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
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
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
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
Biedermeier Secretaire, Cherry Veneer, Ebonized, Brass, South Germany circa 1820
Located in Regensburg, DE
Straightened early Biedermeier Secretaire or Drop-Front Secretary / Writing Desk in Cherry Veneer from South Germany around 1820.
Neoclas...
Category
Early 19th Century German Antique Biedermeier Desks
Materials
Brass, Iron
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
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
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
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
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
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 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
Antique Biedermeier Style Desk
Located in Stahnsdorf, DE
Antique Biedermeier Style Desk – A Timeless Masterpiece
Enhance your interior with this exquisite antique desk, crafted in the Empire and Biedermeier style and dating back to the ye...
Category
20th Century German Biedermeier Desks
Materials
Birch
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
Rare Austrian Biedermeier Walnut Writing Desk, c. 1820
Located in Southampton, NY
Rare Austrian Biedermeier Walnut Writing Desk, c. 1820
A Rare Austrian Biedermeier Writing Desk, chest of drawers, walnut root head venee...
Category
Early 19th Century Austrian Antique Biedermeier Desks
Materials
Maple, Walnut
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
Dutch Rococo Bombe Marquetry Inlaid Drop Front Desk / Secretary
Located in Queens, 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
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
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
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
Early 19th century Biedermeier ebonised birch escritoire
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
Early 19th century biedermeier ebonised birch escritoire circa 1820.
We are pleased to offer this stunning austrian biedermeier period escritoire, offered in original condition.
Ma...
Category
Early 19th Century Austrian Antique Biedermeier Desks
Materials
Ormolu
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 Fine 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
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
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
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
Antique French Restoration Period Leather Top Burled Elm Desk
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Impressive 19th Century French desk handcrafted in elm wood featuring tooled black leather tops, two glove boxes with brass galleries over an arched case with seven drawers, brass ha...
Category
19th Century French Antique Biedermeier Desks
Materials
Elm
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
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
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
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.