How do I recognise Biedermeier furniture?

Where does the real Biedermeier style come from?

The Biedermeier style spans a period of almost 20 years from 1814/15 1830-1835. This era was marked by dramatic changes. The middle class fought for its rights against the aristocracy, advocated a new form of government and successfully sought better educational opportunities. Indeed, because of this development, university lectures were no longer given in Latin but in German. In Bavaria, Berlin, Frankfurt and Cologne, the first public museums were founded and the first bookshops, lending libraries and reading circles were introduced.

Some eighty years after the original Biedermeier, the Vienna exhibition, on the occasion of the celebration of the 80th anniversary of the Congress of Vienna, 1896a phase of new appreciation of the Biedermeier. The publications of early Biedermeier scholars such as Josef Folnesics (1902), A. Schestag (1902), Ferdinand Luthmer (1904), Joseph August Lux (1906), Paul Mebes (1908) and other exhibitions in Berlin, Dresden and Munich contributed to a renewed increase in demand as well as a rejection of the founding style of the second half of the 19th century and the furniture of the turn of the century. Clear forms were now preferred in furniture design. A fashion trend was now emerging among the middle classes to furnish at least one room in the house in the Biedermeier style.

However, this Biedermeier furniture from the early 20th century is not original Biedermeier furniture. They are reproductions made eighty years later. This phase is referred to as the second Biedermeier period. Accordingly, these Furniture sold and priced today. Even if these imitations are now a hundred years old, they will only ever be imitations of the real Biedermeier and will never represent the cultural value and collector's quality of the original Biedermeier furniture that was made between 1814/15 and 1830-35 was manufactured.

Typical Biedermeier Furniture

The features

The Biedermeier furniture is mostly made from light coloured wood such as cherry, poplar and birch. Because in most cases these have a smooth surface and a fine grain. These are the most important characteristics for most Biedermeier furniture.

To identify Biedermeier furniture in a list, look for the following features:

• Simple eleganceBiedermeier furniture is characterised by its simple and elegant design.
• Fine woodsBiedermeier furniture was often made of high-quality woods such as cherry, walnut or birch.
• Symmetry: The furniture is often symmetrically designed.
• Round corners and edges: Biedermeier furniture often has rounded corners and edges, which gives it a softer look
• Functional forms: The furniture was not only aesthetically pleasing but also functionally designed

Antique tables are always the focal point in a house furnished in the Biedermeier style. It usually has an oval or round shape and is topped by an Centre support worn. Some more Biedermeier furniture is then combined with this, such as antique desks, Secretariesantique chests of drawers or even small antique display cabinets. Antique cabinets often have Three drawers set quite deep. The traditional wall design is inseparably linked to this style of furniture. Special wallpapers are a very important element in Biedermeier room decoration. They are often kept in colourful designs.

Thus, colourful elements can often be seen on them, such as different flowers. Characteristic are also the clear and above all straight lines. As additional wall decoration used to be small silhouette pictures hung.

IIs this style something for you?

The style captivates with a huge variety of shapes, designs and styles. So the furniture can be elegant, cosy, practical and also functional.

They go very well with diverse and modernly furnished flats. Accordingly, it can be stated that the furniture is very well suited for accents in the home.