At the beginning of the 19th century, classicist elements were still used in furniture making, referring to French furniture from the Directory era, but processed and adapted to Polish taste. On account of the creation of the Grand Duchy of Warsaw by Napoleon I in 1807, the Empire style appears in Poland, and therefore a continuation of French influences. The new style, a simplification of the Empire style from the times of the Empire, is called the Duchy of Warsaw style.
From around 1825, the Biedermeier style appeared in Poland. Throughout its existence, the style went through various phases. Initially, the furniture had more classicizing features, close to the Empire style, later their main creative assumptions became visible – functionality.
The furniture design was compact and logical. Practical considerations were taken into account, and the furniture was designed to be comfortable and good for health. For the first time, ergonomics became important in furniture. As Janina Gostwicka writes, the armrests of the armchairs were designed in such a way that the hands resting on them had good blood circulation. Everything was well thought out and based on rational assumptions. The most common ones were ash, birch, walnut, oak, elm and burl. The material used for the upholstery of Biedermeier furniture was mostly limited to domestic raw materials. The upholstery was still cut with a saw and was a few millimetres thick.
The main role played secretaries and desks in the Biedermeier period.In parallel and independently to the Biedermeier style, the so-called Louis Philippe style developed in Poland. This furniture referred in shape to the Louis XV style. A variation of this style, popular in the Warsaw environment, was furniture called Simmler. They took the name from the Siemmler family.
In Poland, the fashion of painting furniture black began during periods of national mourning after the November and JanuaryUprisings. It happened that inlaid furniture from the previous era was coated with black paint. This fashion continued in Poland until the second half of the 19th century.
Sources:
Gostwicka Janina, Dawne meble polskie, Warszawa 1965