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.
Biedermeier Chaise Longue, Vienna, Austria c1830
Located in Norwalk, CT
Biedermeier chaise longue made in the early to mid 19th century in Austria. A fine example of the genre with a sleek form and handsome figured walnut veneer. The wood has been freshl...
Upholstery, Wood
Swedish 19th Century Biedermeier Chaise
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
An expressive Biedermeier period chaise lounge–also called a “recamier”--dating to circa 1820 Sweden, in the manner of the famous maker Karl Johan. Resembling a gondola in silhouette...
Textile, Maple
Outdoor Teak Folding Deck Chairs
Located in Queens, NY
Outdoor (20th Cent) teak folding deck chairs with slat design and brass trim
Brass
19th-C. Inlaid Biedermeier Style Side Chairs - Black Leather Upholstery -Pair
By Biedermeier
Located in Kennesaw, GA
This is a pair of late 19th- C. Biedermeier style side chairs with black leather upholstery. The backs are beautifully inlaid. It appears to be maple and satinwood. They are in very ...
Leather, Maple, Satinwood
$1,826Sale Price|20% Off
19th Century Biedermeier Reclining Cane Chair
Located in Lucenec, SK
Large Biedermeier reclining chair, late 19th century. Fully restored.
Cane, Wood
20th Century antique Empire Style Palisander Swan Sofa Mahogany veneer
Located in Berlin, DE
Empire Swan canapé in the style of Classicism, (1810). Exotic palisander on solid beechwood. Partially ebonized and gilded. On each side a carved swan's head. Very high quality sat...
Mahogany
Danhauser Sofa in Viennese Biedermeier Style, Mahogany Veneer on Beechwood
Located in Berlin, DE
Fine canapé / template by Josef Danhauser / Vienna in a Biedermeier style Exotic mahogany on solid beechwood. Intermediate circular sides, star-veneered straight frame. Armrests c...
Mahogany
Italian Chaise Longue silk
Located in Long Island, NY
Italian Chaise Longue .Elegant and Timeless. Beautiful Reds and Gold Colors in Silk .
Silk
Forged Steel Chaise Longue
Located in Chireno, TX
Forged steel chaise longue, adorned in brass detail. Sold with newly-made tie-on upholstered cushion in antique hand-loomed French thistle and natural canvas. All...
Brass, Steel
$2,240Sale Price / set|20% Off
H 32.29 in W 18.51 in D 18.9 in
Pair of 19th Century Biedermeier Fruitwood Side Chairs
Located in Berlin, DE
A pair of beautifully honey colored fruitwood Biedermeier side chairs, with gently curved rectangular backs, the top and side inlaid with banding, the splat carved with a stylized flower head, on sabre legs. Newly upholstered in black Prussian horse hair fabric...
Fruitwood
19th Century French Louis XV Style Giltwood Bench
Located in Houston, TX
19th century French Louis XV style giltwood bench. This stunning antique French gilt wood bench has excellent patina and has been profess...
Giltwood
$2,800Sale Price|20% Off
H 37 in W 22.13 in D 36 in
Vladimir Kagan Capricorn Series Indoor Outdoor Lounge Chair
Located in Wayne, NJ
Vladimir Kagan Capricorn series indoor outdoor lounge chair. If you are in the New Jersey , New York City Metro Area , please contact us with your deli...
Metal
$3,294
H 36.23 in W 28.35 in D 35.44 in
Marco Zanuso Mid-Century Modern Italian Velvet Reclining Armchair, 1950s
By Marco Zanuso
Located in Puglia, Puglia
Reclining armchair designed by Marco Zanuso in the 1950s, the armchair has been restored and upholstered in navy blue velvet with a gray piping finish. The extended armchair...
Iron
German Pair of 19th Century Biedermeier Chairs
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
A restrained pair of German Biedermeier side chairs of circa 1820 in that timeless combination of blonde wood and ebonized accents. The upper handrails have an architectural profile ...
Fabric, Fruitwood, Maple
19th Century Edwardian Fainting Green Chaise Sofa Lounge on Castors
Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL
This Superb late 19th Century Victorian Walnut Antique Chaise Longue dates from circa, 1890 and stands on beautiful turned legs with castors. The scroll arm has some fine carvings an...
Upholstery, Wood
French 19th Century Chaise in Muslin
Located in Buchanan, NY
This elegant French Napoleon III chaise longue in muslin is classic and timeless. Its sophisticated "chapeau de gendarme" shape is one of its most distinctive features, evoking a sen...
Upholstery
19th Century French Napoleon III Chaise Lounge W/ Red Velvet
Located in Astoria, NY
A traditional late 19th-century Napoleon III chaise or daybed lounge sourced from Provence, France. Beautifully handcrafted from solid wood, it features elegant oval-back frames with...
Velvet, Wood
$6,589Sale Price|20% Off
H 29.93 in W 68.9 in D 25.6 in
Italian 19th Century Mahogany Swan Neck Sofa or Chaise Longues Tuscany, 1820
Located in Rome, IT
A fine tuscany mahogany swan neck sofa The front side of the curved arm ends on carved swan, The settee rests on four lion paw feet. Upholstery in a...
Mahogany
Upholstered Daybed Chaise Longues
Located in Sheffield, MA
Graceful and inviting, the recamier chaise with arched back and rolled arm. The fainting couch is upholstered but it does show some ware. Although made in the Victorian period, it ...
Upholstery
Sold
H 36 in W 84 in D 28 in
William Switzer Italian Biedermeier Regency Carved Recamier Chaise Lounge Chair
Located in Philadelphia, PA
William Switzer Italian Biedermeier Regency Carved Recamier Chaise Lounge Chair. Item features gold gilt carved figural dolphins, cornucopia carved gold gilt legs, green and gold uph...
Fabric, Wood
19th Century Biedermeier Cherry Wood Elegant Chaise Longue
Located in Casale Monferrato, IT
Elegant biedermeier chaise longue in cherry wood, 1830s. Perfect condition, new fabric. Perfect to give a touch of elegance to any room. Its light color is easily combined with other...
Cherry
Sold
H 27.5 in W 74.8 in D 27.5 in
Biedermeier Chaise Lounge/ Daybed Nutwood, Newly Upholstered, Austria, ca. 1850
Located in Lichtenberg, AT
Beautiful Nutwood Biedermeier chaise lounge from the period around 1850 in Austria. This fantastic designed daybed comes with a comfortable spring core and has been newly upholstered...
Fabric, Nutwood, Spruce
Unique Biedermeier Chaise Longue, circa 1850
Located in Chorzów, PL
Unique Biedermeier chaise longue, circa 1850. Very good condition, after renovation and replacement of upholstery. Wood: Mahogany Dimensio...
Mahogany, Cotton
Chaise Lounge in Grey, France, circa 1890
Located in Chorzów, PL
Chaise lounge, France, circa 1890. Very good condition, after professional renovation and replacement of the upholstery with a new one. Wood: walnut Dimensions: height 87 cm...
Cotton, Walnut
Antique Goldenrod Chaise Lounge after Renovation, circa 1880
Located in Chorzów, PL
Chaise lounge, Northern Europe, circa 1880. Very good condition, after professional renovation and replacement of upholstery. Colour : Yellow / Mustard / Goldenrod with pattern ...
Velvet, Oak
Antique Chaise Lounge, France, circa 1910
Located in Chorzów, PL
Antique chaise lounge, France circa 1910 years Very good condition. Wood: mahogany For an extra fee you can replace with a new upholstery.
Cotton, Mahogany
Biedermeier Chaise Longue, Ash, Germany, circa 1820
Located in Greding, DE
Biedermeier recamiere in ash, with sledge-shaped backrest standing on stylized volute feet. The straight frame is slightly rounded and hand polished. The recamiere has been newly uph...
Ash
Biedermeier Chaise Lounge Recamier Sofa
By Biedermeier, William Morris (English)
Located in New York, NY
Chic and stylish Biedermeier chaise lounge of polished walnut and upholstered seat and back, fabric possibly William Morris. The chaise is in...
Upholstery, Walnut
Sold
H 43.51 in W 79.93 in D 26.19 in
Biedermeier Chaiselongue, Walnut Solid Wood and Brass, Germany, circa 1820
Located in Regensburg, DE
Wonderful original neoclassical Biedermeier chaise lounge or daybed from Southwest Germany, circa 1820. The corpus is walnut solid wood and has been hand-polished with shellac (Fr...
Brass
Scandinavian Biedermeier Recamier / Divan in Light Walnut, circa 1845
Located in INTERLAKEN, NY
A Biedermeier Recamier or divan in light walnut with upholstery. Upholstered back starts low, rising to meet the scrolled side. Bronze d'ore ormol...
Walnut
Biedermeier Recamiere, Danube Monarchy, circa 1830
Located in Greding, DE
Large Biedermeier Recamiere standing on square feet. The recliner is in walnut veneered and has a curved back- and footrest. The Recamiere was professionally refurbished and reuphols...
Fabric, Walnut