They were depicted as fat, overdressed, nouveau-riche, comfortably surrounded with the new streamlined, highly polished furniture, then in vogue. "Bieder" in German mean plain, and "Meier" was one of the most common German surnames of the time.

The name was applied to the style when it again regained popularity 60 or 70 years later, never having been identified as its own period of style prior to that. It was perhaps due to the sense of comfort the furniture afforded. But to assume that this furniture was ever Middle Class is erroneous.

The style of furniture would not have existed in the average home of its day. The veneering techniques and cabinetmaking skills required to execute furniture of this style were costly and thus only affordable for the very privileged. Hence, the notion of butchers and