Biedermeier
Biedermeier furniture — produced in German-speaking Europe and Scandinavia from roughly 1815 to 1848 — is the middle-class counterpart to the grand Empire style: clean geometric forms, fruitwood veneers in cherry, maple, and ash, ebonized accents, and a restraint that gives the style a strikingly modern quality. Genuine period Biedermeier is actively collected worldwide. Austin Auction Gallery sells and appraises Biedermeier furniture.
What it's Worth
Simple Biedermeier side chairs and occasional tables typically bring $500–$2,000 per piece. Quality case pieces — secretaries, commodes, sewing tables — in original condition with good veneer bring $2,000–$8,000. Exceptional Viennese examples with documented provenance or unusual form reach $10,000–$30,000+. Scandinavian Biedermeier generally brings somewhat less than Austrian or German examples. Condition of the veneer surface is the primary value driver; lifting, replaced, or poorly restored veneer significantly reduces value.
Side chairs and tables $500–$2,000; case pieces $2,000–$8,000; exceptional Viennese pieces $10,000–$30,000+