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.
19th-C. French Carved Oak Black Forest Faux Bois Garden Planter Jardiniere
Located in Kennesaw, GA
This is a 19th century French Black Forest inspired carved oak planter. The white painted finish is not original. The zinc liner is removable. The carved faux bois frame is in very g...
Oak
19th Century French Hand Carved Walnut Black Forest Jardiniére or Planter
Located in Birmingham, AL
A 19th century Black Forest jardinière hand carved of solid walnut in the Alsace region of France, circa 1870s. The detailed, intricately carved wood planter features a realistic han...
Walnut
Antique Hand Carved Black Forest Wooden Lodge Design, Late 1800s Chest or Trunk
Located in Lisse, NL
Excellent workmanship and very cool looking antique chest. This 19th century and all handcrafted chest is perfect for decorating the interior of your lodge, but also in a home envir...
Wood
Large Antique 19th Century Hand-Carved Black Forest Firescreen with Birds Nest
Located in Lisse, NL
Beautifully crafted screen with the original beveled mirror. For the collectors of top quality Black Forest home accessories we also have this stunning and one of a kind fire-place screen. The incredibly detailed frame consisting of very realistic branches and leafs is an absolute joy to own and look at. The deeper meaning of this work of Black Forest craftsmanship, we think, can be found in the birds nest in the centre of the top. There the little bird is creating a warm home too for the three offspring she is expecting (hence the three eggs...
Mirror, Walnut
Wooden Carved Black Forest Garden Fountain Water Spout 19th century
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Wooden Carved Black Forest Garden Fountain Water Spout 19th century A large Black Forest wooden carved water spout featuring "Ruebezahl", which is the mountain spirit of the giant m...
Wood
Antique French Black Forest Barometer Thermometer Hound Dogs Birds Carved Oak
Located in Tyler, TX
Very Nice Antique French Oak BLACK FOREST Barometer Thermometer Beautifully carved hound and birds~~outstanding craftsmanship of the era Black Forest furniture and decorative pie...
Oak
Pair of German Cast Iron Black Forest Stylized Branch Hitching Post, Circa 1840
Located in Charleston, SC
Pair of German cast iron Black Forest stylized branch hitching post, Mid 19th Century
Cast Iron
$1,544Sale Price|20% Off
French Carved Fruitwood Black Forest Planter or Jardiniiere, 1880s
Located in Amsterdam, NL
Magnificent and rare Black Forest planter or jardiniiere. Striking French design from the 1880s. Original hand-carved fruitwood base on a ornate turned and hand-carved baluster with ...
Fruitwood
$3,160Sale Price / set|20% Off
Antique Dragon Head Wood Beams, Carved, Black Forest Style, Germany
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Set of Three Historical Dragon Head Wood Beams This set of three antique massive dragon head wood beams comes from a Bavarian half-timber house in the area ...
Wood
19th Century French Carved Oak Black Forest Plant Stand Jardinière Flower Box
Located in Ijzendijke, NL
Gorgeous fully hand carved Black Forest 19th century plant stand / jardiniere in hand carved Fruitwood. The stand body has outstanding carvings with the center a dimensional carved...
Fruitwood
Antique ‘Black Forest’ Jardinière of Substantial Size
Located in London, GB
Constructed in a well carved lindenwood, rising from quadripartite feet, naturalistically, representing branches, supporting a tree form central column dressed with two storks and supporting a carved rope dressed rectangular plant trough...
Wood
Antique Swiss or German Black Forest Styled Hand-Carved & Painted Pedestal
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
This antique hand-carved and polychromed painted pedestal is unsigned, but presumed to be either Swiss or German and date to approximately 1920 and done in the traditional, Black For...
Softwood
Mid 19th Century Cast Iron Faux Bois Hitching Post Black Forest Styling
Located in Port Jervis, NY
Spectacular Black Forest styled cast iron log hiting post C 1850 possibly German or French. Totally complete and not cracked or broken anywhere. Was just freshly dug out of its last ...
Iron
$1,047
H 5.71 in W 14.18 in D 5.91 in
Antique 19th Century Black Forest Bear Book Shelf / Book Rack Hand Carved Swiss
Located in Ijzendijke, NL
Gorgeous 19th century antique Black Forest Extendable bookshelf hand carved from Switzerland. Lovely carved bears by a master carver & Black Forest floral styled base. These make mar...
Wood
19th Century French Majolica Jardiniere
Located in High Point, NC
19th century French majolica jardiniere. This jardiniere is very interesting. It has a black and gray glazing on the jardiniere itself, with gorgeous applied flowers in a myriad of...
Pottery
$14,850
H 60.63 in W 30.5 in D 28.5 in
Whimsical English 19th-20th Century White Marble Figural Outdoor Dog Fountain
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A Whimsical English 19th-20th century white marble figural fountain with dogs fountain. The Baroque Revival six-sided tripod marble base surmounted with three upright seated Yorkshire Terriers resting on a leaf and acanthus center stem, topped with a semi-circular scalloped carved basin...
Marble
Hand Carved Wooden Sculpture Bookends Two Reading Men
Located in Barntrup, DE
These beautifully hand carved wooden bookends feature sculptures of two sitting and reading man, an older and younger man that could be a teacher a...
Wood
19th century pair of terracotta planters / jardinieres
Located in Atlanta, GA
Elevate your garden or interior space with this exquisite pair of 19th-century terracotta planters, expertly crafted in France. Each planter showcases intricate detailing and a timel...
Terracotta
$3,753
H 24.81 in W 51.19 in D 25.99 in
circa 1800 Extra Large Antique Original Paint German Blanket Chest Coffer Trunk
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
We are delighted to offer for sale this stunning, extra large circa 1800 hand painted German clothes trunk or marriage coffer chest with Acanthus leaf painting I have recently purchased a very large collection of these original, antique painted wardrobes...
Pine
Wonderful Modernist Kenetic Motion Copper Fountain / Water Feature, Hand Made
Located in Buffalo, NY
Ingenious copper fountain / water feature, solid copper construction, Modernist design Artisan made, hand executed. Sculpture in motion, great for garden, or indoor space.
Copper
$1,675
H 20.87 in W 17.33 in D 11.42 in
Antique Black Forest Carved Cuckoo Clock with Stag Head on Top
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Large Antique Black Forest Carved Cuckoo Clock with Stag Head A large handcarved wooden cuckoo clock, decorated with hunting accessoires, oak leaves, hare, pheasant and a stag head ...
Wood
Antique Cast Iron Garden Fountain att. to Fisk c. 19th C.
By Fiske Or Mott
Located in New York, NY
Antique cast iron three tier garden fountain, 19th century vintage attributed to Fisk, or Mott. The fountain feature three graduated basins, mounted on a decorative segmented center...
Cast Iron
19th Century Castiron Jardinière or Planter
Located in Brecht, BE
sublime grey and blue patina on this castiron jardinière or planter.
Iron
$1,995
H 15.5 in W 12 in D 7.5 in
Antique Black Forest Hand-Carved Deer or Elk Head Wall Plaque or Sculpture
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
This well executed antique wall sculpture is unsigned, but presumed to have been done in Switzerland in approximately 1890 in the period Black F...
Softwood
$3,750
H 65.75 in W 37.41 in D 6.3 in
Large Antique Louis XV Gilt and Beveled Mirror, France 19th Century
Located in LA CIOTAT, FR
This large and elegant French mirror features a richly carved and gilded wooden frame, showcasing refined decorative details and elegant proportions. The frame is adorned with finely...
Mercury Glass, Mirror, Giltwood
19th Century Black Forest Style Carved Plant Stand from Sweden
Located in Round Top, TX
This plant stand is carved in the Black Forest style, but reflects its Swedish origin with fish (or mermaid?) tails intertwined with flowers and vines. The tri-foot base is mesmerizi...
Wood
Sold
H 34 in W 77 in D 21 in
Black Forest Bench with Two Bears Supporting Five Hand Carved Bear Musicians
Located in Austin, TX
A rare Black Forest seating bench of carved linden wood from Switzerland - the back carved in relief with branches and leaves and five frolicking smaller bears playing musical instruments. The seat a carved wood plank...
Wood, Glass
Brass Outdoor Door Bell on Hanging Bracket with Chain Pull
Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight
Brass Outdoor Door Bell on Hanging Bracket with Chain Pull A very decorative piece with a delightful ring, the bell is decorated with angels and serpents it hangs on a decorative bra...
Brass
Sold
H 15 in W 17 in D 9 in
19th Century Brass and Iron Monastery Door Bell This is a very unusual item
Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight
19th Century Brass and Iron Monastery Door Bell This is a very unusual item, the large brass bell is housed in an attractive wrought Brass frame, it...
Brass
Sold
H 36 in W 18.25 in D 18.5 in
Antique Pair of Black Forest Jardinière’s Hand Carved Switzerland circaLate1800s
Located in Highwood, IL
Black Forest Pair of Jardinière’s hand carved in Switzerland during the late 1800s. The Jardinière’s are complete with their original metal liners and are ready to be planted. Black Forest Furniture first began to appear in the mid-1800s in Brienz, Switzerland and originally only included small Black Forest animal objects made for the tourist trade. In the late 1800s, as tourism traffic increased, so did the number and Size of Black Forest Carvings and soon thereafter was followed by Black Forest Furniture. As luck would have it, Old Plank has recently discovered a treasure Trove of Black Forest Carved...
Tin
Sold
H 36.2 in W 20.9 in D 27.4 in
Stunning Antique Black Forest Fireplace Chair by Horrix w Excellent Upholstery
By Horrix
Located in Lisse, NL
Amazing quality carved, great condition, beautifully upholstered and rare antique chair. Over the years we have sold beautiful Black Forest antiq...
Upholstery, Oak
French Black Forest Planter
Located in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire
Late 19th C French Black Forest carved oak planter. 1890. Reference: 7500 Dimensions 58.5 inches (149 cms) Wide 14 inches (36 cms) Deep 12 inches...
Oak
Sold
H 54.25 in W 23.62 in D 15.74 in
Black Forest Carved Wooden Planter Jardinière, Zwitzerland, circa 1890
By Black Forest
Located in Verviers, BE
The Wooden Planter features a pierced carving of a floral basket flanked by scrolled Grapevines. And sides of the box are carved to look like rough wooden boards. Raised on a Turned ...
Wood
Fox Brass Wall Hook
Located in New York, NY
A substantial brass animal fox wall hook, circa late-20th century. A detailed fox head with hook under chin area to hang coat, jacket, towel, etc. A great decorative wall piece. Dime...
Brass
Sold
H 34.85 in W 22.45 in D 19.69 in
19th Century French Carved Oak Black Forest Plant Stand Jardinière Flower Box
Located in Ijzendijke, NL
Gorgeous fully hand carved Black Forest 19th century plant stand / jardiniere in hand carved Fruitwood. The stand body has outstanding carvings with the center a dimensional carved...
Fruitwood
Old German Hand-Carved and Hand-Painted Wooden Sleigh
Located in Barntrup, DE
This gorgeous and handcrafted thick wooden sleigh features floral and foliate motif carvings and a carved woman figurehead at the front, flanked by two h...
Iron
19th Century French Oak Planter
Located in High Point, NC
This elegant antique planter was hand made in France, circa 1870. Rectangular in shape and made of oak, the detailed jardinière stands on four hand turned feet. It is hand carved dec...
Zinc