Although its name evokes a mountainous region in Germany, antique Black Forest–style furniture originated in Switzerland. In Brienz, during the early 19th century, wood-carver Christian Fischer recognized the market for tourist souvenirs and helped make the village into a wood-carving destination. The Brienz Woodcarving School was founded in 1884 and had its own small zoo for studying the anatomy of animals, depictions of which are a defining aspect of the style, also known as Brienzerware.
Whimsical sculptures, often depicting bears and other Alpine animals like stags, owls, deer and boars, characterize the work produced in the area. Along with folk art and decorative objects, Black Forest furniture included benches held aloft by bears, umbrella stands carved with acorns and clock cases adorned with scrolling oak leaves. While most wood-carvers adhered to a similar realism in their designs and woods like linden, maple and walnut, their aesthetics varied.
The F. Peter Trauffer family was known for their hand-carved bear sculptures that saw the furry mammals playing instruments, smoking pipes and engaging in all sorts of human activities. They were sometimes detailed with glass eyes and integrated into functional pieces of furniture, including chair backs and bench legs, which generations of cabinetmakers created from the 1880s to the 1950s. Walter Mader and his son Heinrich frequently carved Saint Bernard sculptures that they incorporated into furniture.
As the Black Forest furniture style spread around the world through exhibitions at world’s fairs in the 19th and early 20th centuries, the rusticity of these pieces resonated at a time of increasing urbanization, inspiring other artisans.
Find a collection of antique Black Forest cabinets, bedroom furniture, seating and other items on 1stDibs.
Porcelain Bowl with Fox Figure Sofina Boutique Kitzbuehel
Located in Kitzbühel, Tirol
Completely handmade porcelain bowl with a hands-free naturalistic painted fox in brown colors. The fox is sitting in the middle of the bowl for decorating nuts or sweets around the fox figure...
Porcelain
Black Forest Cushion Handmade Sofina Boutique Kitzbuehel
Located in Kitzbühel, Tirol
Handmade cushion in brilliant green colors in cotton and linen fabric with a bird in the style of Black Forest. The fringe all around is made by hand in the style of the Austrian dir...
Velvet
Black Forest Cushion Handmade Fringe Hunting Scene Sofina Boutique Kitzbühel
Located in Kitzbühel, Tirol
Handmade cushion in brilliant blue and green colors in cotton and linen fabric with a hunting scene in the style of Black Forest. The fringe all around is made by hand in the style o...
Linen
Porcelain Bowl with Fox Figure Sofina Boutique Kitzbuehel
Located in Kitzbühel, Tirol
Completely handmade porcelain bowl with a hands-free naturalistic painted fox in brown colors. The fox is sitting in the middle of the bowl for decorating nuts or sweets around the fox figure...
Porcelain
Black Forest Vase Green Crystal with Hunting Decor Sofina Boutique Kitzbuehel
Located in Kitzbühel, Tirol
Handblown crystal vase in green glass with hand-edged hunting scene. The decor is hunting decor with four hand-engraved animals in naturalistic style. Completely handblown and hand-e...
Crystal
French 19th century Black Forest st. Walnut mirror
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A unique and most handsome French 19th century Black Forest st. Walnut mirror. This stunning oval Black Forest mirror with its original mirror plate is wonderfully decorated by berri...
Walnut
$205Sale Price / set|56% Off
Italy Set of Two Black Faux Horn Bowls in Black Forest Style
Located in Brescia, IT
Italy set of two black faux horn and metal chrome bowls in mountain style contemporary production. Set of two decorative objects in Black Forest style....
Silver Plate
19th Century Black Forest Wall Shrine with St. Anthony of Padua & Jesus
Located in Dallas, TX
19th Century Black Forest Wall Shrine with Porcelain St. Anthony of Padua & Jesus will make a splendid devotional for any room, and features sculpted wood combining the Renaissance and Classical styles in a lovely oval form upon which has been placed burgundy velvet, making the painted porcelain figurine of St. Anthony cradling the infant Jesus...
Porcelain, Velvet, Oak
Large 19th Century Walnut Black Forest Painting Frame
Located in San Francisco, CA
A large 19th century hand carved solid walnut Black Forest style picture frame with traditional tree limb and foliage detail. Inner sight of the...
Walnut
Black Forest Carved Bear with Pen Inkwell
By Black Forest
Located in Coeur d'Alene, ID
Walking bear pen holder and inkwell. Published in "Black Forest Bears and Swiss Woodcarvings," plate 92a. Book included. In the 1800’s the wood carving industry of Switzerland started in the town of Brienz. By the end of the 1800’s it had become the driving force for this industry. Swiss wood carvers became world renown and featured at many international exhibitions. Period: 1900 Origin: Switzerland Size: 4" H x 7" W Family Owned & Operated Cisco’s Gallery deals in the rare, exceptional, and one-of-a-kind pieces that define the history of America and the Old West. Our pieces range from American Indian to Cowboy Western and include original items of everyday life, commerce, art, and warfare that tamed America’s frontier. Our 14,000 square foot gallery opened in 1996 in beautiful Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. Personal Service Cisco’s operates on old fashioned values – honesty and integrity, and all of our items are backed by our money back guarantee. We appreciate the opportunity to earn your business. Whether you desire assistance with a jewelry purchase, choosing a gift, identification, or even selling – we hope to be your trusted source. Black Forest, Brienz Collection, Carvings, Bears, Inkwells, Desk Accessories...
Wood
Large 1920s Plaster Figure of the Seated Blacksmith, Le Travail
Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight
Large 1920s plaster figure of the seated blacksmith, Le Travail A charming piece Folk Art, a painted statue of the famous blacksmith, known as “Le Travai...
Plaster
PAIR OF ANTIQUE GERMAN BLACK FOREST CARVED ANTLER ARMCHAiRS PART OF A SUITE
By Black Forest
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
Royal House Antiques Royal House Antiques is delighted to offer for sale this very rare pair of original German late 19th century black forest antler armchairs which are part of a s...
Oak
$541Sale Price / item|20% Off
Black Forest Cushion Deer Loden Stitched Sofina Boutique Kitzbühel
Located in Kitzbühel, Tirol
Cashmere loden cushion "Kitzbühel" made from very soft loden wool in dark grey back side light grey loden wool. Stitched with a large chamois figure in the style of Black Forest. Fil...
Wool
Black Forest Carved Bear with Pen Inkwell
By Black Forest
Located in Coeur d'Alene, ID
Swiss bear with log pen rest and inkwell. Published in "Black Forest Bears and Swiss Woodcarvings," plate 93a. Book included. In the 1800’s the wood carving...
Wood
Black Forest Cushion Deer Leather Stitched Sofina Boutique Kitzbuehel
Located in Kitzbühel, Tirol
Deer leather cushion "Kitzbühel" made from dark brown deer leather back side grey wool fabric with a stitched chamois figure in the style of Black Forest. Filled with real feathers. ...
Leather, Wool
Black Forest Cushion Deer Leather Stitched Sofina Boutique Kitzbuehel
Located in Kitzbühel, Tirol
Deer leather cushion "Kitzbühel" made from dark brown deer leather back side grey wool fabric with a stitched chamois figure in the style of Black Forest. Filled with real feathers. ...
Wool, Leather
Set of Three Natural Antler Tips & Brass Desk Accessories
Located in North Miami, FL
This set of three (3) natural antler tips desk accessories are backed with brass base. Perfect for an executive desk, two paperweights and a letter opener. Rich natural coloring an...
Brass
Early Deer Antler Mount on Black Forest Carved Wood Plaque
Located in Buchanan, MI
Early Deer Antler Mount On Black Forest Carved Wood Plaque.
Antler, Wood
Black Forest Carved Dog Inkwell
By Black Forest
Located in Coeur d'Alene, ID
Swiss carved black Forest shaggy dog inkwell with pen holder. In the 1800’s the wood carving industry of Switzerland started in the town of Brienz. By the ...
Wood
Black Forest Wall Light Shade Wallpaper with Hunting Scene Sofina Kitzbuehel
Located in Kitzbühel, Tirol
Large handmade lampshade made of wallpaper with a hunting scene in red and beige in the style of black forest. Made by hand in Austria. Fixed with green and red paspol. Two handmade iron angles to supply electricity will be delivered with the shades. See last picture. To be used as wall lightning.
Paper
Black Forest Handmade Cushion Hunting Scene Sofina Boutique Kitzbuehel
Located in Kitzbühel, Tirol
Handmade cushion "Kitzbühel" in olive and ligth grey wool fabric with a stitched chamois figure in the style of Black Forest. The fringe all around is made by hand in the style of th...
Wool
Black Forest Handmade Cushion Hunting Scene Sofina Boutique Kitzbuehel
Located in Kitzbühel, Tirol
Handmade cushion " Kitzbühel" in dark and ligth grey wool fabric with a stitched chamois figure in the style of Black Forest. The fringe all around is made by hand in the style of th...
Wool
Black Forest Cushion Handmade Fringe Hunting Scene Sofina Boutique Kitzbühel
Located in Kitzbühel, Tirol
Handmade cushion in brilliant dark blue, red and green colors in cotton and linen fabric with a hunting scene in the style of Black Forest. The fringe all around is made by hand in ...
Linen
Black Forest Set vof Six Hand-Engraved Crystal Plates Sofina Boutique Kitzbuehel
Located in Kitzbühel, Tirol
Set of six plates in colored blue crystal with a hands-free engraved winter decor all around. The charming hand-engraved decor shows different trees and mountains in the style of Bla...
Crystal
Set of Six Wine Goblets Green Crystal Hunting Decor Sofina Boutique Kitzbuehel
Located in Kitzbühel, Tirol
Set of six hand blown wine goblets in green crystal with an antique hunting decor all around. The charming hand-engraved decor shows deers and trees in the style of Black Forest. The...
Crystal
Black Forest Porcelain Bowl with Deer Figure Sofina Boutique Kitzbuehel
Located in Kitzbühel, Tirol
Hand-painted porcelain dish for serving sweets or nuts with a naturalistic bambi figure in the center of the dish. The bambi figure and the bowl are completely handmade in Bavaria. H...
Porcelain
19th Century French Black Forest Carved Cabaret Character Lamps on Barrel Bases
Located in Dallas, TX
Bring charm and character to a bar, wine cellar, or game room with this whimsical pair of antique cabaret lamps. Carved in France circa 1880 in the Black...
Walnut
A Black Forest carved wood inkwell with wheat sheafs and poultry
Located in Lymington, Hampshire
A Black Forest carved wood inkwell with wheat sheafs and poultry, made of ebonised fruitwood naturalistically carved with a cockerel and hen perched on a rocky outcrop, bundles of wh...
Wood
$42,500 / set
Pair of Rustic Black Forest Carved Walnut Armchairs
Located in Queens, NY
Pair of Rustic Black Forest (19th Cent) carved walnut open Armchairs with leaf and grape design filigree back and bear heads on arms with etched seat
Walnut