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 Lounge, Maple Wood, Hand-Carved, Sweden, Circa 1820
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
20th Century Outdoor Teak Folding Deck Chairs with Brass Trim
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
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
$1,826Sale Price|20% Off
Biedermeier Reclining Cane Chair, Late 19th Century, Restored, Germany
Located in Lucenec, SK
Large Biedermeier reclining chair, late 19th century. Fully restored.
Cane, Wood
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
$640Sale Price|44% Off
H 28 in W 21.25 in D 56 in
1960s Cushman Furniture Rock Maple Chaise Lounge Chair
By H.T. Cushman Manufacturing Company
Located in Elkton, MD
Crafted from durable and high-quality rock maple, this chaise lounge is both sturdy and comfortable. The elegant design, with its sleek lines and smooth curves, makes it a timeless p...
Upholstery, Maple
19th Century Louis XVI Style Settee
Located in Belmont, MA
Elaborate Louis XVI style settee, finely carved pearwood. Straight back crowned with wreath, upholstered seat and back, ending on round tapered baluster legs. Originally the settee b...
Pearwood
$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
Late 19th-C. English Anglo-Indian Style Carved Oak & Cane Chaise
Located in Kennesaw, GA
This is a late 19th century carved oak and cane English Anglo-Indian style chaise. The carved arched stretchers are intact and solid as is the cane. It is unmarked and in very good c...
Cane, Oak
$3,112Sale Price|20% Off
H 35.44 in W 25.2 in D 44.89 in
19th Century Anglo Indian Inlaid Plantation Chair with Extending Arms
Located in Čelinac, BA
Anglo Indian Plantation chair 19th Century
Teak
$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
$4,532
H 34.26 in W 64.97 in D 23.63 in
19th Century Mahogany Chaise Longue with Duck Egg Blue Upholstery and Scroll Arm
Located in Reading, Berkshire
A beautifully proportioned 19th century mahogany chaise longue, retaining a wonderfully rich, warm wood patina and upholstered in an elegant duck egg blue fabric. The chaise has a g...
Brass
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
Kilim Upholstered Chaise Longue by George Smith, Late 20th Century
By George Smith
Located in Astoria, NY
George Smith Kilim Upholstered Club Armchair Chaise Longue. 34" H x 70" L x 32" W; seat 15" H. Provenance: From a Forest Hills Gardens Estate.
Upholstery
Louis XV Style, Mahogany, Beige Fabric, Sofa, France, 20th C.
Located in Stamford, CT
Louis XV Style, Mahogany, Beige Fabric, Sofa, France, 20th C. A dark stained Mahogany sofa in the Louis XV style designed and produced in the later half of 20th century France. This...
Fabric, Mahogany
$6,500Sale Price|48% Off
H 29 in W 98 in D 51 in
Mid-Century Modern Curved Serpentine Cloud Sofa by Weiman
By Weiman
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A sleek modern sofa designed by Weiman in the 1980s. It features a curved design, with circular platform bases, and original textured print upholster...
Fabric, Wood
Late 19th Century Wicker / Rattan Chaise Lounge Chair
Located in Buffalo, NY
This wicker / rattan chaise lounge showcases a beautifully woven design with a gently curved silhouette. It has brass tips on the corners and wavy side detailing. The warm, natural b...
Wicker, Rattan, Reed
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
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
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 William Morris (English), Biedermeier
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