made of high-quality walnut material, this cabinet exudes a classic and timeless charm typical of ...
Brass
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...
Mahogany
German Biedermeier Olivewood Inlaid and Parcel Gilt Secretary / Bookcase
Located in Queens, NY
German Biedermeier (18th Century) olivewood secretary / bookcase in shaped rectangular with the top section having a hinged 2-door shelved cabinet with glass windows bordered by parc...
Wood
Antique Biedermeier Showcase / Bookcase, circa 1825
Located in Berlin, DE
Antique Biedermeier showcase / bookcase, circa 1825. Mahogany veneer on a solid oak body. Rectangular two-door corpus on block feet with partly framed glazing. Architecturally str...
Mahogany
Biedermeier Secretary, Bookcase, Cherry, Walnut, 1840s
Located in Greven, DE
Antique cabinet secretary from the biedermeier period around 1845. Body in cherry, parts of the front and the wreath veneered in walnut. Handles and fittings made of brass in the sh...
Cherry, Walnut
Unavailable
H 77.96 in W 41.34 in D 15.75 in
19th Century German Biedermeier Solid Cherrywood Bookcase Restored Handpolished
Located in Osnabrück, DE
This small cherrywood, two-door and one-drawer, bookcase or display case ist one of a kind! Because it ist in solid cherrywood and fully dismountable! He is curently in our exhibit...
Cherry
Biedermeier Cherry Bookcase, circa 1840
Located in Chicago, IL
Biedermeier cherry bookcase, circa 1840 from Germany.
Cherry
Biedermeier Cherry Bookcase, circa 1820
Located in Chicago, IL
Biedermeier cherry bookcase, circa 1820. This elegant bookcase comes from Berlin Biedermeier period. Double glass doors with curved front single drawer at bottom, flanked by wooden c...
Cherry
Biedermeier Walnut Vitrine Bookcase, circa 1840
Located in Chicago, IL
Biedermeier walnut vitrine bookcase, circa 1840. Elegant walnut bookcase from Biedermeier period, with glass doors flanked by two decorative columns and bottom drawer with curved fro...
Walnut
Biedermeier Bookcase in Cherry, circa 1840
Located in Chicago, IL
Biedermeier bookcase in cherry, circa 1840. This elegant cherry bookcase with ebonized wood trim details features three lockable compartments with glass doors. Each compartment offer...
Cherry
Pair of German Biedermeier Bookcases from the 1820s
Located in Greding, DE
Elegant Pair of German Biedermeier Bookcases from the 1820s. The two walnut bookcases stand on four tapered square feet and are glazed at the front.
Walnut
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 or glass cabin...
Walnut
Sold
H 83.86 in W 46.07 in D 18.9 in
19th Century German Biedermeier Bookcase with Columns, Walnut, circa 1825
Located in Greven, DE
Antique Biedermeier bookcase with full columns Southern Germany (Baden) Walnut Biedermeier around 1825 Dimensions: H x W x D: 213 x 117 x 48 cm Description: Antique display cabine...
Walnut
German Biedermeier Shelf Cabinet made of Ash Wood, 19th Century
Located in Dusseldorf, DE
Antique German Biedermeier bookcase made of ashwood. The cabinet consists of a top part with 3 racking shelves, and a closed base with 2 doors and a shelf inside.
Wood, Ash
Biedermeier Bookcase, South Germany, 1820
Located in Belmont, MA
This unique Biedermeier bookcase dates back to around 1820 and comes from Southern Germany. the bookcase has a pretty walnut veneer with two transome glass doors.
Walnut
Biedermeier Library Bookcase, Germany, 1830s
Located in Greding, DE
Large Biedermeier library bookcase with protruding middle section and glazed doors. The base cabinet has four doors and has a height of 97 cm. The bookcase is veneered with mahogany ...
Birch, Mahogany
Biedermeier Bookcase, Germany, circa 1820
Located in Greding, DE
Biedermeier bookcase with two doors, designed as three-quarter glazed panels with diamond-patterned muntins. The case is veneered in mahogany and accented with fine string inlay. It ...
Mahogany
Sold
H 82.29 in W 39.77 in D 11.03 in
Biedermeier Mahogany Bookcase, Polished Finish, Germany, 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...
Mahogany
Biedermeier Bookcase, Walnut Veneer, South Germany circa 1820
Located in Regensburg, DE
Wonderful early Biedermeier bookcase / library from South Germany around 1820.
Brass
Biedermeier Bookcase, Cherry Veneer, South Germany, 19th Century
Located in Regensburg, DE
Very elegant three-doored Biedermeier bookcase from 2nd half of the 19th century. Wonderful cherry veneer and solid wood. All original brass metals and old glasses. The doors are se...
Brass
Pair of 19th Century German Biedermeier Birch Bookcase Cabinets
Located in Queens, NY
Pair of German Biedermeier (19th Century) flame birch Gothic arch design two-door bookcase cabinets on black lacquered claw feet.
Birch
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...
Glass, Cherry, Ebony, Softwood
Sold
H 74.41 in W 39.77 in D 17.72 in
19th Century Biedermeier Bookcase, Vitrine, Cherrywood, Germany, circa 1840
Located in Greven, DE
19th century Biedermeier bookcase Germany (Saxony) Cherrywood Biedermeier around 1840 Dimensions: H x W x D: 189 x 101 x 45 cm Description: Narrow Biedermeier bookcase wi...
Cherry
Sold
H 74.81 in W 38.59 in D 14.18 in
Biedermeier Vitrine or Bookcase, Cherry, South Germany, circa 1820
Located in Regensburg, DE
Wonderful and very elegant early Biedermeier vitrine, bookcase or display case. It has a lovely cherry veneer and solid wood with ebonized glazing bars. The low width makes the furn...
Cherry
Sold
H 84.65 in W 61.82 in D 19.3 in
Biedermeier Bookcase, Cherry Wood, Glass, Southwest Germany circa 1820
Located in Regensburg, DE
Neoclassical Biedermeier bookcase or showcase / vitrine Solid cherry wood high-gloss hand polished with shellac. Concave cornice with ebonized ending. Old glass windows and one e...
Brass
Sold
H 72.05 in W 47.64 in D 17.72 in
19th Century Biedermeier Bookcase, Vitrine, Walnut, Southern Germany, circa 1835
Located in Greven, DE
19th century Biedermeier bookcase South Germany Walnut Biedermeier around 1835 Dimensions: H x W x D: 183 x 121 x 45 cm Very high quality display case furniture with fa...
Walnut
Biedermeier Bookcase, circa 1820
Located in Greding, DE
Two-door walnut Biedermeier bookcase with an angular pediment with ebonized moldings as well as ebonized columns. The doors show three-quarter glazing and have fillings with ebonized...
Walnut
Sold
H 77.96 in W 59.45 in D 21.66 in
Biedermeier Bookcase, Walnut Veneer, Two-doored, South Germany circa 1830
Located in Regensburg, DE
Biedermeier Bookcase, Walnut Veneer, Two-doored, South Germany circa 1830 Walnut veneered and solid with a wonderful veneer grain.
Iron
Biedermeier Bookcase, 19th Century
Located in Greding, DE
Biedermeier bookcase with glazed doors with panels and new gray setting with decorative patina.
Wood
Biedermeier Bookcase, Around 1820
Located in Greding, DE
Bookcase standing on flared legs with two doors and three-quarter glazing and diamond-shaped ebonized muntin. The body is veneered in walnut and finished with a profiled straight cor...
Walnut
Biedermeier Bookcase, circa 1820
Located in Greding, DE
Biedermeier Bookcase with a two-door base and a two-door top with glazed doors with rhomboid strutting. The cabinet ist veneered in cherry and stands on square feet with ebonised det...
Cherry, Glass
Biedermeier Bookcase, Saxony 1840s
Located in Greding, DE
Two-door Biedermeier cabinet in cherry with three-quarter glazing. The corners with three-quarter columns on round bases with a straight base. The cornice with ebonised dentils, roun...
Cherry, Glass
Faux Painted Provincial Biedermeier Bookcase
Located in Doylestown, PA
A Continental Biedermeier 2-part provincial bookcase with "faux" elm painted finish, a pair of glazed doors with a dark green painted interior with adjustable shelves, over 3 small d...
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.
Whether you proudly shelve your books in regal mahogany or behind glass cabinet doors, an antique bookcase — or perhaps more than one — is essential to creating a cozy nook for any book lover.
As long as curious people have collected stories, we have needed a place to stow them away and preserve them. When auction houses and book dealers proliferated by the late 17th century, the bibliophile was born. And, of course, as with any treasured decorative objects or collectibles, a book lover’s volumes were suddenly worthy of a luxurious display — enter the bookcase.
Americans of means during the 19th century took to amassing art as well as rare books, and bookcases of the era — rife with hand-carved decorative accents and architectural motifs — were ideal for displaying their handsome leather-bound wares.
Although our favorite titles may change over the years, the functionality and beauty of their home within our home is timeless. Even those who don’t covet the perfect home library can benefit from an attractive display case, as bookcases can easily double as charming étagères.
Contemporary and customizable options make it easier for you to find the perfect bookcase for your style and stacks. If you don’t wish to fill your storage piece so that your collection is snug within its confines, incorporate extra space to allow for additional displays and decorative objects. And by introducing a striking dark wood Art Deco bookcase or low-profile mid-century modern design by Paul McCobb into your living room, your signed first editions won’t be the only items making a statement.
Find barrister bookcases, Globe Wernicke bookcases, bookcases with doors and other vintage and antique bookcases on 1stDibs now.