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.
$2,747Sale Price|48% Off
Biedermeier Walnut Pillar Etagere, Polished Finish, Circa 1820
Located in Darmstadt, DE
Very nice little pillar etagere from the time of Biedermeier, circa 1820. The etagere is walnut veneered on pine wood. The columns are made of solid walnut. There is a drawer in the ...
Walnut
Free Standing Biedermeier Book Shelf
Located in New York, NY
A fine free standing Biedermeier shelf. Cherrywood with carved details.
Cherry
Biedermeier Corner Cabinet, Cherry Veneer, Ebony, South Germany circa 1820
Located in Regensburg, DE
Beautiful antique Biedermeier Corner Cabinet in cherry veneer from South Germany around 1820. Cherry veneered on softwood. Partly e...
Iron, Brass, Metal
$1,673Sale Price|50% Off
Restored Biedermeier Étagère, by Thonet, Beech, Walnut, Austria, Vienna, 1910s
By Thonet
Located in Brandys nad Labem, Středočeský kraj
Made by influential Austrian furniture manufacturer Thonet. It has been re-polished with polyutherane piano lacquer by our professional refurbishing team in Czechia according to the...
Wood, Lacquer, Beech, Walnut
Secretaire Writing Cabinet in Antique Biedermeier Style Mahogany veneer
Located in Berlin, DE
High quality rosewood veneer on solid conifers. Conical body on profile frames. Base in the front, between four drawers, straight flap with shield-shaped filling. Behind it is a richly divided compartmental division of a bent temple-shaped central compartment with mirrored full columns, flanked by star-starved drawers. Over cantilevered profile cornice flat gypsum, stepped with oval cover plate. Front. All drawers and backboard made of solid wood. So-called pyramid furniture...
Mahogany
Chiffonier and Commode in Antique Biedermeier Style, Exotic Veneer
Located in Berlin, DE
Exotic Indian Palisander on solid Wood. Architecturally arranged front. Highly rectangular body on log feet, with seven drawers of different sizes. The base drawer is curved, flanked...
Wood
19th Century Original antique Biedermeier Chest of Drawers Cherry Wood
Located in Berlin, DE
Cherry. High-rectangular, one-body on four feet. Overhead cover plate, including drawer. Originates from a Berlin estate. Excellent warm patina aged over decades. Age-related use t...
Cherry
Antique Biedermeier Secretary shelve circa 1810 Cuba Mahogany veneer
Located in Berlin, DE
High-quality Cuba mahogany on solid oak . Rectangular body on pointed legs. Provided with three drawers . Straight writing tablet, behind it architectur...
Mahogany
20th Century Pyramids Chiffioniere Commode in the Biedermeier Style Beech Root
Located in Berlin, DE
High quality beech root veneer on solid conifers. Conical body on profiled frame base. Over cantilevered profile cornice flat gypsum, stepped with oval gallery. So-called pyramid furniture...
Beech
20th Century Biedermeier Style Etagere Shelves
Located in Berlin, DE
20th Century Biedermeier Style Etagere Shelves Venner on solid pinewood. Partially gilded. (O-Sam-71)
Wood, Pine
Conical Commode Chest of Drawers / shelve in the antique Biedermeier Style
Located in Berlin, DE
Mahogany on solid conifers. Conical body on profiled frame base. In the front, three casted drawers. About cantilevered profile cornice flat gypsum, stepped with oval cover plate. Solder head fittings with gripping rings. So-called pyramid furniture...
Mahogany
Pyramid Cabinet shelve in antique Biedermeier Style Mahogany veneer
Located in Berlin, DE
Fine pyramid cabinet in Biedermeier style. High quality mahogany veneer on solid softwood. Conical body on profiled frame base. In the front, large ce...
Mahogany
Elegant Commode with Mirror antique Biedermeier Style with Inlays Mahogany
Located in Berlin, DE
Mirror-veneered Mahogany, partially ebonized. On saber-shaped feet, straight trianus body stylized arrows inlaid with flower tendrils and a large flower in the middle of framed half-...
Mahogany
$3,524Sale Price|24% Off
H 32.49 in W 34.45 in D 17.92 in
Small Biedermeier Walnut Half Cabinet with Drawer, South Germany circa 1830
Located in Darmstadt, DE
Elegant small Biedermeier half cabinet from Southern Germany, circa 1830. The charming piece is veneered in richly grained walnut on a solid spruce body, displaying the warm tones an...
Walnut, Spruce
$7,326Sale Price|20% Off
H 67.13 in W 42.13 in D 22.64 in
Biedermeier Antique Secretary Circa 1840 Veneered With Mahogany
Located in Opole, PL
Biedermeier Antique Secretary Circa 1840 Veneered With Mahogany Furniture in the Biedermeier style, made of soft wood veneered with mahogany, dated around 1840. The monumental shape...
Mahogany
$7,529 / item
H 48.82 in Dm 15.75 in
Mini MYDNA 4 Tier, Standing Shelf, Shelving Unit in Red by Joel Escalona
Located in Ciudad de México, CDMX
MYDNA is a chic and contemporary storage system inspired by the DNA concept: both by its sophisticated double helix shape, and by the metaphorical statement that everything you place...
Plywood
Three Drawer Biedermeier Style Commode
Located in Bridgeport, CT
A well made Biedermeier style three drawer Commode in traditional Honey Tone wood veneer with Wreath pulls and escutcheons (Lacking a key) and tapered legs. Useful for any number of ...
Brass
$4,461
H 29.93 in W 40.16 in D 19.3 in
Biedermeier Chest of Drawers in Walnut Veneer, Germany, 19th Century
Located in Wrocław, Poland
A beautifully proportioned 19th-century German walnut chest of drawers, professionally restored. Hand-finished with the traditional French polish (shellac) technique, it features a w...
Walnut
20th Century Vienna Biedermeier Style Lyre Secretaire
Located in Berlin, DE
Highly valuable bird’s-eye maple root veneer on solid pinewood. Framed with maple root inlays. Two base-drawers, above an oval corpus with two half-round drawers, between a down-folding writing-plate. This so called Lyre Secretaire...
Bronze
Contemporary Walnut and Lacquer Étagère / Book Shelf By Alex P White
Located in Los Angeles, CA
The bleached walnut and lacquer étagère is substantial enough to be a freestanding room divider for your favorite collection or try it on a f...
Walnut, Lacquer
$4,400
H 82 in W 44 in D 15 in
Tall Narrow Brass Finish Adjustable Glass Shelves Unit Bookcase Storage Etagere
By Mastercraft
Located in Rockaway, NJ
Mid-Century Modern lighted brass finish display cabinet vitrine shelving unit.
Metal
French Art Deco Walnut Étagère with Ebonized Edge, Circa 1930s
Located in Queens, NY
French Art Deco walnut small étagère (tier table) with ebonized edge and asymmetrical shelves. Shows its age and some wear.
Walnut
Theodore Alexander 3-Tier Etagere Walnut and Cane Shelving Unit
Located in Toledo, OH
Large 3-tier walnut etagere open shelving unit by Theodore Alexander. The piece features cane shelves with glass on top, turned spindle legs, 4 dovetailed drawers with burlwood inte...
Cane, Glass, Walnut
$5,169Sale Price|26% Off
H 35.04 in W 35.04 in D 18.12 in
Biedermeier Half Cabinet, Cherrywood, Neoclassical Design, Circa 1820
Located in Darmstadt, DE
This Biedermeier half cabinet dates from around 1820 and is made of solid cherrywood. The piece follows a restrained neoclassical design with clear lines, balanced proportions and an...
Spruce, Cherry
$56,800
H 64.5 in W 41.75 in D 20.25 in
Antique German Biedermeier Secretaire, Cherrywood & Burlwood, 1820
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A 19th Century, antique German Biedermeier tall secretaire with a writing flap made of hand crafted shellac polished, partly veneered Cherrywood and Burlwood, in good condition. The ...
Metal, Brass
Sold
H 81.11 in W 44.49 in D 26.78 in
19th Century antique Biedermeier Corner Cupboard Cuba Mahogany Veneer
Located in Berlin, DE
Cuba mahogany on pinewood. Straight casted two-door body on profile-framed base. Slightly protruding top plate. Recessed, one-Lane grille-glazed top, flanked by adjusted columns with fine ornament-carved base and capitals. Stepped profile gable with cantilevered so-called Schinkeldach. Internal shelving. The corner cabinet is in an unrestored condition with a warm patina grown over decades. This corner display case...
Mahogany
Pair of Walnut Étagères, Northern Italy, circa 1840
Located in Greding, DE
A pair of walnut-veneered étagères with three shelves and a drawer in the smoothly designed base section. The slightly tapered columns are accented with decorative rings. The top pan...
Walnut
Restored Biedermeier Étagère, Beech, Brass Wheels, France, 1880s
Located in Brandys nad Labem, Středočeský kraj
This étagère originates from France and dates back to the late 19th century, the period of historicism. It is made from solid beech wood and features brass casters. The étagère has ...
Brass
Sold
H 57.49 in W 33.47 in D 14.18 in
Biedermeier Etagère with hinged Lid, Walnut, Germany, polished, around 1820
Located in Greding, DE
Biedermeier bookshelf with three shelves and a lockable hinged compartment. The étagère is veneered with walnut and stands on slightly curved feet.
Walnut
Antique Swedish Satin Birch Open Bookcase
Located in London, GB
A gorgeous antique open bookcase in satin birch. This was made in Sweden, it dates from around the 1880-1900 period. The quality is amazing, this is a very practical and useful size...
Birch
Antique Swedish Satin Birch Open Bookcase
Located in London, GB
A gorgeous antique open bookcase in satin birch. This was made in Sweden, it dates from around the 1880-1900 period. The quality is amazing, this is a very practical and useful si...
Birch
Sold
H 26.97 in W 26.58 in L 26.97 in
Rare Antique Swedish Biedermeier Birch Round Revolving Library Study Bookcase
By Biedermeier
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
We are delighted to offer for sale this very nice vintage Swedish Biedermeier satin Birch revolving Library bookcase A very rare find, these revol...
Birch
German Biedermeier Shelf Cabinet made of Ash Wood, 19th Century
Located in Dusseldorf, DE
Antique German Biedermeier bookcase made of ashwood. The cabinet consists of a top part with 3 racking shelves, and a closed base with 2 do...
Wood, Ash
Sold
H 12 in W 14.5 in D 7.4 in
Late 19th Century Hand-Carved Solid Mahogany Victorian Era Wall Consol / Bracket
Located in Lisse, NL
Striking little mahogany wall bracket. The elegant shape, the wonderful patina and the practicality is what makes this rare and solid mahogany wall bracket both attractive and usefu...
Mahogany
Biedermeier Etagere, Walnut Veneer, Vienna, Austria circa 1830
Located in Regensburg, DE
Very rare, original open Biedermeier Etagere / Shelf / Cupboard from Vienna, Austria around 1830. Excellently restored and hand-polished with she...
Walnut
Library Cabinet, Northern Germany, 1820s
Located in Greding, DE
Shallow library cabinet with three doors and old three-quarter glazing. The streamlined body is veneered with Mahogany, has a slightly accentuated base and a protruding cornice. The ...
Glass, Mahogany, Maple
Karl Johan Biedermeier Revival Open Bookcase Shelves
Located in Atlanta, GA
Handsome Biedermeier revival bookcase with adjustable shelves. Finely crafted and restored by our in house craftsmen. Solid and sturdy. Perfect dimensions for a small space or a gall...
Birch, Elm