Black Forest Stag Mount Carved Wood Plaque
Antique Early 1900s Swiss Black Forest Wall-mounted Sculptures
Wood
Vintage 1910s German Black Forest Wall-mounted Sculptures
Hardwood
People Also Browsed
2010s American Chandeliers and Pendants
Antler
2010s American Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces
Brass, Bronze, Enamel, Nickel
21st Century and Contemporary Mexican Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Textile, Wood
21st Century and Contemporary Mexican Mid-Century Modern Floor Lamps
Textile, Wood
Vintage 1940s American Rustic Chandeliers and Pendants
Antler
Antique Late 19th Century Italian Natural Specimens
Wood
21st Century and Contemporary Dutch More Candle Holders
Antler
Antique Mid-19th Century English Victorian Taxidermy
Animal Skin, Glass, Plaster, Feathers
2010s American Animal Sculptures
Feathers
Antique 16th Century Belgian Aubusson Tapestries
Tapestry, Silk, Wool
Vintage 1940s French Black Forest Animal Sculptures
Bone
21st Century and Contemporary European Victorian Taxidermy
Animal Skin
2010s Taxidermy
Other
Vintage 1920s German Black Forest Sculptures and Carvings
Wood
Vintage 1950s English Renaissance Beds and Bed Frames
Oak
Antique Mid-19th Century Neoclassical Beds and Bed Frames
Walnut, Burl
Recent Sales
Antique Late 19th Century Swiss Wall-mounted Sculptures
Antique 19th Century German Black Forest Wall-mounted Sculptures
Antler, Wood
Antique Early 19th Century Austrian Black Forest Wall-mounted Sculptures
Antler, Wood
Antique 19th Century German Black Forest Wall-mounted Sculptures
Wood, Antler
Antique 18th Century and Earlier German Wall-mounted Sculptures
Wood, Stucco, Antler
Antique 19th Century German Black Forest Wall-mounted Sculptures
Wood
Mid-20th Century German Wall-mounted Sculptures
Bone, Wood
Antique Late 19th Century German Rustic Wall-mounted Sculptures
Wood
Antique Late 19th Century Austrian Black Forest Sculptures and Carvings
Wood
20th Century Scandinavian Folk Art Wall-mounted Sculptures
Wood
Antique Early 1900s Swiss Black Forest Wall-mounted Sculptures
Wood
Vintage 1910s German Black Forest Wall-mounted Sculptures
Hardwood
Antique Late 19th Century German Black Forest Wall-mounted Sculptures
Horn, Wood
Antique 1890s French Black Forest Animal Sculptures
Walnut
Antique 19th Century Austrian Black Forest Wall-mounted Sculptures
Antler, Wood
Antique 19th Century Swiss Black Forest Wall-mounted Sculptures
Antique 19th Century Black Forest Wall-mounted Sculptures
Antler, Wood
Antique 19th Century Black Forest Animal Sculptures
Folk Art Sculptures
Antique Late 18th Century French Black Forest Taxidermy
Antler, Wood
Antique Late 19th Century Austrian Black Forest Taxidermy
Antler, Wood
Antique Late 19th Century Austrian Black Forest Taxidermy
Metal
Antique Late 19th Century Austrian Black Forest Taxidermy
Brass
Antique Late 19th Century Austrian Black Forest Taxidermy
Bronze
Antique 19th Century German Black Forest Taxidermy
Antler, Bone, Wood
Antique Late 19th Century Austrian Black Forest Taxidermy
Antler, Wood
Antique 19th Century Austrian Black Forest Taxidermy
Wood, Antler, Bone
Antique Late 19th Century German Black Forest Historical Memorabilia
Wood
Antique Late 19th Century German Black Forest Taxidermy
Wood
Antique 19th Century Austrian Black Forest Taxidermy
Antler, Wood
Antique Late 19th Century Austrian Black Forest Taxidermy
Wood
Antique 19th Century Austrian Black Forest Taxidermy
Antler, Wood
Antique 19th Century Austrian Black Forest Taxidermy
Antler, Wood
Antique Late 19th Century Austrian Black Forest Taxidermy
Bone, Antler, Animal Skin, Wood
Antique 19th Century German Black Forest Taxidermy
Brass
Antique Late 19th Century Austrian Black Forest Historical Memorabilia
Antler, Wood
Antique 19th Century European Black Forest Wall-mounted Sculptures
Antler
Antique Late 19th Century Austrian Black Forest Taxidermy
Bone, Antler, Wood
Vintage 1940s Austrian Black Forest Taxidermy
Bone, Antler, Wood
Antique 1890s Swiss More Furniture and Collectibles
Antique 19th Century German Black Forest Taxidermy
Metal
Antique 19th Century German Black Forest Taxidermy
Brass
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.