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.
Early 19th Century Flip-Top Game Table with Inlaid Chessboard
Located in Stahnsdorf, DE
Early 19th Century Flip-Top Game Table with Inlaid Chessboard Refined early 19th-century game table, designed for chess and card games, exemplifying the understated elegance and fin...
Cherry, Maple, Walnut
$3,212Sale Price|20% Off
German Biedermeier Walnut and Maple Marquetry Chess Table, circa 1830
Located in Darmstadt, DE
Elegant German Biedermeier chess table made around 1830. The table is crafted in walnut veneer with a beautifully inlaid marquetry chessboard made of walnut and maple. The craftsmans...
Walnut, Maple, Spruce
19th Century Biedermeier Marquetry Chess Table
Located in Darmstadt, DE
An elegant Biedermeier chess table from circa 1830, featuring a finely inlaid marquetry top with a central chessboard surrounded by intricate geometric and ornamental patterns. The o...
Ash, Birch, Walnut, Pine
Rectangular Biedermeyer Game Chess Side End Table with Drawer
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Classic game table featuring a built-in chessboard of in-laid fruitwood on the surface. The wood table features a single drawer with a handle to store chess pieces. The table was des...
Wood, Fruitwood
19th Century Biedermeier Marquetry Chess Table
Located in Darmstadt, DE
This elegant octagonal game table dates back to around 1830 and impresses with its intricate marquetry work and timeless craftsmanship. The tabletop features a detailed chessboard ma...
Walnut, Pine, Ash, Birch
Early 19th Century Game Table, South German, 1810-20
Located in Belmont, MA
This unique game table dates back to the early phase of the Biedermeier period. It comes from Southern Germany. The game table has a beautiful walnut root veneer on top and apron. ...
Walnut
Round Italian Gueridon Table on Fluted Tapered Legs Pull Out Trays Two Drawers
Located in Rockaway, NJ
Round Italian Gueridon Table on Fluted Tapered Legs Pull Out Trays Two Drawers MINT
Brass
19th Century Swedish Card Table Mahogany Wood
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Beautiful Swedish Card Table in Mahogany Wood, 19th Century. This card flip top game table has strong brass hardware.
Mahogany
$2,337Sale Price|20% Off
19th Century, Ash Wood Late Biedermeier Game Table
Located in Darmstadt, DE
Petite small game or console table made of ash wood. The table dates from the Late Biedermeier period around 1850. The top of the table can be rotated by 90° and thereby unfolded. So...
Ash
$25,200Sale Price|28% Off
Fine & Rare 19th Century Mahogany Marquetry Biedermeier Style Center Hall Table
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A very fine and rare Biedermeier style 19th century mahogany marquetry center hall table, the circular top with conforming frieze above a tulip shaped shaft, raised on spheres above ...
Fruitwood, Mahogany
Austrian Biedermeier Period 19th Century Walnut Guéridon with Four Drawers
Located in Atlanta, GA
An Austrian Biedermeier period walnut guéridon table from the 19th century with radiating veneer and banding. Created in Austria during the Biedermeier period, this walnut guéridon f...
Walnut
Austrian 19th Century Biedermeier Walnut Game Flip Top Table
Located in Berlin, DE
Austrian/Vienna 1st half of 19th century Biedermeier walnut game flip flop top table, ca. 1840: A Biedermeier extending game table made of wal...
Felt, Glass, Walnut
Game Table, Late Biedermeier, Germany, circa 1840
Located in Greding, DE
Late Biedermeier gaming table raised on four cabriole legs with a baluster, fluted shaft. The square top opens to a circular playing surface, inset with black leather. Dimensions whe...
Wood, Mahogany
France Table Style, Biedermeier, 1847
Located in Ciudad Autónoma Buenos Aires, C
French Desk style: Biedermeier Year 1847 If you have any questions we are at your disposal. Pushing the button that reads 'View All From Seller'. And you can see more objects to the ...
Wood
Custom Chess Set and Game Table
By Bridges over Time Originals
Located in Palm Springs, CA
A custom made walnut and maple chess set and game table we commissioned. It is solidly made with squares of curly maple and walnut. The table legs and borders are solid walnut. The c...
Birdseye Maple, Oak, Walnut
$3,120Sale Price|20% Off
H 23.63 in W 17.33 in D 16.34 in
Biedermeier Sewing Table, South Germany, 1830
Located in Belmont, MA
This unique Biedermeier sewing table comes from Southern Germany and dates back to 1830. The table stands on a central foot and has one drawer...
Walnut
$4,450
H 29.25 in W 23.5 in D 23.5 in
Italian 19th Century Walnut, Mahogany and Ash Game Side Table with Marquetry Top
Located in Atlanta, GA
An Italian walnut, mahogany and ash game side table from the 19th century with marquetry top, turned pedestal and carved tripod base. This exquisite Italian game side table from the ...
Ash, Mahogany, Walnut
$1,620
H 15.5 in W 32.88 in D 21.5 in
Mid Century Kidney Chess and Mills Nine Men's Morris Side Game Table Italy 1950s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Offered is an absolutely stunning, 1950s - 1960s Italian kidney era side table. Minor patina and paint lost at the edges gives this piece a classy statement. Measurements: about 15.5...
Wood
$1,294
H 28.35 in W 19.3 in D 19.3 in
Neoclassical Italian Biedermeier Walnut Inlay Tripod Chess Games or Side Table
Located in Carimate, Como
A beautiful Italian walnut side table with great details and frames shaped in Victorian, Napoleon III, Louis XV style with chessboard on the top and the tripod feet legs. A very eleg...
Wood
$3,950
H 30 in W 38.5 in D 19.5 in
Unusual Inlaid Game Table w/ Backgammon, Chess, Card and Pullout Seat
Located in Ft. Lauderdale, FL
Unusual Inlaid Syrian Style Game Table w/ Backgammon, Chess, Card and Pullout Seat 20th C. Used, Good condition, See All Photos For Details Dimensions: 19 1/2 Inches Depth x 38 1/2...
Wood
English Mahogany Marquetry Drop Leaf Side Table
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Petite, English Regency, drop-leaf, mahogany side table with symmetrical marquetry, boxwood inlay work and beautifully curved saber legs. The table extends from 7.5 - 26 inches deep ...
Boxwood, Mahogany
$1,850
H 28.35 in W 23.63 in D 18.71 in
Victorian 1880 Walnut & Hardwood Marquetry Inlaid Chess Games Table Ornate Legs
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
We are delighted to offer for sale this lovely small Victorian 1880 walnut & mahogany marquetry inlaid Chess games table A very good looking well ...
Hardwood, Walnut
$3,427
H 30.52 in W 22.05 in D 22.05 in
Stunning Antique Victorian 1860 Black Lacquer Mother of Pearl Chess Games Table
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
We are delighted to offer for sale this original Victorian circa 1860-1880 Mother of Pearl black lacquered with ornate gold leaf floral h...
Hardwood
Neoclassical Italian Walnut Inlay Tripod Chess Games or Side Table
Located in Carimate, Como
A beautiful Italian round walnut side table with great details and frames shaped in Victorian, Napoleon III, Louis XV style with chessboard on the top and the tripod feet legs. A ver...
Wood
Antique 19th Century English Victorian Era Walnut Chess Table, Circa 1885
Located in New Orleans, LA
Antique 19th century English Victorian era walnut chess table, circa 1885.
Walnut
Custom Walnut Game Table with Ebony Backgammon and Chess Table
Located in New York, NY
Custom walnut and mahogany backgammon table that converts to chess with a slide out board. New production. Made to order in walnut and mahogany. Designed and made in NYC, each tab...
Walnut
3 piece 20th century burr birch games table and armchairs
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
3 piece 20th century burr birch games table and armchairs circa 1980. Good quality games table and chairs, set comprises of 2 armchairs and a games table. Table with inlaid chess b...
Birch
Sold
H 31.89 in W 35.44 in D 17.92 in
Biedermeier Walnut Veneered Flip-Top Game Table on Pedestal Base, circa 1850
Located in Ulm, DE
This Biedermeier flip-top game table from circa 1850 showcases the refined elegance of early 19th-century Central European design. Crafted from softwood with a rich walnut veneer, th...
Leather, Nutwood
19th Century Biedermeier Marquetry Chess Table, Germany
Located in Darmstadt, DE
This exquisite 19th-century Biedermeier chess table is a true testament to masterful marquetry craftsmanship. Made in Germany around 1835, it features an intricately inlaid chessboar...
Walnut, Pine, Ash, Birch
Biedermeier Game Table in Walnut, early 19th Century
Located in Greding, DE
An elegant Biedermeier game table crafted from walnut in the early 19th century. The table stands on tall, gracefully curved saber legs and features a simple, straight apron. The fol...
Walnut
3 piece 20th century burr birch games table and armchairs
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
3 piece 20th century burr birch games table and armchairs circa 1980. Good quality games table and chairs, set comprises of 2 armchairs and a games table. Table with inlaid chess b...
Birch
19th century Swedish burr birch tea table
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
19th century Swedish burr birch tea table circa 1880. Beautiful quality burr birch occasional table, made to showcase the stunning grain on all surfaces. D end shaped top, which ro...
Birch
Cherrywood Game Table with green Felt Cover, early 19th Century
Located in Greding, DE
A game table on tall, square legs with brass sabots and straight frames. The triple-folded table top is veneered on one side and covered with green felt on the other. Rotating the ta...
Cherry
19th Century Biedermeier Marquetry Chess Table, Germany
Located in Darmstadt, DE
The chess table stands on a central baluster column, which in turn rests on three cantilevers on the floor. The table top with a decorated chessboard is a very beautiful marquetry wo...
Pine, Fruitwood, Walnut
Biedermeier Game Table in Birch, Baltic States, early 19th Century
Located in New York, NY
This exquisite game table features three curved legs with intermediate bracing and a deep straight apron adorned with indicated dentil strip. It boasts six drawers and a radially ven...
Birch
19th Century Biedermeier Game Table with Ebonized Pedestal Legs
Located in New York, NY
Wooden game table with 40-inch circular table top and black pedestal legs. Working drawers accented with gold hardware. Ebony tripod legs with curving feet.
Ebony
Biedermeier Game Table in Birch, Baltic States, Early 19th Century
Located in Greding, DE
Large game table on three curved legs with intermediate bracing and deep straight frame with indicated tooth-cut decoration, six drawers and radially veneered round table top. The li...
Birch
Biedermeier Chess Table, Germany 1820-1830
Located in Belmont, MA
This unique Biedermeier chess table comes from Southern Germany and dates back to around 1820-30. The round table has a central column and a pretty walnut veneer. The top is decorated with an inlaid chess board...
Maple, Walnut