Bene Office Furniture

Biedermeier – The Invention of Simplicity

In contrast to the opulent decadence of French empire and the historic notion of the ancient world embodied by classicism, this new design approach was characterised by the omission of ornaments and reduction to geometric forms: for furniture, china, silver and glass objects.

Furniture design emphasised surface structures, colour and shininess of materials as individual aspects.
Paintings, drawings and watercolours, alongside handicraft and furnishing objects reflected the new aesthetic ideal. Originating from aristocracy, this style continued to dominate Central and Northern European metropolises until around 1830.

Based on new scientific results Biedermeier was no longer interpreted as the embodiment of bourgeois style but rather as a highly cultured art form that is characterised by the aim for simplicity. Furniture, glass, china, silver, paintings, watercolours, drawings, scientific instruments.