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.
Black Forest Porcelain Bowl with Wild Boar Figure Sofina Boutique Kitzbuehel
Located in Kitzbühel, Tirol
Completely handmade porcelain bowl with a hands-free natrualistic painted wild boar figure in grey colors. The fox is sitting in the middle of the bowl for decorating nuts or sweets ...
Porcelain
Set of Three Porcelain Bowls Winter Decor Sofina Boutique Kitzbuehel
Located in Kitzbühel, Tirol
These completely handmade porcelain bowls are painted by hand with a charming hands-free winter decor. Teh decor comes as a set of three decors. One shows...
Porcelain
Black Forest Porcelain Bowl with Fox Figure Sofina Boutique Kitzbuehel
Located in Kitzbühel, Tirol
Completely handmade porcelain bowl with a hands-free natrualistic painted fox figure in brown colors. The fox is sitting in the middle of the bowl for decor...
Porcelain
Black Forest Porcelain Bowl with Fox Figure Sofina Boutique Kitzbuehel
Located in Kitzbühel, Tirol
Completely handmade porcelain bowl with a hands-free natrualistic painted fox figure in brown colors. The fox is sitting in the middle of the bowl for decorating nuts or sweets aroun...
Porcelain
Black Forest Porcelain Bowl with Squirrel Figure Sofina Boutique Kitzbuehel
Located in Kitzbühel, Tirol
Completely handmade porcelain bowl with a hands-free painted squirrel in brown in the center of the bowl. 24-carat gold rimmed. Comes also in black with platinum frame. Available in ...
Porcelain
Country Style Porcelain Dish with Skier Decor Sofina Boutique Kitzbuehel
Located in Kitzbühel, Tirol
Charming hands-free painted porcelain dish with platinum rim. Hands-free painted in a classic winter decor with a skier, mountains and trees. Completely h...
Porcelain
Black Forest Oval Porcelain Plate with Wild Boars Sofina Boutique Kitzbühel
Located in Kitzbühel, Tirol
Completely handmade and hands-free painted large oval porcelain plate for decoration. Two natural moulded porcelain figures wild boars are sittin...
Porcelain
Porcelain Bowl with Fox Figure Sofina Boutique Kitzbuehel
Located in Kitzbühel, Tirol
Completely handmade porcelain bowl with a hands-free naturalistic painted fox in brown colors. The fox is sitting in the middle of the bowl for decorating nuts or sweets around the fox figure...
Porcelain
Black Forest Porcelain Dish Christmas Garland Sofina Boutique Kitzbuehel
Located in Kitzbühel, Tirol
Hands-free painted porcelain dish with platinum rim. Hands-free painted in a classic black forest christmas decor with green fir and pine cone garland. Completely handmade in Bavaria...
Porcelain
Porcelain Bowl with Fox Figure Sofina Boutique Kitzbuehel
Located in Kitzbühel, Tirol
Completely handmade porcelain bowl with a hands-free naturalistic painted fox in brown colors. The fox is sitting in the middle of the bowl for decorating nuts or sweets around the fox figure...
Porcelain
Black Forest Porcelain Bowl with Fox Figure Sofina Boutique Kitzbuehel
Located in Kitzbühel, Tirol
Completely handmade porcelain bowl with a hands-free naturalistic painted fox figure in brown colors. The fox is sitting in the middle of the bowl for decorating nuts or sweets aroun...
Porcelain
Black Forest Hand-Crafted Porcelain Bowl Fox Figure Sofina Boutique Kitzbuehel
Located in Kitzbühel, Tirol
Completely handmade porcelain bowl with a hands-free naturalistic painted fox figure in brown colors. The fox is sitting in the middle of the bowl for decorating nuts or sweets aroun...
Porcelain
Black Forest Porcelain Bowl with Bambi Figure Sofina Boutique Kitzbuehel
Located in Kitzbühel, Tirol
Completely handmade porcelain bowl in the style of black forest with a hands-free naturalistic painted bambi figure in brown. The bambi is sitting in the middle of the bowl for decor...
Porcelain
$212Sale Price / set|56% Off
Italy Set of Two Black Faux Horn Bowls in Black Forest Style
Located in Brescia, IT
Italy set of two black faux horn and metal chrome bowls in mountain style contemporary production. Set of two decorative objects in Black Forest style....
Silver Plate
Black Forest Porcelain Bowl with Bambi Figure Sofina Boutique Kitzbuehel
Located in Kitzbühel, Tirol
Completely handmade porcelain bowl with a hands-free naturalistic painted bambi figure in brown. The bambi is sitting in the middle of the bowl for decorating nuts or sweets around. ...
Porcelain
Black Forest Porcelain Bowl with Fox Handpainted Sofina Boutique Kitzbuehel
Located in Kitzbühel, Tirol
Completely handmade porcelain bowl with a hands-free natrualistic painted fox figure in brown colors. The fox is sitting in the middle of the bowl for decorating nuts or sweets aroun...
Porcelain
Black Forest Bambi Figure Porcelain Sofina Boutique Kitzbuehel
Located in Kitzbühel, Tirol
Completely handmade porcelain bowl with a hands-free naturalistic painted bambi figure in brown. The bambi is sitting in the middle of the bowl for decorating nuts or sweets around. ...
Porcelain
Black Forest Porcelain Bowl with Bambi Figure Sofina Boutique Kitzbuehel
Located in Kitzbühel, Tirol
Completely handmade porcelain bowl with a hands-free natrualistic painted bambi figure in brown. The bambi is sitting in the middle of the bowl for decorating nuts or sweets around. ...
Porcelain
Porcelain Bowl with Bambi Figure Handpainted Sofina Boutique Kitzbuehel
Located in Kitzbühel, Tirol
Completely handmade porcelain bowl with a hands-free naturalistic painted bambi figure in brown. The bambi is sitting in the middle of the bowl for decorating nuts or sweets around. ...
Porcelain
Black Forest Porcelain Bowl with Fox Figure Sofina Boutique Kitzbuehel
Located in Kitzbühel, Tirol
Completely handmade porcelain bowl with a hands-free natrualistic painted fox figure in brown colors. The fox is sitting in the middle of the bowl for decor...
Porcelain
Black Forest German Porcelain Bowl with Deer Figure Sofina Boutique Kitzbühel
Located in Kitzbühel, Tirol
Completely handmade porcelain bowl with a hands-free painted bambi in the center of the bowl. The charming bambi figure is hand painted in black and sits in the middle of the dish. T...
Porcelain
Antique Business Card Tray with Deer Antler Decorations, Germany, ca. 1900
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Antique Business card tray with deer horn antler decorations, Germany ca. 1900 A rustic business card tray, made of turned nut wood with deer antle...
Wood
Black Forest Porcelain Dish with Deer Figure Sofina Boutique Kitzbuehel
Located in Kitzbühel, Tirol
Charming completely handmade and hands-free painted oval porcelain plate. The naturalistic moulded porcelain bambi figure and three porcelain pine cones fixed on the porcelain plate ...
Porcelain
Black Forest Porcelain Bowl Hand Painted Deer Figure Sofina Boutique Kitzbühel
Located in Kitzbühel, Tirol
Completely handmade porcelain bowl with a hands-free painted bambi in the center of the bowl. The charming bambi figure is painted in black and sits in the middle of the dish. The po...
Porcelain
Black Forest Oval Porcelain Plate with Squirrels Sofina Boutique Kitzbühel
Located in Kitzbühel, Tirol
Completely handmade and hands-free painted large oval porcelain plate. Two natural molded porcelain squirrel figures sitting on oak leaves and oaks ...
Porcelain
Black Forest Hand-Crafted Porcelain Dish Bambi Sofina Boutique Kitzbühel
Located in Kitzbühel, Tirol
Completely handmade and hands-free painted large oval porcelain plate in Black Forest style. A natural molded porcelain bambi figure is sitting left hand and three pines are fixed on...
Porcelain
Black Forest Porcelain Dish Christmas Garland Sofina Boutique Kitzbuehel
Located in Kitzbühel, Tirol
Hands-free painted porcelain dish with platinum rim. Painted in a classic black forest Christmas decor with green fir and pine cone garland. Completely handmade in Bavaria/Germany.
Porcelain
Porcelain Bowl with Fox Figure Sofina Boutique Kitzbuehel
Located in Kitzbühel, Tirol
Completely handmade porcelain bowl with a hands-free naturalistic painted fox in brown colors. The fox is sitting in the middle of the bowl for decorating nuts or sweets around the fox figure...
Porcelain
$834 / item
H 6.7 in Dm 5.52 in
Black Forest Vase Green Crystal with Hunting Decor Sofina Boutique Kitzbuehel
Located in Kitzbühel, Tirol
Handblown crystal vase in green glass with hand-edged hunting scene in the style of black forest. The decor is an antique decor with deers, trees and bambis all around. Completely ha...
Crystal
Set of Three Porcelain Bowls Winter Decor Sofina Boutique Kitzbuehel
Located in Kitzbühel, Tirol
These completely handmade porcelain bowls are painted by hand with a charming hands-free winter decor . The decor comes as a set of three designs. One sho...
Porcelain
Black Forest Porcelain Vase Hunting Decor Sofina Boutique Kitzbuehel
Located in Kitzbühel, Tirol
Hands-free painted porcelain vase with a hunting design with deers and trees all around. Lined with a green line and rimmed with a 24 carat gold line. Completely hand painted in Bava...
Porcelain
$713 / item
H 4.14 in Dm 7.88 in
Black Forest Porcelain Bowl with Bambi Figure Sofina Boutique Kitzbuehel
Located in Kitzbühel, Tirol
Black forest handmade porcelain bowl with a hands-free naturalistic painted bambi figure in brown in country style. The bambi is sitting in the middle of the bowl for decorating nuts...
Porcelain
$272 / item
H 3.94 in W 3.94 in D 2.76 in
Black Forest Hand-Painted Porcelain Bambi Figur Sofina Boutique Kitzbuehel
Located in Kitzbühel, Tirol
Hand painted porcelain bambi figure. Hand painted in a naturalistic style. The bambi figure is completely handmade in Bavaria. About Sofina porcelain: Sofina porcelain was found 20...
Porcelain
$508 / item
H 2.76 in Dm 6.7 in
Modern Dog Bowl Porcelain Handpainted Customized Sofina Boutique Kitzbuehel
Located in Kitzbühel, Tirol
For all dog lovers. Design your own dog bowl with the portrait of your dog and the name. You can choose the color of letterning name and the color of the rim. Please send us the phot...
Porcelain
$822 / item
H 1.58 in W 7.88 in D 9.65 in
Country Style Easter Decor Porcelain Pastry Dish Sofina Boutique Kitzbuehel
Located in Kitzbühel, Tirol
These completely handmade porcelain pastry dish is hands-free painted with a charming easter decor with rabbits and colored eggs. Rimmed by hand with a Fi...
Porcelain
Set of Two Porcelain Bowls Easter Decor Sofina Boutique Kitzbuehel
Located in Kitzbühel, Tirol
Set of two completely handmade and hands-free painted porcelain bowls with a Easter decor. Rimmed with a fine platinum line. Handmade in Bavaria/Germany b...
Porcelain
$2,177 / item
H 3.94 in W 11.03 in D 15.36 in
Black Forest Oval Porcelain Plate with Wild Boars Sofina Boutique Kitzbühel
Located in Kitzbühel, Tirol
Completely handmade and hands-free painted large oval porcelain plate for decoration. Two natural moulded porcelain figures wild boars are sittin...
Porcelain
$272 / item
H 4.73 in Dm 5.71 in
Black Forest Porcelain Figure Fox Handpainted Sofina Boutique Kitzbuehel
Located in Kitzbühel, Tirol
Completely handmade porcelain figure with a hands-free naturalistic hand-painted fox in brown colors in the style of Black Forest. Handmade in Bavaria/Germany by Sofina Boutique Kitz...
Porcelain
$471 / item
H 2.76 in Dm 6.7 in
Modern Personalized Hand Painted Porcelain Dog Bowl Sofina Boutique Kitzbuehel
Located in Kitzbühel, Tirol
Design your own dog bowl. Sofina Boutique Kitzbuehel offers a completely handmade and hands-free painted porcelain dog bowl in white porcelain, w...
Porcelain
Swiss Black Forest Fallow Deer and Stag Antler Bowl
Located in Chicago, IL
Drawing from the rich tradition of Black Forest craftsmanship, this 21st-century Swiss bowl is an artful composition of fallow deer and stag antlers. The fallow deer antlers form the...
Antler
Black Forest Bear Fruit Bowl
By Black Forest
Located in Newark, England
Exceptional twin bear fruit bowl by Black Forest circa 1890. The bowl surmounted by twin bears holding the central bowl with a tight grip boldly carved with beautiful detail the bear...
Wood
Porcelain Bowl with Bambi Figure Sofina Boutique Kitzbuehel
Located in Kitzbühel, Tirol
Completely handmade porcelain bowl with a hands-free naturalistic painted bambi figure in brown. The bambi is sitting in the middle of the bowl for decorating nuts or sweets around. ...
Porcelain
Black Forest Porcelain Bowl with Fox Figure Sofina Boutique Kitzbuehel
Located in Kitzbühel, Tirol
Completely handmade porcelain bowl with a hands-free naturalistic painted fox figure in brown colors. The fox is sitting in the middle of the bowl for decorating nuts or sweets aroun...
Porcelain
Antique Wooden Carved Casket with Birds, Brienz, circa 1890
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Antique Wooden Carved Casket with Birds, Brienz, circa 1890 A very nice hand carved black forest sewing box or jewel case with two birds on the lid. Ins...
Wood
Sold
H 3.55 in W 13.19 in D 8.27 in
Stunning Musical Black Forest Wood Fruit Bowl with Leaves Etc Nicely Hand Carved
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
Wimbledon-Furniture Wimbledon-Furniture is delighted to offer for sale this lovely black forest wood musical hand carved fruit bowl dish A good...
Oak
Sold
H 3.94 in W 11.03 in D 15.36 in
Black Forest Oval Porcelain Plate with Squirrels Sofina Boutique Kitzbühel
Located in Kitzbühel, Tirol
Completely handmade and hands-free painted large oval porcelain plate. Two natural molded porcelain squirrel figures sitting on oak leaves and oaks ...
Porcelain
Swiss Black Forest Carved Linden Wood and Cut Glass Compote
By Black Forest
Located in Downingtown, PA
Swiss Black Forest carved linden wood and cut glass compote, Marked Gewidmet Von Turnverein/ Meiringen, circa 1890-1900. The Black Forest compot...
Glass, Wood
Porcelain Bowl with Bambi Figure Sofina Boutique Kitzbuehel
Located in Kitzbühel, Tirol
Completely handmade porcelain bowl with a hands-free naturalistic painted bambi figure in brown. The bambi is sitting in the middle of the bowl for decorating nuts or sweets around. ...
Porcelain
Black Forest Porcelain Bowl with Bambi Figure Sofina Boutique Kitzbuehel
Located in Kitzbühel, Tirol
Completely handmade porcelain bowl with a hands-free natrualistic painted bambi figure in brown. The bambi is sitting in the middle of the bowl for decorating nuts or sweets around. ...
Porcelain
Black Forest Porcelain Bowl with Fox Figure Sofina Boutique Kitzbuehel
Located in Kitzbühel, Tirol
Completely handmade porcelain bowl with a hands-free natrualistic painted fox figure in brown colors. The fox is sitting in the middle of the bowl for decorating nuts or sweets aroun...
Porcelain
Late 19th Century Black Forest Tray
Located in High Point, NC
19th century black forest hand-carved tray from Switzerland, made from fruitwood.
Fruitwood