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.
Austro-German 19th Century Biedermeier Sofa
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
A fabulous Biedermeier style settee from 19th century Bavaria made from exceptionally beautiful, solid maple in a sheltering design like a banquette to enclose the upholstery. Some a...
Upholstery, Maple
$4,344Sale Price|35% Off
Swedish Biedermeier Carved Sofa Quilted Golden Birch 19th Century Antique A
Located in Lewes, England
Antique Swedish Biedermeier Empire sofa settle couch in the country style with a wealth of appliqué decoration on the front panels, arms and legs. Measure: 215cm. It is finished in ...
Birch
$3,466Sale Price|35% Off
Biedermeier Settle Sofa Quilted Golden Birch Swedish, 19th Century Couch Settle
Located in Lewes, England
Beautiful and very unusual 19th century Swedish antique Biedermeier settle sofa in top grade quilted golden birch in a deep French polish finish with lovely carved detail. It has de...
Mahogany
19th Century Swedish Biedermeier Style Walnut Settee
Located in Houston, TX
A stunning 19th Century settee featuring the clean lines and warm wood tones characteristic of Swedish Biedermeier design, with a silhouette influenced by French Neoclassical forms. ...
Walnut
$3,466Sale Price|35% Off
Swedish Biedermeier Antique Sofa Couch Empire 19th C 3-4 Seat Lion Feet
Located in Lewes, England
Antique Swedish Biedermeier Empire sofa in top grade quilted birch figured veneers in the sort after mid oak French polish finish. The sofa is approx 200cm long. It has swooping l...
Birch
$3,466Sale Price|35% Off
Swedish Biedermeier Sofa Empire Couch Honey Color, 4-5 Seat, 19th/20th Century A
By Biedermeier
Located in Lewes, England
Swedish Biedermeier 4-5 seat sofa couch in classic light honey color French polish finish with curved arm detailing and ormolu style decorative ends and central motifs in the highest...
Birch
$3,466Sale Price|35% Off
Swedish Biedermeier Sofa Empire Couch Honey Color, 3 Seat, 19th Century Ormolu A
By Biedermeier
Located in Lewes, England
Rare Swedish Biedermeier 2-3 seat sofa couch in classic light honey color French polish finish with wonderful curved arm detailing and ormolu style decorative ends and motifs in the ...
Birch
$4,678Sale Price|30% Off
Swedish Biedermeier Sofa Couch Honey Color, 3-4 Seat, 19th Century Empire Rare A
By Biedermeier
Located in Lewes, England
Swedish Biedermeier 3-4 seat sofa couch in beautiful light honey color French polish finish with curved arm detailing and carved applique decorative motifs in the highest quality qui...
Birch
Austrian Biedermeier Settee, walnut - Josef Dannhauser, Vienna 1820 - 2 Seater
Located in Göttingen, NI
2-Seater Burl Walnut veneered. Flat frame on profiled volute feet, bowed armrests. Seat, armrests and back newly upholstered with yellow gold-colored moirée height 95 cm, seat hei...
Walnut
Early 19th Biedermeier Settee with Scroll Arms and Curved Back in Birch Wood
Located in Atlanta, GA
The Biedermeier settee with modern velvet upholstery, curved back, scrolled arms terminating in tapered splayed legs.
Upholstery, Birch
Austrian Biedermeier Walnut Green Settee
Located in Queens, NY
Austrian Biedermeier walnut veneered settee with open double scroll design arms resting on a fluted ¬Ω round shaped base with upholstered seat & sleigh back (Circa 1825)
Upholstery, Walnut
$6,568Sale Price / set|30% Off
Rare Pair Swedish Biedermeier Style Sofas Couch Empire 20th C 172cm 3-4 Seat A
Located in Lewes, England
Rare pair of Swedish Biedermeier Empire style sofas from latter part of 20th Century in top grade birch in a light oak French polish finish. Its very unusual indeed to find a mat...
Birch
Swedish 19th Century Maple Biedermeier Settee
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
This wonderful 19th century Swedish maple settee features classic Biedermeier design elements adapted to Scandinavian tastes for lightness and simplicity, using only the finest quali...
Maple
$4,344Sale Price|35% Off
Biedermeier Sofa Couch Empire Settle Swedish 19th Century 3-4 Seat Loveseat
Located in Lewes, England
Antique Swedish Biedermeier Empire sofa in top grade quilted figured veneers in a rich deep French polish finish. Lovely curved legs, arms and back with a fully sprung seat and web...
Birch
A Continental 19th century Biedermeier st. Burl Birch and fruitwood settee
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An attractive Continental 19th century Biedermeier st. Burl Birch and ebonized Fruitwood settee. The settee is raised by four square legs and bottom blocks with filets of ebonized ...
Birch, Fruitwood
$3,466Sale Price|35% Off
Swedish Biedermeier Sofa Settee Couch 3-4 Seat Carved Arms Art Deco Late 1800s
Located in Lewes, England
Antique Swedish Biedermeier carved three-four-seat sofa in Classic darker honey French polish finish that brings out the figure in the top grade golden birch quilted veneers. It fea...
Birch
German Biedermeier Satinwood Settee W/ Gilt Foliage Wreaths & Silk Seat, C. 1815
By Biedermeier
Located in Charleston, SC
German Biedermeier satinwood settee with a gilt carved shaped back, flanking scrolled arms, central gilt carved foliage wreaths, reticulated carved gilt X panels, gilt corner circula...
Silk, Satinwood, Giltwood
$5,200Sale Price|20% Off
Austrian Biedermeier Settee Sofa, Walnut, Reupholstered, 1820
Located in Boca Raton, FL
Austrian Biedermeier solid walnut setteee sofa, 57” long. Original condition with shellack polish. Reupholstered in Biedermeier style fabric. Elegant piece of guy.
Nutwood
$18,227
H 35.44 in W 72.84 in D 41.34 in
Vintage George Smith Kilim Upholstered Three Seat Couch or Sofa Feather Cushions
By George Smith
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
We are delighted to offer for sale this stunning original George Smith three seat sofa with the period Kilim upholstery and feather filled cushions A stunning sofa which is one of G...
Upholstery
Small 19th century Swedish empire birch sofa
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
Small 19th century Swedish empire birch sofa circa 1860 Good quality Swedish empire period birch sofa upholstered in kalim woven fabric. Small sofa or a very comfortable single cha...
Fabric, Birch
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
19th Century Swedish Painted Settee in Silk Plaid
Located in Southampton, NY
19th Century Swedish painted settee in silk plaid. Lovely design. Structurally sound, silk plaid ripped on along upper back. Age to finish consistent with...
Silk, Wood
19th Century French Louis XVI Style Settee
Located in Chicago, IL
A 19th century French Louis XVI style giltwood settee with a floral cartouche at the top of the back, and circled in a carved ribbon motif, with fluted and tapered legs. The back and...
Wool, Upholstery
19th Century Empire Walnut Upholstered Settee
Located in WEST PALM BEACH, FL
This is a lovely tailored walnut Empire settee. The top rail is flanked by two graceful sloping arms, joining two brass classical female heads crowing two front straight tapering le...
Brass
$13,501
H 31.89 in W 93.71 in D 22.84 in
Restored Hand Dyed Brown Leather Antique Victorian 3-4 Seat Sofa Feather Seats
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
Royal House Antiques Royal House Antiques is delighted to this stunning three to four seat antique hand dyed Victorian brown leather sofa...
Leather
Swedish Biedermeier 19th Century Birch Armchairs
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
A pair of Swedish Biedermeier armchairs from circa 1820 in birch that expresses the most extraordinary patterns (which occur naturally in the wood) but have been revealed by the skil...
Metal
$20,252
H 41.74 in W 69.1 in D 30.91 in
Victorian Georgian Irish Brown Leather Chesterfield Sofa Lion Hairy Paw Feet
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
We are delighted to offer for sale this absolutely stunning Georgian Irish style late Victorian Chesterfield brown leather sofa with hand-carved Lion hairy pa...
Leather, Hardwood
18th Century English Oak Settle
Located in High Point, NC
18th century oak settle from England with a wonderfully hand carved decorated and paneled back and rolled arms over hand turned bobbin arms and front legs. The seat height measures 1...
Oak
$2,947Sale Price|26% Off
H 29.93 in W 66.93 in D 26.38 in
French Louis Philippe Bench Seat Wood Sofa or Banquette French 19th Midcentury
Located in Labrit, Landes
Louis Philippe banquette or sofa on wheels Carved with floral decorations and canelures. France circa 1840 Good seating with springs. The fabric can be...
Upholstery, Wood
Stunning 20th Century Beech Wood Sofa with Dual Designs
Located in London, GB
This stunning sofa features a blue velvet textile that is soft to the touch and adds a touch of luxury to any room. One side of the sofa features a playful design of lion and swan, w...
Beech
Sold
H 37.41 in W 78.75 in D 27.56 in
Swedish Biedermeier Antique Sofa Couch Empire 19th C 3-4 Seat Lion Feet
Located in Lewes, England
Antique Swedish Biedermeier Empire sofa in top grade quilted birch figured veneers in the sort after mid oak French polish finish. The sofa is approx 200cm long. It has swooping l...
Birch
Sold
H 37.41 in W 74.81 in D 27.96 in
Swedish Biedermeier Sofa Empire Couch Honey Color, 3 Seat, 19th Century Ormolu A
By Biedermeier
Located in Lewes, England
Rare Swedish Biedermeier 2-3 seat sofa couch in classic light honey color French polish finish with wonderful curved arm detailing and ormolu style decorative ends and motifs in the ...
Birch
Sold
H 37.41 in W 86.62 in D 27.56 in
Biedermeier Sofa Couch Empire Settle Swedish 19th Century 3-4 Seat Loveseat
Located in Lewes, England
Antique Swedish Biedermeier Empire sofa in top grade quilted figured veneers in a rich deep French polish finish. Lovely curved legs, arms and back with a fully sprung seat and web...
Birch
Sold
H 39.38 in W 84.65 in D 25.2 in
Swedish Biedermeier Carved Sofa Quilted Golden Birch 19th Century Antique A
Located in Lewes, England
Antique Swedish Biedermeier Empire sofa settle couch in the country style with a wealth of appliqué decoration on the front panels, arms and legs. Measure: 215cm. It is finished in ...
Birch
Sold
H 39.38 in W 86.62 in D 27.56 in
Swedish Biedermeier Sofa Settee Couch 3-4 Seat Carved Arms Art Deco Late 1800s
Located in Lewes, England
Antique Swedish Biedermeier carved three-four-seat sofa in Classic darker honey French polish finish that brings out the figure in the top grade golden birch quilted veneers. It fea...
Birch
Sold
H 31.89 in W 67.72 in D 29.14 in
Rare Pair Swedish Biedermeier Style Sofas Couch Empire 20th C 172cm 3-4 Seat A
Located in Lewes, England
Rare pair of Swedish Biedermeier Empire style sofas from latter part of 20th Century in top grade birch in a light oak French polish finish. Its very unusual indeed to find a mat...
Birch
Sold
H 31.11 in W 78.75 in D 25.6 in
Biedermeier Settle Sofa Quilted Golden Birch Swedish, 19th Century Couch Settle
Located in Lewes, England
Beautiful and very unusual 19th century Swedish antique Biedermeier settle sofa in top grade quilted golden birch in a deep French polish finish with lovely carved detail. It has de...
Mahogany
Sold
H 37.41 in W 90.56 in D 29.93 in
Swedish Biedermeier Sofa Empire Couch Honey Color, 4-5 Seat, 19th/20th Century A
By Biedermeier
Located in Lewes, England
Swedish Biedermeier 4-5 seat sofa couch in classic light honey color French polish finish with curved arm detailing and ormolu style decorative ends and central motifs in the highest...
Birch
Sold
H 37.41 in W 86.62 in D 27.56 in
Biedermeier Sofa Couch Empire Settle Swedish 19th Century 3-4 Seat Loveseat
Located in Lewes, England
Antique Swedish Biedermeier Empire sofa in top grade quilted figured veneers in a rich deep French polish finish. Lovely curved legs, arms and back with a fully sprung seat and web...
Birch
Sold
H 37.41 in W 78.75 in D 27.56 in
Swedish Biedermeier Antique Sofa Couch Empire 19th C 3-4 Seat Lion Feet
Located in Lewes, England
Antique Swedish Biedermeier Empire sofa in top grade quilted birch figured veneers in the sort after mid oak French polish finish. The sofa is approx 200cm long. It has swooping l...
Birch
Sold
H 37.41 in W 82.68 in D 29.93 in
Swedish Biedermeier Sofa Couch Honey Color, 3-4 Seat, 19th Century Empire Rare A
By Biedermeier
Located in Lewes, England
Swedish Biedermeier 3-4 seat sofa couch in beautiful light honey color French polish finish with curved arm detailing and carved applique decorative motifs in the highest quality qui...
Birch
Sold
H 37.41 in W 74.81 in D 27.96 in
Swedish Biedermeier Sofa Empire Couch Honey Color, 3 Seat, 19th Century Ormolu A
By Biedermeier
Located in Lewes, England
Rare Swedish Biedermeier 2-3 seat sofa couch in classic light honey color French polish finish with wonderful curved arm detailing and ormolu style decorative ends and motifs in the ...
Birch