Biedermeier Period 1820-1836

The Biedermeier era refers to the historical period between the years 1815 (Congress of Vienna) the end of the Napoleonic Wars, and 1848, the year of the European Revolutions. Although the term itself is a historical reference, it is currently used to denote the artistic styles that flourished and that marked a contrast with the Romantic era which preceded it mainly in the fields of literature, music, the visual arts and interior design.

Through out history dolls mirrored the time they were created in, their attire reflected well the haute couture of the era, and with the specially prepared plaster moulds, it made it much easier to design and create the doll’s heads with a variety of intricate hairstyles.

Brown was the color most commonly used on the dolls’ hair until 1820’s, and later black was preferred. A combination of real hair and modeled hair was often used as well.


The hairstyle changed dramatically. Now large bundles of side curls and complicated braided or weaved knots were seen. A large comb placed behind the knot helped stabilize the pompous hairstyle. This is the time of the classic Apollo Knot. A “coiffeur” was needed for these extravagant hairstyles, particularly when a social event was at hand.

Unusual papier mache doll from 1830-35. Extreme hair modelling, glass eyes, very rare.

Dixon and Langley collection.

"Little Dorrit," Amy and Emma Dorrit.

After 1836 the hairstyle became plainer. Now the hair was worn with middle parting and plaited at the sides and wound around the ears to the top hair knot.. The look was charming and gracious. This was the Queen Victoria hairstyle, the prototype of many women. After her inauguration in 1837 it was very “chic” to wear ones hair like the Queen.

A time of marked changes in fashions and hairstyles...

"Day Dress" from mid 19th century..Notice beautiful shirred effect on sleeves and bodice.

"Secrets" Charles Sulacroix

Fashion of this time gradually changed to lowered waistlines. As the waistline descended, the corset re appeared, shaping the bodies of women and young girls everywhere. The sleeves changed dramatically, becoming wider and extravagant this was the time of the “ Leg o’ Mutton” sleeve, eventually so enormous, they had to be supported by a fish bone framework.
Skirts were gathered at the waist and supported with petticoats or crinolines.

Biedermeier Period Fashions for Men.....

"The Ultimate in Male Elegance" 1830 illustration, Le Bon Ton.

"Two Strings to Her Bow" John Pettie

This Victorian "genre" painting depicts a Regency (early 19th-century) young lady delighted at being the focus of attention of two rival "beaux" (handsome potential suitors), and even seeming to enjoy playing them off against each other.

The Biedermeier period (Regency period in England) was one of the great periods of male fashion. Men wore close fitting dress coats or evening coats, top hats, and colored waist coats. At the time, some men even wore corsets to achieve the perfect figure. A gentleman was always seen wearing the best attire, whether it was a wool evening tail coat or a double breasted suit with a charming top hat.
During the early Bierdemeier period, suits sported wide lapels, and white shirts were worn with stiffened collars high above the neck. Not until 1840 the collars were worn down with shirts made of linen or muslin, topped with a silk or wool vest.

Carl Gustav Biedermeier? He is the doll gentleman in the Doll and Toy Museum Rothenburg.

Pierre-Paul Prud'hon, detail of Rutger Jan Schimmelpenninck with his Wife and Children.

At the turn of the nineteenth century, women wore thin gauzy outer dresses while men adopted trousers and overcoats...
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The description Biedermeier is sometimes applied to papier mache dolls with a black painted dot as the suggestion of a hairstyle on a plain egg-shaped skull common in the mid 19th century. Another is to describe almost any china doll form the same era. A collector’s theory is that a decorator usually painted on hair, but in the case of dolls that were to be wigged, he simply painted a circle on top of the head to indicate that the decorating was complete. Thus the use of this term has become very misleading. Most correctly is to use the term simply to refer to the years 1815-48... Constance Eileen King