At 1stDibs, there are several options of black forest carved shelves available for sale. Each of these unique black forest carved shelves was constructed with extraordinary care, often using
wood,
oak and
glass. Find 123 antique and vintage black forest carved shelves at 1stDibs now, or shop our selection of 4 modern versions for a more contemporary example of this long-cherished furniture. There are all kinds of black forest carved shelves available, from those produced as long ago as the 18th Century to those made as recently as the 21st Century. Black forest carved shelves are generally popular furniture pieces, but
Baroque and
folk art styles are often sought at 1stDibs. Many black forest carved shelves are appealing in their simplicity, but
Hebanon Fratelli Basile,
Hebanon Studio and
Black Forest produced popular black forest carved shelves that are worth a look.
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.