Biedermeier

(1820 - 1870)

The Biedermeier period lies between Classicism and Historicism and roughly covers the years between 1820 and 1870. After the long Napoleonic Wars, the areas of art and culture in the Biedermeier period were characterised by a return to the private sphere and nature. The bourgeoisie gained a new self-confidence and wanted to dress and adorn themselves like the nobility, meaning that the demand for jewellery was high and very diverse. brooches, bracelets and earrings were very popular, but also friendship and keepsake jewellery, for example. Find out more"

An overview of the Biedermeier period

The Biedermeier period therefore encompasses the time between the Congress of Vienna and the 1848 Revolution and ends in the late Biedermeier period around 1870. This era was characterised on the one hand by political censorship and state controls, and on the other by a very romantic society that withdrew primarily into the private domestic sphere and expressed its strengthened bourgeois self-confidence through home decor, art, music and literature.

The term Biedermeier is derived from parodistic poems about the philistine bourgeoisie by Adolf Kussmaul and Ludwig Eichrodt.

The cultural centres of the era were in Switzerland, Austria, Germany and Scandinavia. The entire era was characterised by a variety of styles and their mixtures: for example, Romanticism, late Classicism, Realism and Historicism were also noticeable at the same time as Biedermeier.

The predominant stylistic features of the Biedermeier period are the clear forms, which can also be somewhat ornate in the jewellery, as well as naturalistic and romantic tendencies.

Biedermeier jewellery: timelessly beautiful

Popular pieces of jewellery from the Biedermeier period include chains and necklaces, brooches, pendants, medallions, bracelets and earrings, which still inspire us today with their floral elements and filigree decorations. The rings were often made as friendship rings and therefore also had a high sentimental value.

The influences of nature can be clearly seen in the jewellery: For example, flowers were recreated in gold or garnet. Medallions in particular enjoyed great popularity in the Biedermeier period: they were often given as sentimental souvenirs to loved ones.

The jewellery often used precious stones typical of the region, such as garnet from Bohemia, but also coral from Italy or turquoise from the English colonies. The decoration became more opulent and ornate overall. To save material, gold was rolled thin and pressed into fully plastic objects, which were then filled with putty, resin and sand to stabilise them. Metal alloys such as tombac and pinchbeck were also often used to imitate gold in terms of colour. Even iron found its way into jewellery production. The so-called Fer de Berlin resembles delicate black lace and is very popular today.

Generally, brooches became the preferential form of jewellery and bracelets with an accentuated middle section were also popular.

Find the matching Biedermeier jewellery from our range

Discover our unique pieces such as bracelets, brooches and medallions that bring the Biedermeier era back to life.

Friendship and mourning jewellery, set with portrait miniatures or made from hair, occupy a special place in this period. In general, the sentimental significance of jewellery is clear to see. The memorial and souvenir jewellery, for example made of small glass mosaics, lava cameos and coral or shell gems, which were acquired on the Grand Tour, the journey to the ancient cities of Italy, is a characteristic phenomenon of this period.

The Biedermeier period produced a wealth of wonderful jewellery objects. You can also find a selection of these remarkable pieces of jewellery in our range. They can be combined very well with many different styles and often complement traditional costumes and dirndls particularly well.