With a vast inventory of beautiful furniture at 1stDibs, we’ve got just the piece of black forest decor you’re looking for. Was constructed with extraordinary care, often using
wood,
crystal and
stone. If you’re shopping for an item from our selection of black forest decor, we have 24 options in-stock, while there are 20 modern editions to choose from as well. Whether you’re looking for newer or older items, there are earlier versions available from the 19th Century and newer variations made as recently as the 21st Century. When you’re browsing for the right choice in our collection of black forest decor, those designed in styles are of considerable interest. You’ll likely find more than one object in our assortment of black forest decor that is appealing in its simplicity, but
Sofina Boutique Kitzbühel and
Sofina Porzellan produced versions 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.