About German Antique Furniture

The history of German antique furniture is very complex involving the different styles of all the independent city states. German antique furniture tends to be very sturdy, made with the best woods from German forests. It was so well made that a good deal of the earliest pieces still survive today.

Time Frame

Biedermeier Period Chair from http://www.metmuseum.org

Antique German furniture follows its own time frame. The basic styles of each period is similar to other countries, but the features are distinctively German.

Renaissance Period -- 1603-1649
Renaissance Baroque Period -- 1649-1694
Baroque Period -- 1694 - 1714
Rococo Period -- 1714-1727
Neo-classical Period -- 1727 - 1780
Biedermeier Period -- 1780 - 1830
Renaissance Revival Period -- 1830 - 1900

Features

Collectors Cabinte from the Renaissance Period from http://www.metmuseum.org

Renaissance furniture was decorated with elaborately designed wrought iron lock plates, handles, and hinges.

Renaissance Baroque furniture was heavy, with protruding doors and decorations were flowers, fruit and shells. There were also intricately carved scenes with people and scenery, like a painting done in wood.

Baroque style in Germany was based on the Dutch and popular in the North. However, the decorations were different, more intricate.

Rococo was very popular in Germany. They used the basic French design, but embellished it with carvings. The centers of the Rococo style were in the south in Munich and Augsburg and in the north in Berlin and Potsdam. Some outstanding pieces also came from Dresden.

German Neoclassic furniture was simpler in design than the Rococo. It used rich woods like mahogany with very little decoration. Legs were fluted and tapered. Leather was used as tops for small accent tables.

Biedermeier was simple in design and less expensive. It was geared to the middle class. It used light colored woods and veneers.

Renaissance Revival used dark oak and walnut. The pieces were large, ornate and carved by hand.

Types

Renaissance Revival Bookcase from http://www.newel.com/PreviewImage.aspx?ItemID=11799

The types of furniture basically were the same throughout the different periods of German antique furniture. It was the type of wood or decorations that made each period uniture.

Storage chests are simple rectangle shaped units.

Tables were constructed with X-shaped supports and legs in the middle

Chairs were made with curved backs .

A Schrank is found only in German furniture. It is a large cupboard or wardrobe. It was made with 2 large doors with 2 drawers underneath. Behind the doors, there were shelves, drawers, and places to hand clothes. They were also made to store food.

Geography

Rococo Period Chair from http://www.buffaloah.com

Germany's geography played a large part in making German antique furniture unique. The Alps formed a natural barrier, making travel to other countries difficult. German craftsmen did travel to countries like France and Italy and brought back the basic styles. Germany also had a large expanse of forests, with woods unique to the area, giving each piece a distinctive German appearance.

Identification

Germany as we know it today did not come into existence until 1871. Before then, there were independent regions, and each one had its own distinct style. You can tell where each piece came from because the craftsmen would put the seal of their city on the piece.

Resources

• Furniture Timeline
• Central European Furniture