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Biedermeier Office Chairs and Desk Chairs

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
19th Century Green German Antique Biedermeier Mahogany, Maplewood Armchair
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A light-brown, antique Biedermeier German single armchair made of hand crafted shellac polished Mahogany, the fiber décor is made of Maplewood in good condition. The seat backrest of...
Category

Mid-19th Century German Antique Biedermeier Office Chairs and Desk Chairs

Materials

Mahogany, Maple

Biedermeier Walnut Wood and Velvet Austrian Chair, 1820
Located in Rome, IT
Elegant single chair, of the early Austrian Biedermeier period. All veneered in walnut wood, with inlays in lighter woods. As you can see from the photos, the back legs and the back...
Category

1820s Austrian Antique Biedermeier Office Chairs and Desk Chairs

Materials

Walnut, Velvet

19th-Century Biedermeier Mahogany Armchair in Light Upholstery
Located in Opole, PL
19th-Century Biedermeier Mahogany Armchair in Light Upholstery The armrests end with decorations in the shape of bird heads. The armchair legs are straight. Furthermore, the backres...
Category

19th Century European Antique Biedermeier Office Chairs and Desk Chairs

Materials

Upholstery, Mahogany

Gentleman's Biedermeier Desk Chair
Located in New York, NY
Slightly oversized, this solid birch armchair with straight back splats and crest, was part of a "Herr Rum", a gentleman's office suite, which usually comprised a similarly designed ...
Category

19th Century Swedish Antique Biedermeier Office Chairs and Desk Chairs

Materials

Birch

Biedermeier Period 19th Century Horseshoe Back Armchair with Green Upholstery
Located in Atlanta, GA
An Austrian Biedermeier period wooden armchair from the 19th century, with unusual horseshoe back, out-curving arms, intertwined semi-circular motifs, turned and saber legs and green...
Category

19th Century Austrian Antique Biedermeier Office Chairs and Desk Chairs

Materials

Brass

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Elm Armchair from the Early 20th Century in Blue Upholstery
Located in Opole, PL
Elm Armchair from the Early 20th Century in Blue Upholstery We present you an upholstered armchair from the early 20th century. It is made of elm wood. This item is in incredibly go...
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Early 20th Century European Biedermeier Office Chairs and Desk Chairs

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French Black Leather Armchair/ Desk Chair
Located in Stamford, CT
Louis XV style walnut and black leather armchair or desk chair. Arm height is 27 inches.
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1940s French Vintage Biedermeier Office Chairs and Desk Chairs

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Italian Midcentury Side Chair after Gio Ponti with Gold and Ivory Cut Velvet
Located in Saint Louis, MO
Italian midcentury side chair after Gio Ponti with gold yellow and ivory cut velvet, circa 1950s. So many details, where to begin. The b...
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1950s Italian Vintage Biedermeier Office Chairs and Desk Chairs

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Pair of 19th Century Chinese Huanghuali Horseshoe Back Armchairs
Located in Water Mill, NY
Pair of 19th century Chinese Huanghuali horseshoe back Armchair, with very good patina. Some restoration. Contact dealer for more information.
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19th Century Chinese Antique Biedermeier Office Chairs and Desk Chairs

1950s Th. Harlev Set of Six Armchairs in Teak - Custom Upholstery
Located in Knebel, DK
Set of 6 1950s Th. Harlev armchairs made by Farstrup Møbler. The well designed chairs fit in in well almost anywhere in the house or the office no matter weather it´s as a single ch...
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1960s Danish Vintage Biedermeier Office Chairs and Desk Chairs

Materials

Teak

Fine French 1930s Desk Chair
Located in Long Island City, NY
A fine French Art Deco stained beech armchair.        
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1930s French Vintage Biedermeier Office Chairs and Desk Chairs

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Fine French 1930s Desk Chair
Fine French 1930s Desk Chair
H 32.68 in W 22.45 in D 22.45 in
Modern Brown Leather Desk Chair
Located in Westwood, NJ
A modern brown leather desk chair with brass nailhead trim. A truly timeless classic style crafted in rich brown leather. This practical and f...
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21st Century and Contemporary Asian Biedermeier Office Chairs and Desk Chairs

Materials

Leather

Modern Brown Leather Desk Chair
Modern Brown Leather Desk Chair
H 35 in W 25 in D 29 in
French Art Deco Office Chair in Walnut Wood
Located in Houston, TX
French chair made out of walnut wood. It is re-polished and re-upholstered with dark brown leather. Condition is perfect. Restored. 22"W x 19"D x 33"H, seat height is 18" Franc...
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1930s French Vintage Biedermeier Office Chairs and Desk Chairs

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Walnut

Modern Chrome & Tufted Velvet Office Chair, 1980s USA
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Extremely comfortable and chic modern chrome and tufted velvet office chair from the 1980's. 100% Polyurethane foam cushion and back. Chrome armrests, base and casters. Original 'Dau...
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1980s American Vintage Biedermeier Office Chairs and Desk Chairs

Materials

Chrome, Metal

Single Midcentury Desk Chair
Located in Brooklyn, NY
This elegantly simple desk chair features beautiful dark walnut wood and comfortable upholstery. Its simple style will blend effortlessly with any home office. It is extremely comfortable and would function just as well in any sitting room or home theatre...
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Mid-20th Century Biedermeier Office Chairs and Desk Chairs

Materials

Upholstery, Walnut

Single Midcentury Desk Chair
Single Midcentury Desk Chair
H 31.5 in W 23 in D 19.5 in
Biedermeier Side Chair, Mahogany, Ebony Inlays, Black Velvet, Austria circa 1820
Located in Regensburg, DE
Beautiful neoclassical / early Biedermeier side chairs from Vienna, Austria, circa 1820. Mahogany solid wood with ebony inlays. Hand polished with shellac (french polished. Newly uph...
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1820s German Antique Biedermeier Office Chairs and Desk Chairs

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Ebony, Mahogany

Chair Desk Swedish Mahogany Brown Sweden
Located in New York, NY
Chair desk Swedish mahogany brown Sweden. Armchair made during the early 19th century in Sweden. Frame made from dark brown mahogany. Curved back and spiral...
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Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Biedermeier Office Chairs and Desk Chairs

Materials

Wood

Chair Desk Swedish Mahogany Brown Sweden
Chair Desk Swedish Mahogany Brown Sweden
H 32 in W 21.5 in D 18.5 in
Previously Available Items
Antique Swedish Satin Birch Desk Chair / Armchair
Located in London, GB
An excellent antique Swedish Biedermeier style desk chair in satin birch, dating from around the 1900-1910 period. It is beautifully made, comfortable and supportive. This came as...
Category

Early 1900s Swedish Antique Biedermeier Office Chairs and Desk Chairs

Materials

Cotton, Birch, Satinwood

Biedermeier Armchair, Cherry Wood, Black Velvet, South Germany, circa 1830
Located in Regensburg, DE
Wonderful antique neoclassical Biedermeier armchair from South Germany about 1830. Cherry veneer and solid. Restored condition. Hand polished with shellac (French polish). Elegant ...
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1830s German Antique Biedermeier Office Chairs and Desk Chairs

Materials

Velvet, Cherry

Antique Swedish Biedermeier Birch Dining Chair, Desk Chair, Sweden 1840, B2463
Located in Vancouver, BC
Antique Swedish Biedermeier birch dining chair, desk chair, Sweden 1840, B2463 Scotland 1840 Solid Birch Original finish Arched c...
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1840s Scottish Antique Biedermeier Office Chairs and Desk Chairs

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Birch

Russian Biedermeier Style Mahogany Armchair with Gilded Swan Back Detail
Located in San Francisco, CA
A very comfortable and lovely armchair. Highly figured mahogany, finely carved swan detail in back, water gilded. Black seat upholstery.
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Late 19th Century Baltic Antique Biedermeier Office Chairs and Desk Chairs

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Mahogany, Giltwood

Continental 19th Century Biedermeier Cherry Armchair with Carved Lyre Back
Located in Wells, ME
Continental Biedermeier cherry armchair with carved lyre back, sweeping arms leading to ebonized delicate collar and on to tapered legs; over upholstered seat in black cotton, 19th c...
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Late 19th Century European Antique Biedermeier Office Chairs and Desk Chairs

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Cherry

Swedish Birch Accent Biedermeier Armchair with Black and White Fabric circa 1890
Located in New York, NY
Single 19th century Swedish Biedermeier armchair constructed of birch wood and newly upholstered in Schumacher "Queen of Spain" black and white fabric. Rounded back with rolled arms ...
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Late 19th Century Swedish Antique Biedermeier Office Chairs and Desk Chairs

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Birch

Biedermeier Desk Chair, circa 1820
Located in Greding, DE
Biedermeier desk chair out of mahogany with a broad backrest. The seat was upholstered with a grey velvet fabric.
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1820s European Antique Biedermeier Office Chairs and Desk Chairs

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Mahogany

Biedermeier Desk Chair, circa 1820
Biedermeier Desk Chair, circa 1820
H 34.26 in W 23.23 in L 34.26 in
Biedermeier Desk Chair, circa 1830
Located in Greding, DE
Swivel desk chair on an ebonized frame with round seat. The backrest shows turned stretchers. The seat was reupholstered with a white Bouclé-fabric.
Category

1830s European Antique Biedermeier Office Chairs and Desk Chairs

Materials

Fabric, Bouclé

Biedermeier Desk Chair, circa 1830
Biedermeier Desk Chair, circa 1830
H 32.29 in W 24.02 in D 22.84 in
Biedermeier Tub Chair in Fruitwood, circa 1830
Located in Atlanta, GA
The Biedermeier chair in checkered upholstery with tub back, ebonized painted detail to arms and tapered legs.  
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19th Century German Antique Biedermeier Office Chairs and Desk Chairs

Materials

Fruitwood

19th Century Biedermeier Armchair with Black Horsehair-Upholstered Seat
Located in Miami, FL
A very handsome Biedermeier armchair in mahogany with concave-shaped crest rail, carved back-splat, swan-neck arms & "C" arm supports. Slip seat is newly upholstered in black horsehair...
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1820s Danish Antique Biedermeier Office Chairs and Desk Chairs

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Upholstery, Mahogany

19th Century Biedermeier Armchair with Black Horsehair-Upholstered Seat
Located in Miami, FL
A very beautiful Scandinavian Biedermeier armchair in mahogany with carved back-splat, swan-neck arms and carved "S" arm supports. Seat that is newly upholstered in black horsehair...
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1820s Danish Antique Biedermeier Office Chairs and Desk Chairs

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Upholstery, Mahogany

Swedish Biedermeier Desk or Dressing Table Chair in Birch, circa 1820
Located in Miami, FL
A beautifully proportioned Karl Johan/Biedermeier chair with rounded gondola back and tapered saber legs in a light birch with newly upholstered seat, interior and exterior back in a...
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Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Biedermeier Office Chairs and Desk Chairs

Materials

Birch

Biedermeier office chairs and desk chairs for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique Biedermeier office chairs and desk chairs for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the 19th Century, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage office chairs and desk chairs created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include seating and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with wood, fabric and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Biedermeier office chairs and desk chairs made in a specific country, there are Europe, Austria, and Germany pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original office chairs and desk chairs, popular names associated with this style include and Biedermeier. 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 office chairs and desk chairs differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $1,186 and tops out at $13,900 while the average work can sell for $1,669.

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