Black Forest Clocks
BLACK FOREST STYLE
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.
10
to
10
19
10
10
10
167
141
134
128
73
71
59
38
35
19
18
14
13
11
2
2
1
1
1
9
Height
to
Width
to
10
6
4
4
2
9
3
2
1
1
Item Ships From: USA
Style: Black Forest
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...
Category
Late 19th Century European Antique Black Forest Clocks
Materials
Glass, Wood
Late 18th Century Liege Burled Walnut Tall Case Clock
Located in New Orleans, LA
A stately late 18th century Belgian, Liege, tall case clock case having a period Black Forest clock workings with wooden enameled dial and hand-painted fruit decoration, the original...
Category
Late 18th Century Belgian Antique Black Forest Clocks
Materials
Bronze, Enamel, Iron
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...
Category
1880s Swiss Antique Black Forest Clocks
Materials
Walnut
19th Century Highly Carved French Oak Sculpture of a Man Harvesting Wine Grapes
Located in Dallas, TX
This beautiful sculpture has been carved from solid French oak during the latter half of the 19th century. The style is that of Black Forest, with realistic depictions of branches, leaves, grapes, and more. Originally a French clock, most of the timing mechanisms have long been removed. The elaborate carving depicts a man harvesting wine grapes on rocky terrain dotted with vegetation. Our gatherer, who is clad in an overcoat and large brimmed hat, is carrying a hod (hotte in French) full of freshly picked grapes. A large wooden bucket...
Category
19th Century French Antique Black Forest Clocks
Materials
Wood
Black Forest Cuckoo Clock
Located in Nantucket, MA
Carved Walnut Black Forest Cuckoo Clock in form of a Chalet, with applied carved wooden leaves, grapes and bird, circa 1900, with pierced res...
Category
Late 19th Century German Antique Black Forest Clocks
Materials
Walnut
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 ato...
Category
Mid-19th Century Antique Black Forest Clocks
Materials
Hardwood
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...
Category
Mid-19th Century Swiss Antique Black Forest Clocks
Materials
Enamel
Black Forest Walnut Bird Mantel Clock
Located in New York, NY
Rustic Black Forest (19th Century) walnut carved mantel clock with 1 large bird and several small chicks within a floral environment. (Not working)
Category
19th Century European Antique Black Forest Clocks
Materials
Glass, Walnut
19th Century Rustic Black Forest Grandfather Clock
Located in New York, NY
19th century rustic Black Forest grandfather clock composed of walnut elaborately carved with oak leaves and bears in high relief (Non-o...
Category
19th Century German Antique Black Forest Clocks
Materials
Metal
Monumental Black Forest Carved Mantel or Shelf Clock with Hunter and Dog
Located in Milford, NH
A monumental carved walnut black forest mantel or shelf clock sporting / hunting motif. Featuring a hunter with a long rifle or musket slung over his should...
Category
19th Century German Antique Black Forest Clocks
Materials
Brass
Related Items
18th Century Chippendale Tall Case Clock with Rocking Ship Automaton
Located in Essex, MA
IRISH TALL-CASE CLOCK BY WILLIAM HERON
Late 18th Century
Mahogany case, the bonnet with a scrolled broken arch pediment and the trunk with quarter columns. Rocking ship movement in...
Category
Late 18th Century Northern Irish Antique Black Forest Clocks
Materials
Brass, Iron
Fine 18th Century Irish Mahogany Long Case Clock
Located in Lincolnshire, GB
A fine example of an 18th century mahogany long case clock with fantastic carved details to the hood and a flame mahogany door, the eight day ...
Category
1770s Irish Antique Black Forest Clocks
Materials
Mahogany
Very Large 19th Century Clock Garniture
By Napoléon III
Located in London, GB
A wonderful garniture in marble and ormolu, the central clock face engraved in ormolu and surrounded by enameled numerals. The clock is adorned by two amorous ormolu figures of an an...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Black Forest Clocks
Materials
Bronze
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 ...
Category
Late 19th Century German Antique Black Forest Clocks
Materials
Wood
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...
Category
19th Century French Antique Black Forest Clocks
Materials
Lapis Lazuli, Ormolu, Bronze
H 24.81 in W 10.44 in D 10.44 in
19th Century Louis XVI Style Mantel Clock of a Lion Signed Festeau Le Jeune
Located in Worpswede / Bremen, DE
The clock is signed by the Clockmaker Festeau Le Jeune. The case after a design of François Vion in form of a lion supporting a cylindrical case draped with ribbon tied laurel swags ...
Category
Mid-19th Century French Antique Black Forest Clocks
Materials
Bronze
H 22.45 in W 14.57 in D 8.27 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...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Black Forest Clocks
Materials
Marble, Ormolu, Bronze
H 20 in W 19.13 in D 8 in
Victorian Oak Cased Mantel Cuckoo Clock
Located in Norwich, GB
Victorian Cuckoo mantel (fireplace) clock in a chalet style oak case with galleried front and barley twist support columns. Beautifully carved decoration and Roman numerals to the dial.
Brass thirty hour movement with Cuckoo automation striking and calling the hours and halves.
This clock is typical of the best quality Cuckoo clocks...
Category
1870s German Antique Black Forest Clocks
Materials
Oak
18th Century Blue Swedish Baroque Long Case Clock
Located in Kramfors, SE
Blue baroque long case clock from the mid to late 18th century, between 1770 and 1790. The clock is Swedish and made from Swedish pine with the original blue paint as well as the aut...
Category
Late 18th Century Swedish Antique Black Forest Clocks
Materials
Pine
Large Antique Black Forest Carved Cuckoo Clock with Stag Head
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 ...
Category
Late 19th Century German Antique Black Forest Clocks
Materials
Wood
French Provincial Walnut Tall Case Clock, 19th Century
Located in Savannah, GA
French Provincial Walnut Tall Case Clock, 19th Century
Category
19th Century French Antique Black Forest Clocks
Materials
Brass
French 19th Century Mantle Clock
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A very good quality French late 19th century gilded ormolu and champleve enamel mantel (fireplace) clock. Having urns and a cherub above the eight day clock that chimes...
Category
19th Century French Antique Black Forest Clocks
Materials
Enamel, Ormolu
Previously Available Items
Antique German Hand Carved Black Forest "Cuckoo" Clock, Circa 1890.
Located in New Orleans, LA
Antique German Hand Carved Black Forest "Cuckoo" Clock, Circa 1890.
Category
Late 19th Century German Antique Black Forest Clocks
Materials
Walnut
Antique German Schatz & Sohne Black Forest 8 Day Stag Hunt Cuckoo Clock 17"
By Schatz
Located in Dayton, OH
Antique German Schatz & Sohne Black Forest eight day cuckoo clock. Features hunt / game / taxidermy theme with carved deer / stag , rabbit, bird and mantel with gun and tote. Cast iron acorn weights.
Schatz Clock Company aka Jahresuhrenfabrik (Est. Mid 1850s) was founded by August Schatz and Anton Harder in the Black Forest region of Triburg, Germany. It was first registered in 1881 as Schatz & Wintermantel, and was re-structured in 1884 as Jahresuhrenfabrik A.G. It was registered again in1897 as Jahresuhrenfabrik GmbH, and finally in 1923 as Jahresuhrenfabrik August Schatz & Sohne.
The German word, ‘Jahresuhrenfabrik’ means ‘Year Clock Factory’ and is appropriate as the founders committed to producing clocks that could accurately keep time over a long period with a minimum of winding or other maintenance. In the late 19th century, August Schatz worked with inventor Anton Harder with the goal of making an accurate clock that only needed winding once a year. They almost succeeded when they made the 400-day, or Anniversary, clock but it wasn’t as accurate as they’d hoped.
Today, the company is known for two types of clocks with different ‘life spans’ for the winding: the Schatz 400-day clock and the 1000-day clock. This far exceeded the other leading clocks of the time which required winding every week or so. The 400-day clock was a sensation in part because it could be wound once yearly, often in association with a special event like a birthday or other anniversary. This made Schatz clocks ideal for gifts.
Harder sold his patent is 1884 to F.A.L. deGruyter of Amsterdam and they continued the production of Jahresuhrenfabrik clocks, but they allowed the patent to expire.
After it did expire in 1887, several clockmakers in Germany’s Black Forest region began manufacturing torsion clocks...
Category
Early 20th Century Black Forest Clocks
Materials
Hardwood
H 16.5 in W 9 in D 11.5 in
Vintage Black Forest German Walnut Swiss Musical Regula Cuckoo Clock Edelweiss
Located in Dayton, OH
A large vintage black forest cuckoo wall clock, made in Germany. Features Regula-72 German 8 day movement with Cuendet Swiss musical movement pl...
Category
Mid-20th Century Black Forest Clocks
Materials
Walnut
H 26 in W 19 in D 9 in
Rare Antique George Kuehl German Black Forest Figural Walnut Cuckoo Clock
Located in Dayton, OH
George Kuehl & Co. antique Black Forest carved wood cuckoo clock in the traditional house form, decorated with leaves and birds. Includes pine cone shaped weights and additional pen...
Category
Early 20th Century Black Forest Clocks
Materials
Walnut
Antique 1930s G.M. Angem German Cuckoo Clock Black Forest Figural Birds
Located in Dayton, OH
Antique circa 1930’s German Black Forest cuckoo clock decorated with carved branches, leaves and bird with orange glass eye; includes ...
Category
1930s Vintage Black Forest Clocks
Materials
Hardwood
Vintage Black Forest Hunter Cuckoo Clock Regula German Deer Rabbit G.M. 8 Day
Located in Dayton, OH
Vintage German black forest cuckoo clock with Regula works, decorated in a hunting motif featuring a game bag, forest leaves, ...
Category
Mid-20th Century Black Forest Clocks
Materials
Hardwood
H 22.5 in W 14.5 in D 9 in
Black Forest Cuckoo Clock Edelweiss Fröhliche Wanderer German Swiss
Located in Dayton, OH
"Vintage 2002 German Black Forest cuckoo clock by A. Schneider Sohne with Regula works; chimes and includes Romance Swiss made music b...
Category
Late 20th Century Black Forest Clocks
Materials
Hardwood, Paint
Magnificent German Black Forest Spread Winged Eagle Cuckoo Wall Clock, 20th Cent
By Black Forest
Located in Hollywood, SC
The Linden wood case of grand proportions has a carved realistic perched spread winged eagle with fighting stags within a wooded landscape all amongst a branched garland of oak leave...
Category
20th Century German Black Forest Clocks
Materials
Brass
H 54 in W 27 in D 12 in
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...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Black Forest Clocks
Materials
Walnut
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...
Category
Late 19th Century Swiss Antique Black Forest Clocks
Materials
Brass
Vintage West German Black Forest 8 Day Cuckoo Clock Hunters Quail Game Rifle
Located in Dayton, OH
Vintage carved Black Forest cuckoo clock made in West Germany, featuring hunting bags with a rabbit and a pheasant, topped with crossed rifles and mounted stag...
Category
Mid-20th Century Black Forest Clocks
Materials
Hardwood
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...
Category
Late 19th Century Swiss Antique Black Forest Clocks
Materials
Glass, Walnut
Black Forest clocks for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a broad range of unique Black Forest clocks for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the Early 20th Century, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage clocks created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include decorative objects, wall decorations, folk art and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with wood, walnut and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Black Forest clocks made in a specific country, there are Europe, Germany, and Switzerland pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original clocks, popular names associated with this style include Black Forest, and Johann Baptiste Beha. It’s true that these talented designers have at times inspired knockoffs, but our experienced specialists have partnered with only top vetted sellers to offer authentic pieces that come with a buyer protection guarantee. Prices for clocks differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $700 and tops out at $65,000 while the average work can sell for $4,610.
Recently Viewed
View AllMore Ways To Browse
Grandfather Clock Hand Painted
Black Mantel Clock French
Antique Clock Sound
Mantel Clock And Urn
French Clock Round
Porcelain Bronze Mantel Clock
French Cherub Clock
Three Piece Clock
Antique Bracket Clock Case
Gold Pendulum Mantel Clock
Polish Watches
French Empire Gilt Bronze Clock
Small Brass Clock
Unusual Antique Clock
Unusual Clocks Antique Clocks
Unusual Antique Clocks
Unusual Clock Antique Clocks
Antique Unusual Clocks Antique Clocks