Black Forest Hook
Antique 1880s Swiss Black Forest Sculptures and Carvings
Wood
Antique Early 1900s American Coat Racks and Stands
Wood
Antique 1880s Swedish Black Forest Animal Sculptures
Wood
Antique Late 19th Century German Black Forest Sculptures and Carvings
Brass
Antique 1890s German Black Forest Sculptures and Carvings
Wood
Antique 1880s Swiss Black Forest Sculptures and Carvings
Wood
Antique Early 1900s Swiss Black Forest Coat Racks and Stands
Bronze
Antique Late 19th Century German Folk Art Figurative Sculptures
Wood
Antique Late 19th Century Swiss Black Forest Coat Racks and Stands
Brass
Recent Sales
Antique 19th Century Swiss Black Forest Sculptures
Fruitwood
Antique 19th Century German Collectibles and Curiosities
Wood, Antler
Antique 1880s Swiss Black Forest Wall-mounted Sculptures
Wood
Antique Early 1900s European Black Forest Sculptures and Carvings
Wood
Early 20th Century German Wall-mounted Sculptures
Wood
Early 20th Century German Sculptures
Wood
Early 20th Century German Folk Art Sculptures
Wood
Early 20th Century German Decorative Art
Wood
Antique 19th Century German Decorative Art
Wood
Antique Late 19th Century Swiss Black Forest Animal Sculptures
Wood
Early 20th Century Swiss Black Forest Wall-mounted Sculptures
Wood
Antique 19th Century Swiss Black Forest Coat Racks and Stands
Hardwood
Antique 19th Century German Sculptures and Carvings
Walnut
Antique 1880s Swiss Black Forest Wall-mounted Sculptures
Wood
Early 20th Century Swiss Black Forest Coat Racks and Stands
Glass, Wood
Antique Late 19th Century Swiss Black Forest Figurative Sculptures
Wood
Early 20th Century Austrian Black Forest Sculptures and Carvings
Wood
Early 20th Century German Black Forest Wall-mounted Sculptures
Wood
Antique 19th Century Austrian Black Forest Sculptures
Wood
Early 20th Century German Rustic Wardrobes and Armoires
Antler, Wood
Antique Late 19th Century German Victorian Figurative Sculptures
Wood
Antique 1880s Swiss Victorian Coat Racks and Stands
Wood
Antique 1880s Swiss Black Forest Figurative Sculptures
Wood
Antique 1880s Swedish Black Forest Animal Sculptures
Wood
Antique 1880s Swiss Black Forest Figurative Sculptures
Wood
Antique 19th Century German Black Forest More Furniture and Collectibles
Early 20th Century German Black Forest Animal Sculptures
Wood
Early 20th Century German Black Forest Sculptures and Carvings
Antler, Wood
Antique 19th Century Swiss Black Forest Hat Racks and Stands
Hardwood
Early 20th Century Swiss Black Forest Sculptures and Carvings
Wood
Early 20th Century Swiss Black Forest Hat Racks and Stands
Wood
Early 20th Century Swiss Black Forest Wall-mounted Sculptures
Wood
Antique Late 19th Century Swiss Black Forest Coat Racks and Stands
Wood
Early 20th Century Swiss Black Forest Wall-mounted Sculptures
Wood
Antique Mid-19th Century German Black Forest Decorative Art
Antler
Antique 1880s Swiss Black Forest Sculptures and Carvings
Wood
Antique 1870s Swiss Black Forest Sculptures and Carvings
Wood
Antique Early 1900s Swiss Black Forest Figurative Sculptures
Glass, Walnut
Antique 1880s Swiss Black Forest Animal Sculptures
Wood
Antique Late 19th Century Swiss Black Forest Musical Instruments
Wood
Early 20th Century German Black Forest Decorative Art
Iron
Early 20th Century French Black Forest Hat Racks and Stands
Horn, Beech
Antique Late 19th Century German Black Forest Figurative Sculptures
Nutwood
Antique 1880s Swiss Black Forest Hat Racks and Stands
Wood
Antique 1880s Swiss Black Forest Animal Sculptures
Wood
Antique 1890s Swiss Black Forest Coat Racks and Stands
Brass
Antique Mid-19th Century German Black Forest Animal Sculptures
Late 20th Century Black Forest Bathroom Fixtures
Brass
Early 20th Century Swiss Black Forest Wall-mounted Sculptures
Wood
Antique Late 19th Century Swiss Black Forest Wall-mounted Sculptures
Wood
Antique Late 19th Century Swiss Black Forest Wall-mounted Sculptures
Wood
Vintage 1930s German Black Forest Hat Racks and Stands
Wood
Vintage 1920s German Black Forest Hat Racks and Stands
Metal
Early 20th Century Swiss Sculptures
Wood
Antique Late 19th Century Austrian Black Forest Historical Memorabilia
Antler, Bone, Wood
Antique Late 19th Century Austrian Black Forest Taxidermy
Antler, Bone, Wood
People Also Browsed
Early 20th Century Chinese Sculptures and Carvings
Coral
Antique 1880s Swiss Animal Sculptures
Walnut
Vintage 1920s English Art Deco Barware
EPNS
Mid-20th Century American Folk Art Nautical Objects
Shell
Antique 19th Century Italian Victorian Drawings
Paper
Antique 19th Century Chinese Chinoiserie Furniture
Wood
Antique Late 19th Century Malian Primitive Figurative Sculptures
Ebony
Antique Mid-19th Century Chinese Chinese Export Furniture
Brass
Antique Late 19th Century French Louis XV Musical Instruments
Wood, Giltwood
Vintage 1950s German Black Forest Chandeliers and Pendants
Metal
Antique 18th Century French Abstract Sculptures
Stone, Limestone
Early 20th Century American Regency Sofas
Upholstery, Wood
2010s Italian Other Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary German Black Forest Crystal Serveware
Crystal
Antique 1780s English George III Tea Caddies
Silver
20th Century Swiss Animal Sculptures
Wood
Black Forest Hook For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much is a Black Forest Hook?
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.
- 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022Franz Anton Ketterer is believed to be the German clockmaker who invented the cuckoo clock, and he is also one of the founding fathers of the Black Forest clockmaking. Today there are many cuckoo clocks, but to be deemed an authentic Black Forest cuckoo is an honor that is bestowed to only those clocks where every essential part is handmade exclusively in the Black Forest region of Germany. Shop a collection of cuckoo clocks from some of the world’s top sellers on 1stDibs.