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.
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
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
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
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
$2,110Sale Price|20% Off
Wall Clock in the Biedermeier Style, 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
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
$17,500
Austrian Wooden Wall Clock
Located in Queens, NY
Austrian wooden wall clock with beige and silver hand-painted face and mahogany case with a steepled top.
Mahogany
$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
19th Century Mahogany Wood Long Case Clock
Located in Tarry Town, NY
Mid-19th century William Fullerton mahogany wood case long case clock. The case clock is in good antique condition with visible wear appropriate consistent with age / use. The clock ...
Mahogany
$7,044Sale Price|34% Off
H 92.52 in W 25.2 in D 10.24 in
Tall Case Clock, Bristol, England, circa 1830, Victorian
Located in Darmstadt, DE
The case of the grandfather clock is made of mahogany and was possibly made by the watchmaker Nathaniel Edgecombe. The clock is from Bristol England, circa 1830. + The ship in the d...
Nutwood, Spruce
Comtoise Morbier Tall Case Clock
Located in Bradenton, FL
A very nice Comtoise Morbier tall clock in a floral paint decorated Pine case, France - late 19th century. Rings on the hour and two minutes after the hour...
Pine
$5,096
H 94.89 in W 23.23 in D 8.27 in
19th Century Swedish Ántique Grandfather Clock Tall Case Clock Original Paint
Located in Boden, SE
19th century Folk Art tall case clock from Luleå Norrbotten, Northern Sweden. Made in wood. Nice details and beautiful carvings. Beautiful handpainted flowers on the front. The M...
Pine
$1,726Sale 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
John Nicholl Federal Tall Case Clock
By John Nicholl
Located in New York, NY
Federal Tall Case Clock Made and Signed by John Nicholl, (1784-1862) Belvidere, New Jersey Circa 1825 Primary Wood: Mahogany, Mahogany Ven...
Mahogany, Maple
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
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
Regency Mahogany Tall Case Clock By W. Ashford, London
Located in Essex, MA
With arched bonnet with brass finials over a convex glass bezel opening to a steel clock face. Newly cleaned and put in ready to go condition. The case with pendulum door. Weights, k...
Brass, Iron
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
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
19th Century Musical Picture Clock
Located in Tarzana, CA
A large well-detailed musical picture clock. The oil painting on canvas depicts a village scene in Europe with manor home, mountains at sunset in...
Canvas, Giltwood
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