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.
Pair of Biedermeier Turned Wood Lamps, circa 1920s
By Laura Ashley
Located in Isle Sur La Sorgue, Vaucluse
Elegant pair of large, turned wood (probably mahogany and ebony) lamps, fitted with stripy green, cream and gold trim Laura Ashley shades.
Brass
Biedermeier Style Table Lamp of Carved and Gilt Fruitwood
Located in Houston, TX
Height of ball 22”. The total height with socket is 25 inches. The lamp is so nice. Beautiful proportions and quality.
Fruitwood
Bouillotte lamp, France 1860
Located in Wiesbaden, DE
Bouillotte lamp Beautiful desk lamps that once stood on desks, called “bureau plats,” are still very popular today with their brass base and adjustable shade, often placed on windows...
Brass
Vintage Late 20th Century Boho Burl Wood Urn Lamps - a Pair
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A fabulous pair of vintage Boho table lamps. Chic Burl wood urns with a Biedermeier motif. Monumental in size and drama. Fully restored with all new wiring and hardware. Acquired fro...
Wood
Antique Porcelain Table Lamp "Schweriner Castle", circa 1880
Located in Berlin, DE
Antique porcelain table lamp "Schweriner Castle", circa 1880. Porcelain belly, in the center view of the Schwerin castle framed with a ...
Porcelain
$2,463
H 10.24 in W 10.24 in D 4.73 in
Pair of French Rococo Style Gilt Bronze and Porcelain Flower Table Lamps
Located in Barntrup, DE
Pair of French Rococo style gilt bronze and porcelain flower table lamps. This absolutely adorable pair of French Rococo-style two-light table l...
Bronze
Pair of Moroccan-Style Gilt Arabesques Table Lamps
Located in Chicago, IL
Striking pair of table lamps with eight-sided Moorish arabesque reliefs, octagonal gilt ceramic bodies and impressive size. Sold sans shades.
Brass, Metal
$3,700 / set
H 30 in Dm 18.5 in
Pair Antique French Belle Epoque Porcelain and Ormolu Lamps, circa 1880
Located in New Orleans, LA
Pair antique French Belle Epoque porcelain and ormolu lamps, circa 1880.
Ormolu
French Bouillotte Lamps Hand Painted Decoration Rewired
Located in Atlanta, GA
Elegant Pair of French Bouillotte Lamps with Hand Painted Decoration, French, circa 1960s. The bases are a deep forest green color with hand painted cream and gold color decorations ...
Metal
Pair of Turned Wood Oversized Table Lamps
Located in North Miami, FL
Amazing wood grain and rich tone turned wood table lamps with brass knob switch, also dimmable. Double cluster sockets. Shades shown NOT included.
Wood
Distressed Chinoiserie Table Lamps, Hand-Painted Urn, 20th Century
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A striking pair of hand-painted urn-form table lamps in the chinoiserie taste, mounted on square plinth bases. The bodies are richly decorated with swirling teal ground and trailing ...
Wood, Paint, Parchment Paper
Pair of lilac porcelain of Paris lamps, circa 1880
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Pair of Lilac colour Paris porcelain lamps standing on a piedouche shape base mounted in gilt bronze. The upper part of the vase is decorated with a white background frieze with a fl...
Porcelain
Lamp in Imari Porcelain and Gilt Bronze, circa 1880
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Lamp in Imari porcelain and gilded bronze in ovoid shape surmounted by a collar. Panse adorned with dragons, flowers and patterns. Round bronze base, quadripod and openwork adorned with festoons and rosettes. Pedestal frame ending on both sides with a circular openwork gallery. Center of the pedestal with motifs in chiseled bronze. Work realized circa 1880. New and functional electrical system. ! The price doesn’t include the lampshade price. However, our workshop can advise you with pleasure and realize it with your size and color choices ! Imari is a place of production of Japanese ceramics, otherwise known as “Arita porcelain”. It is the port of an island. Imari porcelain was first exhibited by the Dutch, with their Compagnie Orientale des Provinces-Unies (the V.O.C). These are Europeanized decorations but remaining very inspired by the great traditions of Asian spirituality. The Imari style is characterized by three dominant colors: cobalt blue, red tending to saffron and the white background of porcelain. Imari porcelain had a notable influence on the East India Company (Chinese Imari is referred to as East India Company porcelain...
Bronze
Lamp in Imari Porcelain and Gilt Bronze, circa 1880
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Lamp in Imari porcelain and gilded bronze, adorned with flowers and foliage, in shades of saffron red, cobalt blue and on an ivory white background. Quadripod base, with rudent patte...
Bronze
Lamp in Imari Porcelain and Gilt Bronze, circa 1880
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Baluster shaped lamp with Imari decor in porcelain and gilt bronze. Body adorned with red flower motifs on a white and blue background. Chiseled and gilt bronze mount. Quadripod hexagonal base. Work realized circa 1880. New and functional electric system. !The price doesn’t include the lampshade price. However, our workshop can advise you with pleasure and realize it with your size and color choices! Imari is a place of production of Japanese ceramics, otherwise known as “Arita porcelain”. It is the port of an island. Imari porcelain was first exhibited by the Dutch, with their Compagnie Orientale des Provinces-Unies (the V.O.C). These are Europeanized decorations but remaining very inspired by the great traditions of Asian spirituality. The Imari style is characterized by three dominant colors: cobalt blue, red tending to saffron and the white background of porcelain. Imari porcelain had a notable influence on the East India Company (Chinese Imari is referred to as East India Company porcelain...
Bronze
$325Sale Price / set|65% Off
H 21 in W 6.25 in D 4.5 in
Vintage Modern Concrete Table Lamps, Textured Stone, Late 20th Century
Located in Trenton, NJ
This striking and HEAVY pair of vintage modern table lamps feature textured concrete construction with clean modern lines. The substantial pair of vintage stone table lamps...
Stone, Metal
Alabaster Urn Lamp, France, c. Early 20th Century
Located in Savannah, GA
A neoclassical alabaster urn lamp, France, early 20th century. 5 ½ inches wide by 4 ½ inches deep by 10 ½ inches to top of alabaster; 22 ¼ inches tall to top of finial Good overall...
Alabaster, Brass
Sold
H 18.5 in Dm 7 in
Pair of Biedermeier Style Turned Mahogany Urn-form Lamps with Ebonized Highlight
Located in San Francisco, CA
each of campagna form with everted lip tapering to a compressed portly body all over a square plinth; adorned with ebonized highlights; 18.5" (top of wood) 29.5" (top of shade)
Mahogany
Sold
H 30.32 in Dm 11.03 in
Large Pair of Early 19th Century Five-Light Candelabra by Josef Danhauser Vienna
Located in Worpswede / Bremen, DE
Each modelled as a semi-draped female figure holding aloft four scrolled branches and a central finial, standing with one foot on a round sphere pedestal with decoration of shells and dolphins. The Austrian Museum of Applied Arts in Vienna (MAK) is in the possession of a large part of drawings from the‚ Danhauser’schen k.k. privilegierte Möbelfabrik’ (Danhauser furniture factory) with more than 2.500 drawings and sketches from the sample catalogue. This catalogue included, among other items, 153 models of chairs, 56 daybeds, 179 types of chandeliers, and 124 window draperies...
Gesso, Wood