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.
Antique Viennese Wall Clock in Fruit Wood Case, Late 19th Century
Located in Opole, PL
Antique Viennese Wall Clock, Late 19th Century An elegant wall clock crafted in the late 19th century, designed in the classic Viennese style. The slender and well-balanced form is ...
Fruitwood
Fine Fruitwood Grand-Sonnerie Striking Vienna Regulator Wall Clock
Located in Norwich, GB
Fine Fruitwood Grand-Sonnerie Striking Vienna Regulator Four pillar, triple train movement of short duration with dead beat escapement incorporating...
Fruitwood
A Miniature Two Train Vienna Regulator
Located in Amersham, GB
A rare wedge shaped laterndluhr Vienna regulator with a two train weight driven movement of exceptional quality. The eight day movement strikes the ho...
Brass, Steel
19th Century Biedermeier Picture Clock, Austria, circa 1830
Located in Greven, DE
Biedermeier picture clock with fountain mechanism Austria Oil on iron sheet circa 1830 Dimensions: H × W × D: 45 × 53 × 14 cm Description: This rare picture clock depicts a villag...
Iron
German Mahogany Figural & Satinwood Inlaid Tall Case Flute Clock, Circa 1780
By A. Belokopytoff
Located in Charleston, SC
German Biedermeier mahogany tall case flute clock with porcelain dial, upper case having four rotating painted soldiers and biblical figures, original blow...
Brass, Wrought Iron
$2,046Sale Price|20% Off
Biedermeier Wall Clock, Rosewood Veneer, Antique, Europe, 19th Century
Located in Opole, PL
Wall Clock in the Biedermeier Style, 19th Century Presenting a truly unique and original wall clock from the first half of the 19th century, crafted in the elegant Biedermeier style...
Wood, Rosewood
$1,134Sale Price|37% Off
Early 19th Century Austrian Biedermeier Wall Clock
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
A traditional Austrian Biedermeier wall clock featuring a rectangular carved and gilded wood frame clock face; surmounted by a gilt bronze winged eagle. The decorations on the frame ...
Bronze
Austrian Biedermeier Wall Clock, Hand-Painted Mahogany, 20th Century
Located in Queens, NY
Austrian wooden wall clock with beige and silver hand-painted face and mahogany case with a steepled top.
Mahogany
Baroque Wall Clock in a Biedermeier Case, 18th/19th Century
Located in Greding, DE
A "marriage" combining a Baroque bronze wall clock with a Biedermeier case in the form of a temple. The case, crafted from birch, merges the ornate design of the Baroque period with ...
Bronze
Art Deco bronze and enamel table clock, Austria, 19th century
Located in Sant'Arsenio, Campania
Austria, 19th century Circular base with column shaft, gilt bronze with polychrome enameled base and body with gallant scenes and putti; in the upper part a female figure holding a c...
Gold, Enamel
19C Gustav Becker Vienna Wall Clock
Located in Dallas, TX
PRESENTING A GORGEOUS 19C Gustav Becker Vienna Wall Clock. Made by the famous clockmaker, Gustav Becker circa 1880 in Germany. Th...
Brass
$1,674Sale Price|20% Off
H 47.25 in W 12.8 in D 5.71 in
Austria-Hungarian Wall Clock From the Late 19th Century
Located in Opole, PL
Austria-Hungarian Wall Clock From the Late 19th Century We present you this wall clock from the late 19th century (probably 1870) manufactured in Austria-Hungary. The gravity windin...
Wood
Early 19th Century Austrian Biedermeier Wall Clock
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
A traditional Austrian Biedermeier wall clock featuring a rectangular carved and gilded wood frame clock face; surmounted by a gilt bronze winged eagle. The decorations on the frame ...
Bronze
Carriage clock with case. 19th century
Located in Madrid, ES
Travel clock with case. Metal, glass, leather, etc. XIX century. Case with lid at the top and front with a transparent glass sheet, upholstered on the inside, containing a travel cl...
Metal, Other
$1,395
H 16.54 in W 8.67 in D 5.12 in
Antique French Portico Clock, Rosewood & Satinwood, Mid-19th Century
Located in Alessandria, Piemonte
Antique and elegant French clock, with bronze details and fine inlaid wood, perfectly working. Perfect in a studio room. It's the typical clock of European noble houses...
Wood
French 19th Century Ormolu Cartel Wall Clock
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A good quality 19th century French gilded ormolu wall clock, having Rococo influences to the scroll foliate decoration and cherubs above the eight day striking movement, circa 1880.
Ormolu
French 19th Century Mantle Clock
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A very good quality French late 19th century gilded ormolu and champleve enamel mantel (fireplace) clock. Having urns and a cherub above the eight day clock that chimes...
Enamel, Ormolu
Museum Quality Neo-Gothic Three-Train Vienna Regulator Wall Clock
Located in Lisse, NL
A striking and high-quality Neo-Gothic Vienna regulator wall clock, dating to the late 19th century and featuring a rare three-train movement with quarter-hour strike on two gongs. ...
Enamel, Brass, Bronze
19th Century Antique Industrial Wall Clock Face with Zinc Trim
Located in Bridgeport, CT
Epic industrial wall clock face with zinc trim and surround, enamel face with Roman numerals. Non-working, architectural element for unique decor. Dimensions: 57" diameter by 3.5" D...
Enamel
Tall Mahogany Long Case Clock by D Williams of Crickhowell
Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight
Tall Mahogany Long Case Clock by D Williams of Crickhowell A Good English grandfather clock in mahogany, late 18th/19th century. English grandfather clock, barley twist ormolu capp...
Mahogany
$5,900
H 89 in W 17.88 in D 10 in
Thomas Pringle Mahogany Case 8-Day Tall Clock, Dalkeith, Scotland, circa 1830’s
Located in Milford, NH
A fine example of an 8-day tall clock in mahogany case made by Thomas Pringle, Scottish clockmaker, active 1830-1836. This beautiful tall case clock features a swan’s neck split pediment with foliate carved decoration, gilt foliate rosettes, and a center eagle finial on the hood, with an arched glass...
Brass
Rare Biedermeier Saw Wall Clock, Denmark, dated 1829
Located in Greven, DE
Rare antique saw clock Denmark Brass, enamel dated: 1829 Dimensions: H x W x D: 46 x 13 x 8 cm Description: Very unusual and extremely rare gravity-driven...
Brass, Enamel
Sold
H 37.41 in W 8.86 in D 4.93 in
Fine Eight Day 19th Century Architectural Vienna Biedermeier Regulator Clock
Located in Oxfordshire, United Kingdom
A fine and extremely elegant Vienna regulator of wonderful proportions with a mahogany-veneered and boxwood line inlaid case, c. 1840-50 (German: Dachl-Uhr). The elegant case has a t...
Brass
Year-Going Regulator Clock
Located in New Orleans, LA
This rare year-going regulator clock, or Laterndluhr, beautifully demonstrates the heights of precision clockmaking. The ash-veneered Biedermeier case ...
Brass
Sold
H 46.5 in W 15.25 in D 6.25 in
Antique Vienna Biedermeier 8-Day Regulator/Clock, Carl Suchy & Söhne, circa 1890
Located in Portland, OR
Antique Vienna 8-day time and strike regulator/clock by Carl Suchy & Söhne, circa 1890. A fine regulator in a mahogany case and in the Biedermeier style, the arched top flanked by a ...
Mahogany
Biedermeier Vienna Regulator Wall Clock by A.Mayer in Wein
Located in Norwich, GB
Biedermeier Vienna regulator with one-piece enamel dial, Roman numerals, original finely pierced ‘blued’ steel hands signed ‘A.Mayer, In Wien’. Eight day weight driven movement with fine quality wheelwork and brass bob pendulum, circa 1850. Anton Mayer...
Wood