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.
$2,633Sale Price|23% Off
Antique 19th-Century Biedermeier Cherry Salon Table
Located in Darmstadt, DE
This beautiful salon table before us is a true masterpiece. It hails from the Biedermeier period around 1830 in Germany and is crafted from solid cherry wood. This type of wood is no...
Spruce, Cherry
Biedermeier Birch Sofa Table
Located in Laguna Beach, CA
Biederemier birch drop leaf sofa table, circa 1835. With a rectangular birch top with two drop leaves, a drawer in the frieze, an ebonized pedestal and four down swept feet. The birc...
Birch, Pine, Lacquer
Biedermeier Italian Walnut Inlay Marquetry Octagonal Tripod Sofa or Side Table
Located in Carimate, Como
A beautiful Italian Walnut octagonal side table with great details and frames shaped in Biedermeier style with beautiful inlay decors in classic figures on the top and all around the...
Wood
Antique Biedermeier Swedish Birch Ormolu Mounted Sofa Table 19th Century
Located in London, GB
This is a stylish antique Swedish birch Biedermeier sofa table with ebonized detail, circa 1820 in date. The table features a rectangular top w...
Ormolu
19th Century Small Oval Biedermeier Side Table. Vienna, c. 1830.
Located in Vienna, AT
We are proud to present a small oval Viennese Biedermeier side table, crafted in Vienna around 1830, representing the refined aesthetic and superb craftsmanship of the early 19th cen...
Walnut
19th Century burr birch biedermeier sofa table
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
Superb quality biedermeier period sofa table circa 1825. Beautifully made from burr birch, giving it strong grains and colour. Drop down flaps provide a overall length of just over...
Birch
19th Century Continental Biedermeier Period Figured Maple Table
Located in Forney, TX
A scarce elegant and most distinctive Biedermeier Period (1815-1848) highly figured maple table. Hand-made in Continental Europe in the early/mid-19th...
Birdseye Maple, Maple, Burl
Biedermeier Italian Walnut Inlay Marquetry Octagonal Tripod Sofa or Side Table
Located in Carimate, Como
A beautiful Italian Walnut octagonal side table with great details and frames shaped in Victorian, Napoleon III, Louis XV style with beautiful inlay decors in classic figures on the ...
Wood
$6,900
H 19.69 in W 16.54 in D 13.78 in
contemporary Side Table in Italian Calacatta viola marble, Atlas side table
Located in 中西區, HK
This futuristic sculptural work takes its name after the young titan of the Greek mythology Fated to sustain the pillars that separated the Earth from Heaven. Design: Adolfo Abejon ...
Marble
19th Century French Mahogany Tripod Round Small Side Table
Located in Sofia, BG
Fine mahogany side table with round top resting on tripod hand carved leg. Very good condition with no restorations. France, circa 1860.
Mahogany
$1,200
H 12.64 in W 28.15 in D 37.29 in
Japanese antique wooden sofa table/Late 19th century/Wabi-sabi low table
Located in Sammu-shi, Chiba
This is a board and a wooden box that were used in Japan from the Meiji period to the early Showa period. These two can be combined to make a low table. The tabletop is made of eithe...
Cedar
French Coffee table early 19th century
Located in MILL, NL
Large-sized country coffee table. Original from France, early 19th century. In good condition. Beautiful colour and patina. With drawer at front. Dimensions: 122L x 102W x 49H
Wood
Italian Walnut Marquetry Inlay Side Table, 18th Century
Located in San Francisco, CA
A small two-drawer walnut side table with exceptional marquetry inlaid design, and having wonderful presence and style. Recently refinished and conditioned. In remarkable antique con...
Walnut
$3,592Sale Price / item|15% Off
H 21.66 in Dm 14.97 in
Contemporary Nicole Side Table in Walnut and Brass
By Stuart Scott
Located in Trowbridge, Wiltshire
Turned by hand and using both solid and veneered timber, the Nicole Side Table has a simple but graphically striking Silhouette punctuated by the met...
Walnut
$1,610
H 17 in W 23.75 in D 21.5 in
19th Century Handcrafted Chinese Elm Wood Side Table – Solid Rustic Design
Located in IT
This 19th-century handcrafted elm wood side table from China is a beautifully rustic piece with timeless appeal. The table features a solid, single piece of elm wood for the top, sho...
Elm
19th Century Biedermeier Side Table or Small Commode
Located in Houston, TX
19th century Biedermeier commode made out of cherrywood with ebonised details. Key included.
Cherry
$4,634Sale Price|20% Off
H 30.52 in W 64.18 in D 43.71 in
19th Century Biedermeier Oval Dining Table in Solid Cherrywood, circa 1830
Located in Darmstadt, DE
Elegant oval dining table from the late Biedermeier period, made in southern Germany around 1830. The table features a finely grained solid cherrywood top with a warm, honey-colored ...
Cherry
$8,000
H 28 in W 57 in D 24.25 in
English Mahogany & Kingswood Satinwood Inlaid Ebonized Library Table. C. 1800
Located in Charleston, SC
English mahogany and cross banded kings wood two drawer library table with satin wood string inlays, original brass pulls, turned bulbous ringed ebonized cross stretcher, and restin...
Brass
$3,319Sale Price|30% Off
H 29.93 in W 40.95 in D 27.56 in
Swedish Biedermeier Pedestal Table Golden Birch 104cm lions feet 1800s
Located in Lewes, England
Antique Swedish Biedermeier round table in stunning tiger stripe and quilted golden birch veneers and four elegant curved lions feet. The pedestal column in particular features an ...
Birch
$9,850
H 28.75 in W 40.5 in D 24.5 in
Antique English Regency Sofa/ Writing Table in Mahogany with Ormolu & Drawers
Located in INTERLAKEN, NY
A fine English Regency sofa table on trestle base with drop leaves, in mahogany with line inlays banding the top & drawer fronts. Offers two drawers, original brass ormolu & cast brass, lions paw feet...
Brass, Ormolu
19th century burr birch Biedermeier sofa table
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
Superb quality Biedermeier period sofa table circa 1825. Beautifully made from burr birch, giving it strong grains and colour. Drop down flaps provide a overall length of just over...
Birch
19th century burr birch Biedermeier sofa table
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
Superb quality biedermeier period sofa table circa 1825. Beautifully made from burr birch, giving it strong grains and colour. Drop down flaps provide a overall length of just over...
Birch
Antique Biedermeier Table, c. 1840-1850
Located in Ross, CA
Antique Biedermeier sofa table which can also be used as a desk or occasional table. The table is made of cherry wood veneer over a pine base, it has curving supports connected by a...
Wood
Art Nouveau Rectangular CherryWood Austrian Sofa Table, 1900
Located in Roma, Lazio
Art Nouveau sofa table, from the rich and elaborate forms. Completely veneered in cherrywood, with the top that has a darker wood inlay along the perimeter of the rectangular top, its edge ends up as a sharp corner. Even the sofa table band...
Cherry
Pair of Period Biedermeier Occasional 'Side' Tables
Located in Dallas, TX
A handsome pair of period biedermeier occasional (side) tables. With a shelf just under the top. A small leather upholstered drink top can be pulled out with small steel knobs. Toole...
Birdseye Maple
Sold
H 29.75 in W 25 in D 48.75 in
Golden Birch Biedermeier Drop-Leaf Pedestal Swedish Writing or Sofa Table
By Karl Johan
Located in Chattanooga, TN
The possibilities are endless for this Swedish made Bierdermeier drop-leaf table. Perfect for a writing desk, dry bar, center table, sofa table, entryway table, console table, or tea table just to name a few. The honey colored birch is almost iridescent and shimmers with tiger-striped tones that mimic the look of olive burl wood. Hand-carved wood claw feet flow into a polished, round pedestal base that supports the drop-leaf table. Mirror finished on both sides, a large pull...
Birch
19th Century burr birch Biedermeier sofa table
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
Superb quality Biedermeier period sofa table circa 1825. Beautifully made from burr birch, giving it strong grains and colour. Drop down flaps provide a o...
Birch
Early 19th C. Biedermeier Sofa Table/Desk With Lyre-Form Trestle Base
Located in Morristown, NJ
Early 19th c., Biedermeier cherrywood and banded rectangular desk/sofa table. The top is above a single drawer with center brass crest key escutcheon on lyre-form trestle base joined...
Wood
Biedermeier Folding Table, Northern Europe, circa 1860
Located in Chorzów, PL
Biedermeier clapper table, Northern Europe, circa 1860. Very good condition. After renovation Dimensions: height 73 cm, length 83 cm / unfolded 135 cm 68 cm.
Walnut
Antique Swedish Satin Birch Biedermeier Sofa Table
Located in London, GB
A stunning antique Swedish drop leaf sofa table in satin birch, dating from around the 1880-1900 period. The quality is outstanding, this is beautifully designed and is a fantasti...
Birch
19th Century Burr Birch Biedermeier Sofa Table
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
Superb quality Biedermeier period sofa table circa 1825. Beautifully made from burr birch, giving it strong grains and colour. Drop down flaps provide a overall length of just ove...
Birch
Antique Mahogany Round Tilt-Top Table
Located in Den Haag, NL
Antieke Ronde Bijzettafel Beautiful aged mahogany side table in perfect and original condition. It is a tilt-top table. This means that the top can be folded up. Originally this w...
Mahogany