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 Walnut Bird Mantel Clock
Located in Queens, NY
Rustic Black Forest (19th Century) walnut carved mantel clock with 1 large bird and several small chicks within a floral environment. (Not working)
Glass, Walnut
$3,937Sale Price|58% Off
Monumental Antique German Black Forest Eagle Chamois Mantel Hunt Clock
Located in Dayton, OH
Monumental 19th century antique German Black Forest mantel clock featuring carved high relief details with a winged bald eagle mounted atop...
Hardwood
19th Century Swiss Carved Walnut Clock with Cherubs and Animal Motifs
Located in Dallas, TX
Make a striking statement on a mantel, console, or buffet with this important antique fruitwood clock, crafted in Switzerland circa 1860. The exceptional timepiece is richly hand carved throughout, centered by two seated cherubs poised above the dial, engaged in a lively scene with a woven grape basket...
Enamel
19th Century Black Forest Mantel Clock
Located in Martlesham, GB
A lovely quality 19th century black forest mantle clock, the clock dial located at the centre within a farmyard scene consisting of a cockere...
Walnut
$5,156Sale Price|20% Off
Antique Mantel Clock with Eagle and Chamois Family, ca. 1900
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Antique Mantel Clock with Eagle and Chamois Family, ca. 1900 A large Black Forest wooden carved mantel clock with an eagle on top and a chamois defending her child. The clock is embedded in a handcarved wood pile. A masterpiece of Brienz woodcarvings which brightens up any chimney piece. The clockwork is cleaned and overworked by a clockmaker - working order. Soberly considered mantel clocks are small pendulum...
Wood
Large 19th Century Carved Black Forest Mantel Clock
By Black Forest
Located in London, GB
A Large Black Forest Mantle Clock Constructed in carved linden wood, fitted with a two train eight day striking clock; mounted on a shaped...
Wood
Antique Mantel Clock with Herdsman Family, Goats and Cattle
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Antique Mantel Clock with Herdsman Family, Goats and Cattle A Black Forest wooden carved mantel clock with a lovely herdsman family with their goats and cattles. A masterpiece of woodcarving which brightens up any chimney piece. The clockwork is replaced by battery driven one - working order. Soberly considered mantel clocks are small pendulum clocks with feet...
Wood
19th Century Black Forest Carved Mantle Clock Spill Vase Garniture Set
Located in Forney, TX
A magnificent antique Black Forest carved three piece mantel clock and garniture set. circa 1880 Swiss or German, late 19th century, a truly extraordinary work of art, exceptionally executed, intricately sculpted and finely detailed throughout, hand carved from a single block of wood, featuring a leaping stag deer over elaborate naturalistic foliage, a pair of pheasants with inset glass eyes, wooden dial with gilt incised Roman numeral hour markers and eight day time-and-strike movement, sculptural interwoven root carvings on a conforming molded edge base, flanked by a hunting dog and mountain rescue dog, both with inset glass eyes, retaining the original pressed glass spill vases. A spill vase was typically kept on the mantelpiece and filled with spills, splints, or tapers used to transfer fire from the fireplace to candles, lamps, a pipe or a cigar. Dimensions: Complete: (approx/depending on setup) 20.25" Tall, 30" Wide, 7.5" Deep Mantle / shelf clock: 20.25" High, 14" Wide, 7.5" Deep Dog sculpture garniture: 13" High, 4.75" Wide, 4.25" Deep (each) Great antique condition with beautifully aged warm rich dark patina. Minor wear consistent with age. Currently working and keeping good time, key and pendulum included. As with all antique clocks...
Glass, Wood
$2,980Sale Price|20% Off
Great Lodge Style Antler Mantel Clock 1900
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Great Lodge Style Antler Mantel Clock 1900 A rare antique lodge style mantel clock. Oakwood case, richly decorated with antlers from the deer and fallow deer, mountain goat antlers ...
Wood, Antler
Vintage Black Forest Tramp Art Radium-Painted Mantel Clock
Located in Dekalb, IL
Architectural mantel clock rendered in dense, highly textured tramp art carving, built up from layered chip-carved wood to form a cathedral-like façade. The case features deeply face...
Wood
19th Century 'Black Forest' Carved Clock with Hunter and Hound
Located in London, GB
A black forest carved hunt clock Constructed from native Swiss Lindenwood, the clock movement denoting the hours in enamelled Roman numerals and housed w...
Wood
$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
Aristede De Ranieri Signed Art Nouveau Sculptural Mantel or Table Clock
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
Thia antique mantel or table clock was made by the well known Italian born sculptor Archimede de Ranieri, who did much of his work in France and made this in approximately 1900 in th...
Metal
$14,950Sale Price|21% Off
H 20 in W 19.13 in D 8 in
French 19th Century Louis XV Style Gilt Bronze Cherubs & Rooster Mantel Clock
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A very fine French 19th century Louis XV style gilt bronze and white marble figural mantel clock. The finely chased ormolu body, with its original two-tone mercury gilt, centered with a circular enameled porcelain clock face with Roman and Arabic numeral dials and inscribed 'A. Thomas - Fabt de Bronze - 56, Rue de Turenne - Paris', surmounted with a pair of playful seated cherubs amidst clouds and wreaths, the case crowned with a figure of a Gallic Rooster (Coq Gaulois...
Marble, Bronze, Ormolu
Carved Swiss Black Forest Chalet Clock, circa 1880
Located in Evergreen, CO
Intricate, painstaking detail is featured in this rare and magnificent, hand-carved, Black Forest chalet clock, which has professionally restored woodwork...
Walnut
$10,750
H 22 in W 14 in D 9 in
Outstanding Late 19th Century Gilt Bronze Mantle Clock by Dagrin and Philippe
Located in Long Island City, NY
An outstanding late 19th century gilt bronze mantel (fireplace) clock by Dagrin and Philippe By Dagrin and Philippe A large gilt bronze, beautifully dressed sculpture...
Bronze, Ormolu
$7,057
H 20.48 in W 9.45 in D 3.75 in
French Restauration Period Ormolu Lyre Mantel Clock with Apollo Mask
Located in Worpswede / Bremen, DE
An unusual French Restauration period ormolu mantel clock. The elaborately pierced gilt bronze case in the form of a lyre, with an Apollo mask cresting, on a white marble stepped bas...
Marble, Bronze
Fine quality antique 19th century Black Forest cuckoo clock
Located in Ipswich, GB
Fine quality antique 19th century Black Forest cuckoo clock having a quality carved case with carved leaves and two carved birds flanking the clock...
Pine
$2,930
H 17.4 in W 12.5 in D 8.1 in
Large Antique Arts & Crafts Nutwood with Inlay Table or Mantel Clock, ca 1900.
Located in Lisse, NL
A rare and beautifully handcrafted Junghans mantel clock from the Arts & Crafts era, combining timeless design with exceptional craftsmanship. If you are looking for a truly excepti...
Brass, Bronze
Quality antique Black Forest cuckoo clock
Located in Ipswich, GB
Quality antique Black Forest cuckoo clock, having a quality traditional antique cuckoo clock decorated with carved leaves and a bird to the top a...
Pine
19th Century French mantel clock
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A very good quality late 19th Century French gilded ormolu and patinated bronze mantel clock, having a seated cherub holding the rains of a winged dragon pulling a scrolling foliate ...
Ormolu
$61,758
H 24.81 in W 10.44 in D 10.44 in
Antique French Gilt Bronze and Lapis Lazuli Mantel Clock after Falconet
Located in London, GB
French sculptor Etienne-Maurice Falconet (1716-1791) is the inspiration for this beautiful, sumptuous mantel clock. His clock, crafted in the late 18th Century and now on display at the Louvre Museum, caused such a stir when it was exhibited over 100 years later, at the Great Exhibition in Paris in 1900 that one reviewer claimed that it "attracted so much admiration from the crowds gathered around that the pressure was sufficient at times to endanger its safety." As well as this famed 'Three Graces...
Lapis Lazuli, Ormolu, Bronze
Antique French Sevres Mantel Clock
By Manufacture Nationale de Sèvres
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A very good quality French 19th century gilded ormolu and pink Sevres porcelain mantel clock. Having monopodia supports, a putti supporti...
Ormolu
Black Forest Lenzkirch Oak Wood Mantle Clock
Located in Astoria, NY
Black Forest Lenzkirch Oak Wood Mantle Clock, circa 1893, with domed top and applied gilt metal floral and rams head accents, silvered metal clock face and stepped rectangular base o...
Metal
Sold
H 33 in W 21.5 in D 8 in
19th Century Black Forest Carved Walnut Stag and Deer Figural Mantel Clock
Located in Dallas, TX
This exceptional Black Forest mantel clock, crafted in Switzerland circa 1860 from rich walnut, showcases masterful carving and grand scale. The elaborate composition features a prou...
Walnut
19th Century Twin Fusee Cuckoo Table Clock by Beha
By Johann Baptiste Beha
Located in Amersham, GB
This Black Forest cuckoo clock has a twin fusee movement complete with typical wooden plates and original bellows and pendulum. The case is made in the highest tradition of black for...
Steel
19th Century French Black Forest Carved Walnut Mantel Clock
Located in Dallas, TX
Crafted in France circa 1860, the antique fruitwood clock stands on a thick recessed plinth decorated with leaf motifs; the clock has an arched top with volutes and finials on both s...
Walnut
19th Century Large Hand-Carved Black Forest Mantel Clock
Located in London, GB
A large Black Forest mantle clock Constructed in carved linden wood, fitted with a two train 8 day striking clock movement; mounted on a shaped...
Wood, Hardwood
Black Forest Clock with Owl Family
Located in Petaluma, CA
Offering here a wonderfully humorous and adorable Black Forest clock. The mother owl sits atop the clock with todays meal in her mouth as her little...
Brass
Sold
H 24 in W 23 in D 14 in
19th Century Swiss Black Forest Carved Walnut Mantel Clock with Cherubs and Bird
Located in Dallas, TX
Decorate your buffet or mantel with this monumental antique fruitwood clock. Crafted in Switzerland, circa 1860, the masterpiece time keeper features two hand carved seated cherubs holding a grape basket with a duck, frog and reed decor underneath. The center face has blue enamel roman numbers, and the clock mechanism has been cleaned and checked by our clock expert, and is in very good working order. This important clock...
Enamel
Sold
H 28 in W 17.5 in D 9 in
19th Century Swiss Black Forest Carved Walnut Three-Piece Mantel Clock Set
Located in Dallas, TX
This monumental three-piece carved fruitwood cuckoo clock garniture set was carved in Switzerland, circa 1870, making it perfect for a mantel in the living room. The central timepiece features a beautiful rescue Saint Bernard dog at the pediment with intricate floral carvings throughout. Both vases feature hand carved bird and flower motifs and have the original cut-glass tulip flower...
Glass, Walnut
Antique Wooden Mantel Clock with Eagle, Swiss 1900
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Antique Wooden Mantel Clock with Eagle, Swiss 1900 A great carved linden wood mantel clock with a very detailled carved eagle sitting on a rock with foliage decorations. The porcelaine clockface has handpainted numerals, handcarved in Switzerland - Brienz ca. 1900. The clockwork was overworked by a clockmaker and is in working order. It comes with original key. Measures: Width 14.17" (36.0cm) Height 24.8" (63.0cm) Depth 5.12" (13.0cm) Soberly considered mantel clocks are small pendulum clocks...
Wood
Sold
H 15.75 in W 9.06 in D 3.75 in
Stunning & Rare 19th Century Black Forest Carved Bears Mantle Clock Thermometer
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
Wimbledon-Furniture Wimbledon-Furniture is delighted to offer for sale this stunning original 19th century black forest wood hand carved mantle clock and thermometer...
Wood
Late 19th Century Burr Walnut Mantle Clock by Lenzkirch
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
Good quality burr walnut clock with Lenzkirch movement circa 1895. Lenzkirch were a clock makers in the Black Forest region of Germany, this one w...
Walnut
Sold
H 18.71 in W 12.41 in D 4.93 in
Rare Original Black Forest Linden Wood Clock Garniture Set Original Candlesticks
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
We are delighted to offer for salethis lovely original late 19th century Black Forest Linden wood clock garniture set with original candles Its very rare to find sets with the can...
Wood