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.
Meissen Figurine 'Chiarina', Russian Ballet 'Carnival', by Paul Scheurich, 20th
Located in Vienna, AT
Finest Meissen Porcelain Figurine: Dancer balancing on the ball of her left foot, lifting her right leg slightly forward with her foot extended downward, leaning her head to the righ...
Porcelain
Antique Vienna Silver Biedermeier Sugar Box, by Christian Sander, Dated 1831
By Viennese Manufactory, Christian Sander
Located in Vienna, AT
Silver lidded box of rectangular shape, with straight sides and rounded corners and edges, standing on four flattened spherical feet; a band of chiselled acanthus leaf scrolls runs a...
Silver
19th Century Biedermeier Brass Candelabra with Vine Design, Antique
Located in Queens, NY
PAIR of Continental (19th Century) tall vine like brass candelabra with flowers and urn base (PRICED AS PAIR)
Brass
German White Meissen Porcelain Vase
Located in Queens, NY
German (19th Cent) white Meissen porcelain and gilt trim vase with snake handle and bronze cover
Bronze
R & Y Augousti Style Jewelry Decorative Box Tobacco Leaves Hardwood Bronze Ibex
By R & Y Augousti, Oggetti D'Arte
Located in Miami, FL
Lovely R & Y Augousti attributed Jewelry, Watch or decorative Box in Tobacco Leaves over Hardwood with black Velvet inlay. In Clover shape with Bronze Ibex Knob in the Biedermeier Pe...
Bronze
German Copper Glazed Glass Vase
Located in Queens, NY
Continental (poss. German) blue glass vase with applied scroll handles and copper exterior finish.
Copper
$1,784Sale Price|20% Off
Walnut Biedermeier Casket with Mirror and Removable Tray, circa 1830
Located in Darmstadt, DE
A finely crafted walnut veneered casket from the Biedermeier period, around the mid-19th century. The box is veneered in beautifully grained walnut on a spruce body, while the base i...
Mirror, Walnut, Spruce
Biedermeier Casket, 1st Half 19th Century
Located in Greding, DE
Small Biedermeier casket with framed burl veneer panels. With brass side handles and lock with key. The interior is paper-lined and fitted with removable trays, hidden drawers, and ...
Brass
Mid-Century Biedermeier Ceramic Vase, Olive Green with Orange Shells
Located in Queens, NY
Germany mid-century olive green ceramic vase with an orange incised centered multiple shell form pattern (JASBA).
Ceramic
Switzerland Mahogany Ebonized Hinged Music Box with Three Cylinders, C. 1880
Located in Charleston, SC
Rare Switzerland mahogany & ebonized hinged music box with the original crank, three interior paper labels, and cylinders. Music box is stamped by maker and is In working condition, ...
Steel
Swedish early 20th century solid burr birch mallet
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
Early 20th century solid burr birch mallet circa 1900. Turned from a solid piece of burr birch this sculptors mallet has little signs of use. 1 piece, handle with feint turned deta...
Birch
Swedish Biedermeier Birch Picture Frame
Located in Queens, NY
Swedish Biedermeier (19th Century) birch easel picture frame with round top
Birch
$2,737Sale Price|20% Off
Biedermeier Miniature Blanket Chest, Walnut & Spruce, Circa 1810
Located in Darmstadt, DE
The miniature chest was made of walnut and dates back to the early Biedermeier period at the beginning of the 19th century. A very nice small rare furniture...
Spruce, Walnut
Antique Biedermeier Picture or Mirror frame in gilt wood, Austria 1830s
Located in Beograd, RS
In this listing you will find an elegant Austrian Biedermeier frame dating to the 1830s, distinguished by its refined proportions and restrained ornamentation characteristic of the p...
Wood
$764Sale Price|20% Off
19th Century Biedermeier Emerald Cut Crystal Oval Octagonal Vase
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
19th Century Biedermeier Emerald Cut Crystal Oval Octagonal Vase European, Austrian or Bohemia, Circa 1860s A quietly stunning example of 19th-century B...
Crystal
19th Century German Pewter Gnome Toothpick Holder, Biedermeier Style
Located in Queens, NY
Continental German (19/20th Cent) pewter small figure of a gnome holding a mushroom with a perferated top (toothpick holder) and standing on a stylized round base (WMF)
Pewter
German Porcelain Nude Lady Figure
Located in Queens, NY
German (19/20th Cent) small porcelain torsos of nude lady with hands extended and gold hair piece
Gold
$2,076Sale 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
Continental German Biedermeier Metal Coffee Canister with Glass Panel
Located in Queens, NY
2 Continental German-style (20th Century) large metal coffee canisters with glass panel. (PRICED EACH)
Glass
Pair of Antique Bohemian Amber Glass Egermann Style Vases with Acid-Etched Deer
Located in London, GB
A beautiful and classic pair of late 19th-century antique Bohemian amber glass vases, standing at an elegant 30 cm in height and 12 cm in diameter. Featuring a slender, timeless hour...
Glass, Blown Glass
Mantel Clock with Genre Scene, Vienna 19th Century
Located in Greding, DE
Mantel clock in a gold-patinated wooden case with enameled clock face and octagonal pedestal with paw feet. The clock case rises above it in the shape of a wooden hut with a pointed ...
Wood
19th Century Biedermeier Bronze Miner Statuette on Black Marble Base
Located in Queens, NY
Continental 19th / 20th-Century metal statuette with a bronze patina depicting miner on a black marble base. (Companion piece: GRS327).
Bronze
Continental Austrian Burl and Satinwood Box
Located in Queens, NY
Continental Austrian burl walnut and satinwood banded small box with a bevelled glass inset top
Burl
19th Century Meissen Porcelain Cupid Figure by Heinrich Schwabe
Located in Queens, NY
German Meissen (late 19th Century) porcelain figure of a cupid wearing a gold crown and wrapped in a blue robe and having an owl by its side, standing on a 6-sided round gold dome (m...
Gold
$1,800
Danish Porcelain Owl
Located in Queens, NY
Continental Danish (Copenhagen) porcelain figure of grey & white owl perched on base (19th Cent)
German Royal Bonn Red Floral Porcelain Vase
Located in Queens, NY
German (19th Cent) Royal Bonn red porcelain shaped vase with floral design and gilt trimmed top and bottom
19th Century German Biedermeier Drizzle Vase in Light Green Lava
Located in Queens, NY
German mid-century style short bulbous shaped light green and tan woven design drizzle \"fat lava\" vase with a low neck.
Lava
Antique Meissen Porcelain Vase with Hand-Painted Flowers, Ca 1900
Located in København, Copenhagen
Antique Meissen porcelain vase with hand-painted flowers. Purple and gold decoration. Ca. 1900. Measures: 19.5 x 11 cm. In excellen...
Porcelain
19th Century German Biedermeier Amber Cut Glass Floral Urn
Located in Queens, NY
Continental German style amber cut glass floral design urn (19th Cent)
Cut Glass
19th Century Biedermeier Bronze Patina Native American Chief Sculpture
Located in Queens, NY
Continental Austrian style bronze multicolored patinaed figure of Native American chief with rifle standing on a travertine base (Kalba style)
Bronze
Elegant Austrian Antique Silver Menorah 27” 19 th c
Located in Boca Raton, FL
Rare unique Austrian antique silver menorah, engraved. 27” high, on a tripod base. Comprised of two parts with and eagle figure on top. Each two...
Silver
Urn With Dried Flower Pineapple Arrangement
Located in Queens, NY
Outdoor small iron urn with potted dry flowers in the form of a yellow pineapple
Iron
$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
Continental Bronze Bust of a Mustachioed Dignitary / Military Officer
Located in Queens, NY
Continental German (19/20th Century) bronze bust depicting a dignitary / military officer with prominent mustache, wearing several medals, mounted on a beveled black marble rectangul...
Bronze
Antique German Biedermeier Footed Silver Sugar Chest or Box
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
This antique German sugar box is composed of .875 silver and dates to circa 1850 in the Biedermeier style. The box sits on ornately crafted feet and features clam shell relief decora...
Silver
$5,200Sale Price|20% Off
Austrian Antique Handcarved Wood Sculpture of Praying Angel, 1860
Located in Boca Raton, FL
19 th c Austrian Antique handcarved wood religious sculpture of a praying angel, kneeling on. One knee on a wood base. Remnants of silver paint. Split of wood in the middle due to wo...
Fruitwood
Large Antique Dresden Ornamental Vase in Hand-Painted Porcelain
Located in København, Copenhagen
Large antique Dresden ornamental vase in hand-painted porcelain. Flowers and gold decoration. Rose in relief on the lid. Ca. 1900. Measures: 37.5 x...
Porcelain
Rosenthal and Wien. Early lidded porcelain vase with two handles. Classic form.
Located in København, Copenhagen
Rosenthal and Wien. Early lidded porcelain vase with two handles. Classic form. Hand-painted at the porcelain factory in Wien. Gold decoration. Burgundy-colored. Early 1900s. Marked....
Porcelain
Swedish Biedermeier Karelian Birch Hat Box
Located in Queens, NY
Swedish Biedermeier-style (20th Century) Karelian birch round shaped hat box with leather strap.
Leather, Birch
Antique Silver Relief King Ludwig I. von Bayern by Ludwig Leigh
Located in Munich, DE
This miniature relief portrait of King Ludwig I. of Bavaria is made out of chased silver. I has been executed by Ludwig Leigh and is signed L.Leigh. The po...
Silver
Biedermeier Portal Clock, probably Vienna ca. 1820/30
Located in Greding, DE
Biedermeier portal clock in an architecturally structured walnut case with alabaster columns, bronze fittings and mirrored rear wall. The clockwork with date and sound spiral. Pendul...
Brass
Parian Porcelain Wagner Bust
Located in Queens, NY
Parian biscuit porcelain bust of Wagner wearing hat
Porcelain
$1,200
German Plaster Bach Bust
Located in Queens, NY
German white painted plaster bust of Bach
Plaster
$1,699Sale Price|20% Off
Biedermeier Tea Chest, Mahogany and Brass, Germany, Early 19th Century
Located in Greding, DE
Lidded chest with a curved lid and a concave belly, standing on brass ball feet. The escutcheon is inlayed in bone. Mahogany veneered.
Brass
Vintage Regency Carved Pillar Candlesticks - A Pair
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Add a touch of architectural stature and classic warmth to your mantel or dining table with this handsome pair of vintage turned wood candlesticks. Crafted in a Neoclassical or Biede...
Wood
$354Sale Price|40% Off
French Brown Hat Box for Cylinders, Early 19th Century
Located in Hamburg, DE
French brown hat box for cylinders, early 19th century. Rare old leather hat box for top hats. This old hat box in the shape of a cylinder is an original fro...
Leather, Fabric
Cubic Biedermeier Box, Mahogany and Maple, Austria, circa 1840
By Biedermeier
Located in Regensburg, DE
Cubic Biedermeier box, mahogany and maple, Austria circa 1840 Rare cubic shaped decorative box form the Biedermeier period. Mahogany veneered with maple inlays. Oak base. Restored a...
Mahogany, Maple, Oak
Exquisite Antique Cherrywood Jewelry Casket
Located in Stahnsdorf, DE
Exquisite Antique Cherrywood Jewelry Casket – Finely Ebonized & Intricately Inlaid This distinguished antique jewelry casket is a true testamen...
Cherry
Pair of Biedermeier Marble Busts, American, Signed Dewey, Circa 1850
Located in London, GB
Two busts of male and female couple carved in marble, Biedemeier style American second half of 19th century, signed on reverse of each carved 'Dewey'. Two Portrait of a well to do couple firmly telling the America they have arrived and are upstanding. The hand carved marble busts are skillfully detailed and take you on a journey of the fruitiness of Middle America...
Carrara Marble
Portrait Bust of a Lady, Dated 1837
Located in Greding, DE
Portrait bust of a lady of the Biedermeier period. The bust was most probably modelled in plaster using the impression of the death mask. Signed on the ...
Plaster
$2,360Sale Price|20% Off
19th Century Antique Biedermeier Jewelry Box, Wood & Silver Plated
Located in Greding, DE
White lidded box standing on small spherical feet with trapezoidal body and lid with a groove. The fittings are silver plated. Key available. Interior veneered in cherry.
Wood
German Brown and Yellow Vase
Located in Queens, NY
German mid-century style brown vase with center banding with geometric white and yellow pumice textured shapes.
Swedish Biedermeier Style Birch Picture Frame
Located in Queens, NY
Swedish Biedermeier-style (19/20th Century) birch easel picture frame with shaped top and bottom.
Birch
Portal clock Vienna around 1825 with integrated musical mechanism Signed: A.O.
Located in Wiesbaden, DE
Portal clock Vienna around 1825 with integrated musical mechanism Signed: “A.Olbrich in Wien” and number 215719157. Alabaster columns, blackened wood, gilded carving in the form of...
Alabaster, Metal
19th Century Bronze Patinaed Native American Chief Sculpture on Base
Located in Queens, NY
Continental Austrian style bronze multicolored patinaed figure of Native American chief with rifle standing on a travertine base (Kalba style)
Bronze
Continental German Biedermeier Terra-Cotta Mask Bust on Marble Base
Located in Queens, NY
Continental German (late 19th Cent) sculpted terra-cotta master mask mold bust of a serene male face displayed on a square black marble base stand (part of a collection)
Marble
Dutch Copper Cachepot with Blue & White Handles, 19th Century
Located in Queens, NY
Continental Dutch-style (19/20th Century) copper cachepot with blue & white porcelain handles
Copper
19th Century German Biedermeier Terra-Cotta Mask Mold on Marble Base
Located in Queens, NY
Continental German (late 19th Cent) sculpted terra-cotta master mask mold of a smiling \"idiot\" face with sleepy eyes displayed on a square black marble base stand (part of a collec...
Marble
Mid-Century German Bay Keramic Orange Fat Lava Vase
Located in Queens, NY
German mid-century style square shaped orange \"fat lava\"ceramic vase with blue circle design and cylindrical neck (BAY KERAMIC).
Ceramic
19th Century German Biedermeier Blue Ceramic Vase with Speckled Design
Located in Queens, NY
German mid-century style blue and white speckled ceramic vase with elongated handles and long taped neck
Ceramic