Biedermeier Desks
Biedermeier Style
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.
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Style: Biedermeier
19th Century Biedermeier Mahogany Cylinder-Top Bureau Desk
Located in San Francisco, CA
A good north Germany (possibly Hamburg) Biedermeier Cylinder Bureau overall of beautifully figured mahogany veneers; as the writing surface is pulled outward the cylinder top opens t...
Category
1820s German Antique Biedermeier Desks
Materials
Mahogany
Biedermeier Style Burled Birchwood Secretary Desk by Colombo Mobili
Located in Shippensburg, PA
BIEDERMEIER STYLE BURLED BIRCHWOOD SECRETARY DESK
Executed by Colombo Mobili, ca. 21st century
Item # 312SBP08Q
A truly remarkable Biedermeier style secretaire a'abattant desk...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Biedermeier Desks
Materials
Brass
Biedermeier Escritoire Desk Mahogany 1860
Located in Potters Bar, GB
Biedermeier Mahogany Escritoire.
This Escritoire Features 5 Drawers and a Pull Down Writing Slope. Circa 1860
The Drawers and Fall Having Wonderful Matched Flame Mahogany Veneers.
Th...
Category
1860s Antique Biedermeier Desks
Materials
Mahogany
19th Century Biedermeier Walnut Drop Front Desk. Vienna, c. 1825.
Located in Vienna, AT
Hello,
This exceptional Biedermeier drop front desk is the best example of top-quality Viennese piece from circa 1825.
Viennese Biedermeier is distinguished by their sophisticated p...
Category
Early 19th Century Austrian Antique Biedermeier Desks
Materials
Maple, Walnut
Dutch Rococo Bombe Marquetry Inlaid Drop Front Desk / Secretary
Located in New York, NY
Dutch Rococo (Late 18th Century) drop front desk / secretary with elaborate foliate marquetry inlay, with the slant front folds down to create a desk surface with a green leather ins...
Category
Late 18th Century Dutch Antique Biedermeier Desks
Materials
Wood
England Partner Desk / Double Desk in Solid Mahogany, circa 1880
Located in Lüdinghausen, DE
Double desk solid mahogany England circa 1880 Partner Desk
Features:
Body and tabletop solid mahogany, drawers softwood inside
High quality
All drawers dovetailed
Original han...
Category
19th Century Antique Biedermeier Desks
Materials
Wood
Antique Biedermeier Secretary Desk, Early 19 Century
Located in LOS ANGELES, CA
Antique Early 19C Biedermeier Secretary Desk
Extended depth is 31".
Additional information:
Materials: Ebony
Color: Light Yellow
Per...
Category
Early 19th Century Austrian Antique Biedermeier Desks
Materials
Ebony
Biedermeir Style French Wooden Writing Desk-Table with Drawer
Located in Prato, Tuscany
We kindly suggest that you read the entire description, as with it we try to give you detailed technical and historical information to ensure the authenticity of our objects. A fine ...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Biedermeier Desks
Materials
Oak
Antique Biedermeier Austrian Country Secretary Bookcase Desk, Early 19th Century
Located in LOS ANGELES, CA
Antique Early 19th Century Biedermeier Austrian Country secretary bookcase desk
Additional information:
Materials: Fruitwood
Color: Sienna
Peri...
Category
Early 19th Century Antique Biedermeier Desks
Materials
Fruitwood
Biedermeier Secretary
Located in South Salem, NY
Stunning example of a Biedermeier secretary. There is some missing veneer on the front and both sides, part of the upper right-hand rail is loose...
Category
19th Century Austrian Antique Biedermeier Desks
Materials
Walnut
Pedestal Desk in the Biedermeier manner
Located in Sturminster Marshall, Dorset
A blond wood burr veneered and ebonized pedestal desk with inset leather top and diamond design inlaid ends. The design is taken from Biedermei...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary German Biedermeier Desks
Materials
Birch, Wood
Continental 19th Century Biedermeier St. Butler’s Desk/Commode
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An exceptional and unique Continental 19th century Biedermeier st. flamed Mahogany, ebonized Fruitwood, and ormolu butler's desk/commode. The eight drawer chest is raised by square f...
Category
19th Century Unknown Antique Biedermeier Desks
Materials
Ormolu
France Desk Style: Biedermeier, 1847
Located in Ciudad Autónoma Buenos Aires, C
French desk style: Biedermeier
Year 1847
It is an elegant and sophisticated dream desk.
If you are looking for desk lamp to match your desk, we have what you need.
If you have any q...
Category
1840s French Antique Biedermeier Desks
Materials
Wood
Antique French Secretary
Located in Malibu, CA
This early 19th-century drop-leaf secretaire features the traditional Biedermeier ebony accents, columns, and matched woodgrain pattern. Unlike the h...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Biedermeier Desks
Materials
Brass, Other
Intarsia Secretary
Located in New York, NY
Handcrafted, this piece has been obviously been designed and created with love. Elegant intarsia inlays adorn the outside of this case piece. Inside hides a whimsical array of storag...
Category
Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Biedermeier Desks
Materials
Birch
Antique German Mahogany Biedermeier Secretary Desk
Located in Round Top, TX
Outstanding early 19th century German Biedermeier secretary desk, circa 1830, with exceptional book matched mahogany drawer and desk front. ...
Category
Early 19th Century German Antique Biedermeier Desks
Materials
Wood
20th Century Unique Biedermeier Writing Desk, Flamed Birch
Located in Berlin, DE
20th century unique Biedermeier writing desk, flamed birch
Exceptional Biedermeier desk. With a hinged worktop. Birch veneer on solid wood....
Category
19th Century German Antique Biedermeier Desks
Materials
Birch
Biedermeir Coffee Table or Writing Desk in Walnut, Denmark
Located in Prato, Tuscany
We kindly suggest you read the whole description, because with it we try to give you detailed technical and historical information to guarantee the authenticity of our objects.
Danis...
Category
Mid-19th Century Danish Antique Biedermeier Desks
Materials
Walnut
Neoclassical Biedermeier Secretaire, Cherry Veneer, South Germany circa 1820
Located in Regensburg, DE
Very fine, neoclassical early Biedermeier Secretaire from South Germany around 1820.
Beautiful classicist design with gable cornice, well ...
Category
Early 19th Century German Antique Biedermeier Desks
Materials
Iron, Brass
Birch Biedermeier Secretaire
Located in New York, NY
Constructed of solid birch and fir and veneered with hand-cut Nordic birch veneers, the secretary features an upper locking drawer which rests upon a fitted desk area hiding behind a...
Category
19th Century Swedish Antique Biedermeier Desks
Materials
Birch, Fir
Unusual Early 19th Century Biedermeier Library Desk, German or Austrian
Located in Worpswede / Bremen, DE
A very attractive early 19th century library desk, veneered an precious satinwood, with ebonised banding, the freeze with three drawers to th...
Category
Early 19th Century German Antique Biedermeier Desks
Materials
Fruitwood, Satinwood
German Birchroot Biedermeier Abbatant With Architectural Pediment
Located in Charleston, SC
This monumental Berlin Biedermeier Secretaire is one of the finest examples with its Classical Architecture of Doric Pediments, Columns, and Dental Moldings. The main structure of the Secretaire has a majestic architectural superstructural cabinet resting on top, representing a temple. The Biedermeier Abbatant is veneered in Birchroot with a fall front writing desk...
Category
Early 19th Century German Antique Biedermeier Desks
Materials
Birch, Burl
Biedermeier secretaire, circa 1830
Located in London, GB
A Biedermeier secre´taire a` abattant of unusual tapered form, goncalo alves with ebonized, inlaid and pewter decoration, and an enclosed fitted interior, Russian/Baltic, circa 1830.
Category
1820s Baltic Antique Biedermeier Desks
Materials
Pewter
19th Century, Biedermeier Cherry Ladies Desk / Side Table
Located in Darmstadt, DE
Beautiful little Biedermeier solid cherrywood desk or side table from the time of the Biedermeier, circa 1830. In the middle there is a drawer. In very...
Category
Early 19th Century German Antique Biedermeier Desks
Materials
Cherry
Biedermeier Secretaire
Located in New York, NY
A strong, elegant piece to keep you perfectly organized! Crafted of hand-hewn fir and ash and veneered with thick hand-cut ash veneers, this chest offers storage for everything. A lo...
Category
1850s Swedish Antique Biedermeier Desks
Materials
Ash
Chest of Drawers Biedermeier from 1840
Located in Kraków, Małopolska
We present very good condition, elegant and functional Chest of Drawers Vienna (Austria), made of walnut tree from 1840.
(Biedermeier was a style in the art, literature , music a...
Category
1830s Austrian Antique Biedermeier Desks
Materials
Walnut
Charles 'X' Secretaire
Located in Sheffield, MA
Burled elm charles 'X' drop front secretary (secrétaire à abattant) with black marble top with white vains, drop door revealing a leather covered writing table...
Category
19th Century English Antique Biedermeier Desks
Materials
Marble
Austro-Hungarian Secrétaire à Abattant
Located in Woodbury, CT
Wearing a layer of Austrian walnut root veneer, this secrétaire has a unique grain that one does not often see; it swirls and undulates across the surface drawing the eye along in a ...
Category
19th Century Hungarian Antique Biedermeier Desks
Materials
Walnut, Burl
Grande Biedermeier Secrétaire
Located in New York, NY
A perfect example of the wealthy, elegant Biedermeier period, this impressive, secretary is veneered in flame mahogany and birch intarsia, with bone escutcheons, secret compartments,...
Category
1810s Scandinavian Antique Biedermeier Desks
Biedermeier Walnut Secretary
Located in Hudson, NY
Biedermeier Walnut Secretary Chest, Biedermeier walnut secretary with cabinet below. Desk has four small drawers and a letter shelf. Cab...
Category
19th Century Czech Antique Biedermeier Desks
Materials
Walnut
Austro-Hungarian Chest of Drawers in Walnut Root Veneer
Located in Woodbury, CT
The handsome lines of this chest augment its wonderful proportions with drawers flanking the center drop down writing surface. Deeper than the two below, the top drawer is supported ...
Category
19th Century Hungarian Antique Biedermeier Desks
Materials
Walnut, Pine, Burl
German Biedermeier Slant-Front Desk
Located in Hudson, NY
A very good German slant front desk with a lower case of drawers. The writing surface very nicely finished veneers with interior drawers having inlay ...
Category
19th Century German Antique Biedermeier Desks
Materials
Brass
19th Century Biedermeier style Walnut Partner Desk Library
Located in Roma, RM
Incredible and Majestic Library desk, Biedermeier style, in good condition, in need of conservation restoration. The only thing missing is a wooden railing...
Category
1880s Swedish Antique Biedermeier Desks
Materials
Walnut
Charles 'X' Secretaire
Located in Sheffield, MA
Burled elm charles 'X' drop front secretary (secrétaire à abattant) with black marble top with white vains, drop door revealing a leather covered writing table...
Category
19th Century English Antique Biedermeier Desks
Materials
Marble
Biedermeier desks for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a broad range of unique Biedermeier desks for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the 21st Century and Contemporary, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage desks created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include case pieces and storage cabinets, tables and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with wood, walnut and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Biedermeier desks made in a specific country, there are Europe, Germany, and Scandinavia pieces for sale on 1stDibs. It’s true that these talented designers have at times inspired knockoffs, but our experienced specialists have partnered with only top vetted sellers to offer authentic pieces that come with a buyer protection guarantee. Prices for desks differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $1,331 and tops out at $39,500 while the average work can sell for $10,321.
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