Black Forest Brienz Desk
Antique 19th Century Swiss Black Forest Inkwells
Wood
Antique 19th Century Swiss Black Forest Inkwells
Wood
Antique 19th Century Swiss Black Forest Inkwells
Wood
Antique 1890s German Black Forest Inkwells
Wood
Antique 1890s German Black Forest Inkwells
Glass, Wood
Antique 1890s German Black Forest Inkwells
Metal
Early 20th Century Austrian Black Forest Inkwells
Art Glass, Softwood
Antique 19th Century Swiss Black Forest Inkwells
Walnut
Antique 19th Century Swiss Black Forest Inkwells
Wood
Antique Late 19th Century Swiss Black Forest More Desk Accessories
Wood
Antique 1880s Swiss Black Forest Inkwells
Softwood
Antique 1880s Swiss Black Forest Inkwells
Walnut
Antique Early 1900s German Black Forest Tobacco Accessories
Wood
Early 20th Century Swiss Black Forest Animal Sculptures
Wood
Vintage 1930s German Black Forest Sculptures and Carvings
Wood
Antique 1890s German Black Forest Sculptures and Carvings
Wood
Antique Early 1900s German Black Forest Sculptures and Carvings
Wood
Antique Late 19th Century Swiss Victorian Inkwells
Glass, Walnut
Antique 1880s Swiss Victorian Inkwells
Softwood
Antique Late 19th Century German Black Forest Animal Sculptures
Glass, Wood
Antique Late 19th Century German Black Forest Animal Sculptures
Wood, Cut Glass
Early 20th Century Swiss Black Forest Animal Sculptures
Wood
Vintage 1930s German Black Forest Inkwells
Wood
People Also Browsed
Early 20th Century Swiss Black Forest Coat Racks and Stands
Wood
Antique Late 19th Century Swiss Black Forest Chairs
Wood
Antique 19th Century Swiss Black Forest Hat Racks and Stands
Hardwood
Antique Late 19th Century Swiss Black Forest Snuff Boxes and Tobacco Boxes
Wood
Antique 1890s German Black Forest Sculptures and Carvings
Wood
Antique 19th Century Swiss Black Forest Mantel Clocks
Wood
Early 20th Century French Black Forest Animal Sculptures
Oak
Antique Late 19th Century Chairs
Wood
Antique Late 19th Century German Black Forest Sculptures and Carvings
Wood
Late 20th Century Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Animal Sculptures
Kingwood
Antique Late 19th Century Swiss Black Forest Animal Sculptures
Wood
Antique 19th Century German Black Forest Sculptures and Carvings
Walnut
Early 20th Century Swiss Sculptures and Carvings
Wood
Antique 1880s Swiss Black Forest Coat Racks and Stands
Wood
Vintage 1920s Swiss Black Forest Wall-mounted Sculptures
Wood
Antique Late 19th Century Swiss Black Forest Animal Sculptures
Wood
Recent Sales
Antique 19th Century Swiss Black Forest Table Clocks and Desk Clocks
Metal, Enamel
Antique Early 1900s German Black Forest Inkwells
Wood
Antique 1880s Inkwells
Glass, Wood
Early 20th Century Swiss Black Forest Animal Sculptures
Wood
Antique Late 19th Century French Decorative Art
Wood
Antique 1890s German Black Forest Inkwells
Wood
Antique Early 1900s German Black Forest Inkwells
Porcelain, Glass, Wood
Antique 1890s German Black Forest Inkwells
Metal
Antique Early 1900s German Black Forest Animal Sculptures
Wood
Antique Early 1900s German Black Forest Animal Sculptures
Wood
Early 20th Century Swiss Black Forest Animal Sculptures
Wood
Early 20th Century Swiss Black Forest Animal Sculptures
Wood
Antique 1890s German Black Forest Sculptures and Carvings
Wood
Early 20th Century Swiss Black Forest Animal Sculptures
Wood
Antique Early 1900s Swiss Black Forest Wall Brackets
Walnut
Antique Late 19th Century Swiss Black Forest Snuff Boxes and Tobacco Boxes
Wood
Black Forest Brienz Desk For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much is a Black Forest Brienz Desk?
A Close Look at black-forest Furniture
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.
Finding the Right decorative-objects for You
Every time you move into a house or an apartment — or endeavor to refresh the home you’ve lived in for years — life for that space begins anew. The right home accent, be it the simple placement of a decorative bowl on a shelf or a ceramic vase for fresh flowers, can transform an area from drab to spectacular. But with so many materials and items to choose from, it’s easy to get lost in the process. The key to styling with decorative objects is to work toward making a happy home that best reflects your personal style.
Ceramics are a versatile addition to any home. If you’ve amassed an assortment of functional pottery over the years, think of your mugs and salad bowls as decorative objects, ideal for displaying in a glass cabinet. Vintage ceramic serveware can pop along white open shelving in your dining area, while large stoneware pitchers paired with woven baskets or quilts in an open cupboard can introduce a rustic farmhouse-style element to your den.
Translucent decorative boxes or bowls made of an acrylic plastic called Lucite — a game changer in furniture that’s easy to clean and lasts long — are modern accents that are neutral enough to dress up a coffee table or desktop without cluttering it. If you’re showcasing pieces from the past, a vintage jewelry box for displaying your treasures can spark conversation. Where is the jewelry box from? Is there a story behind it?
Abstract sculptures or an antique vessel for your home library can draw attention to your book collection and add narrative charm to the most appropriate of corners. There’s more than one way to style your bookcases, and decorative objects add a provocative dynamic. “I love magnifying glasses,” says Alex Assouline, global vice president of luxury publisher Assouline, of adding one’s cherished objects to a home library. “They are both useful and decorative. Objects really elevate libraries and can also make them more personal.”
To help with personalizing your space and truly making it your own, find an extraordinary collection of decorative objects on 1stDibs.