Wilhelminian era

Gründerzeit Furniture: Vertikos, Dressers, Secretaries, and Cabinets

The Gründerzeit period from around 1870 to 1900 furnished Berlin’s old apartments: solid furniture made of oak and walnut, with columns, moldings, and carvings, built to last for generations. At Hauptstadt Möblerei, you’ll find a rotating selection of Gründerzeit vertikos, dressers, secretaries, buffets and cabinets, restored in our Berlin workshop.

Typical Gründerzeit features

• Wood: oak and walnut, dark and rich, often with beautiful grain.
• Form: an architectural design with a plinth, columns, cornice, and crown.
• Styles: Historicism drawing on Renaissance and Baroque styles, Louis Philippe, and, toward 1900, the transition to Art Nouveau.

The Vertiko: a Gründerzeit classic

The Vertiko is a roughly chest-high cabinet with two doors, a drawer, and a crown, supposedly named after a Berlin cabinetmaker. It’s still a staple of every old apartment, providing storage in the hallway, dining room, or bedroom. Find more styles among our secretaries, dressers and cabinets.

View Gründerzeit furniture in Berlin

In the showroom in Berlin-Lichtenberg , you can see Gründerzeit furniture and other antiques in person across 4,000 m², Mon–Thu and Sat from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., no appointment needed. Photos from all angles, exact measurements, and an honest condition report are provided for every piece.

More than 24,000 customers, a 4.9-star rating on Google and Trustpilot. We deliver throughout Germany, securely packaged and insured.

Frequently asked questions about Gründerzeit furniture

When was the Gründerzeit?

In the narrower sense, it began in 1871; more broadly, it lasted from around 1870 to 1900, a period of economic growth following German unification.

Can Gründerzeit furniture be dismantled?

Many cabinets, buffets, and vertikos can be separated into a base and a crown. This makes them easier to carry through stairwells. Measurements are listed for every piece.

Does Gründerzeit furniture go with modern furniture?

Yes. A dark Gründerzeit piece stands out especially well alongside light walls and simple furniture.

Do you also buy furniture?

Yes. We buy vintage and antique furniture in good condition. Send us photos and a short description through our furniture buyingpage, and we’ll get back to you with an offer.