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.
Restored Biedermeier Bowl, by Josef Danhauser, Walnut, Polished, Austria, 1820s
Located in Brandys nad Labem, Středočeský kraj
Architect: Josef Danhauser This exceptional small pedestal in the shape of a bowl is a masterpiece of Austrian Biedermeier from the early 19th century. It looks like a large chalice...
Wood, Walnut, Lacquer
Silver 812.5 Biedermeier Lidded Casserole Wooden Stick Radelpunze Vienna 1827
Located in Vienna, AT
Silver 812.5 (= Silver 13 Lot) Biedermeier lidded casserole with wooden stick Vienna / Austria, made 1827 Austrian finest silver item of best manufacturing quality ! Specifications: The casserole is...
Sterling Silver
Reproduction of Paul Revere Sterling Silver Bowl
Located in East Hampton, NY
Reproduction of Paul Revere sterling silver bowl. Engraved "Rosemary Lee 1957.
Silver
Mid-Century Glass Bowl Designed by Josef Hospodka, 1960's
Located in Praha, CZ
- Made in Czechoslovakia - Made of glass - Re-polished - Has some signs use - Good, original condition.
Glass
$499
H 35.5 in W 35.5 in D 35.5 in
Antique Vintage Wooden English Walking Stick Dress Cane Sterling Silver 1923
Located in Dublin, Ireland
Fine Quality French polished Ebony Lady’s or Gentleman’s Walking Cane with a highly decorative embossed Sterling Silver Grip. First quarter of the Twentieth Century. The Sterling Silver knopped grip above a tapering polished ebony shaft with original polished brass ferrule. Kendall and Sons...
Sterling Silver
Mid-Century Glass Bowl Designed by Josef Hospodka, 1960's
Located in Praha, CZ
- Made in Czechoslovakia - Made of glass - Re-polished - Has some signs use - Good, original condition.
Glass
$741Sale Price|20% Off
H 37 in W 37 in D 37 in
Antique Lady Gentlemans Sword English Walking Stick Cane Sterling Silver Wooden
Located in Dublin, Ireland
Superb Rare Polished late Victorian Ebony Wooden Sword Stick of outstanding quality, enclosing its original square tapering polished steel blade of English origin. The polished co...
Sterling Silver, Steel
Bohemian Art Glass Bowl by Josef Hospodka, 1960's
By Josef Hospodka, Chribska Glassworks
Located in Praha, CZ
Art glass vintage bowl designed by Josef Hospodka in the 1960's. Made by Chribska Glassworks in Czechoslovakia. Made of glass. Good vintage condition with some minor signs of use.
Glass
$2,470 / item
H 14.18 in Dm 10.24 in
Antique Silver Cup, Swedish Nickel Silver Sugar Sprinkler Östberg Lenhardtsons
Located in Wembley, GB
Swedish Nickel Silver Sugar Sprinkler Östberg Lenhardtsons Stockholm A highly refined and decorative Swedish nickel silver sugar sprinkler, attributed to Östberg & Lenhardtsons Nya ...
Gold Plate, Silver, Sterling Silver
Tapio Wirkkala's Snail bowl in silver
Located in Toronto, Ontario
A great little solid silver handworked "snail" bowl by Tapio Wirkkala for Kultakeskus Oy.
Silver
Mid-Century Glass Bowl Designed by Josef Hospodka, 1960's
Located in Praha, CZ
- Made in Czechoslovakia - Made of glass - Re-polished - Has some signs use - Good, original condition.
Glass
Josef Hoffmann Hammered Silver Covered Bowl
Located in New York, NY
Hoffmann’s covered bowl is a striking synthesis of Egyptian, Chinese, and medieval European design. Its lid, with a rounded conical profile and cabochon malachite finial, draws inspiration from Qing dynasty mandarin hats...
Silver
$823Sale Price|50% Off
H 6.3 in W 16.15 in D 5.91 in
Large Antique Silver Cup JARDINJÄR Silver & Crystal European Decorative Bowl Cup
Located in Wembley, GB
Antique silver cup or large Decorative food or fruit cup, pressed, cast and chased. Circular, curved feet with hinged. unstamped, tested with the scratch test, Height 15cm, Width 41c...
Gold Plate, Silver, Sterling Silver
Octopus Sterling Silver and Crystal Tureen
Located in Milan, IT
Original octopus tureen in crystal and silver, handmade by Florentine silversmiths, the Lisi Brothers. The hyper realistic centerpiece is transformed into a tureen by adding a detach...
Crystal, Sterling Silver
Stunning Antique Dutch Willem III. Nutwood & Ebonized Wood Tea Bucket 1850s
Located in Lisse, NL
Great condition and stunning design antique bucket. In the mid 19th century this handcrafted tea bucket would have been used for keeping ones tea kettle warm. On the bottom of the w...
Brass
Sold
H 13.4 in Dm 8.3 in
Cut Crystal Coupe Ginger Jar Footed Drageoir Compotier With Cover 19th Century
Located in Wommelgem, VAN
A pair of elegantly cut crystal ginger jars on foot Victorian compotieres with a flared body and a very well done contoured edge. The stem with a controlled air inclussion and a cut ...
Crystal
Sold
H 11.5 in Dm 11.5 in
Antique and All Handcrafted 19th Century Wooden Fruitbowl / Center Table Piece
Located in Lisse, NL
Very rare and easthetically pleasing antique wooden presentation piece. We find it incredible that a piece that looks as fragile as this 19th century fruitbowl still is in such wond...
Nutwood
Biedermeier Style Bohemia Oval Bowl in Cut and Ground Blue Crystal
Located in Prato, Tuscany
We kindly suggest you read the whole description, because with it we try to give you detailed technical and historical information to guarantee the authenticity of our objects. Beautiful and particular blue crystal bowl...
Crystal
Royal Copenhagen Saxon Flower, Bowl, Decoration Number 4/1532
Located in København, Copenhagen
Royal Copenhagen Saxon flower, bowl. Decoration number 4/1532. 1st factory quality. Measures: 17.5 x 6 cm. In very good condition.
Porcelain
Dark-Blue Glass Bowl Biedermeier Hand Painted, Austria, circa 1840
Located in Lichtenberg, AT
Enchanting dark-blue glass bowl from the famous Austrian Biedermeier era, circa 1840. The oval shaped glass bowl is adorned by elaborately hand painted flowers and other artfully des...
Blown Glass
Sold
H 8.8 in W 8.3 in D 7.5 in
Late Biedermeier Porcelain Basket by Fischer & Mieg, Bohemia, circa 1860
By Fischer & Mieg Pirkenhammer
Located in Lichtenberg, AT
Absolute rare late bohemian Biedermeier Porcelain Basket by Fischer & Mieg, Pirkenhammer from circa 1860. By showing partly openwork sides, this decorative masterpiece stands on volu...
Porcelain
Sold
H 16.15 in W 11.62 in D 11.62 in
Maple & Ebony Biedermeier Peat Bucket for Coal Brass Lined Great Bin Planter
By Biedermeier
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
We are delighted to offer for sale this lovely handmade circa 1850 antique Beidermier peat bucket for coal, brass lined, ideal as a modern waste paper bin or planter A truly stunn...
Brass
Sold
H 1.97 in Dm 9.45 in
Unusual and Attractive Tole Peinte Dish, German Biedermeier, Early 19th Century
By Stobwasser
Located in Worpswede / Bremen, DE
An unusual and highly decorative toleware dish or basket of circular form with an ornate pierced rim with stylized leaf border and a Vitruvian scroll motif decorated against a dark green background. In the centre a finely polychrome painted landscape with some figures promenading. Johann Heinrich Stobwasser (1740-1829). was the founder of one of the most important japanning factories of the day. The main factory was in Brunswick, a subsidiary one was established in Berlin in 1772. They specialized in small objects, notably boxes very finely painted with portraits, landscapes, mythological scenes after Old Masters, sentimental genre scenes, etc. They soon became one of the most important japanning factories of the day with a broad aristrocratic clientele such as the Princely house of Weimar, the Prussian court or the daughter of the Tsar Maria Pavlovna (1787-1859), who bought many pieces for the castles in and around St. Petersburg. But even the upper middle class, such as Johann Wolfgang von Goethe and Friedrich Schiller...
Tôle