Black Forest Wall 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.
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Style: Black Forest
Antique Hand-Carved Cuckoo Clock, Black Forest ca. 1900
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Antique Hand-Carved Cuckoo Clock, Black Forest ca. 1900
A beautiful antique Black Forest cuckoo clock with numerous detailed carvings, a chamois with fawn on the roof of the clock, ...
Category
Early 1900s German Antique Black Forest Wall Clocks
Materials
Wood
19th Century black forest walnut cuckoo clock
Located in Martlesham, GB
A superb quality 19th Century black forest carved walnut cuckoo clock with a 30 hour movement, the clock portraying a hunting scene consisting of a dears head at the top with antlers...
Category
1880s Swiss Antique Black Forest Wall Clocks
Materials
Walnut
Antique Cabin Antler Wall Clock with Deer Head Austria ca. 1900
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Antique Cabin Antler Wall Clock with Deer Head Austria ca. 1900
A large rustic antler wall clock. The wooden case is richly decorated with plaster applications, a plaster deer...
Category
Late 19th Century Austrian Antique Black Forest Wall Clocks
Materials
Plaster, Wood, Antler
Large Swiss Black Forest Hand Carved Wall Clock Plaque with Pheasant Sculptures
Located in Lisse, NL
This large Swiss masterpiece wall plaque with clock is in perfect condition.
The realistic and detailed carving consists of a pair of pheasant, a bird's nest, fine leafs and branche...
Category
Late 19th Century Swiss Antique Black Forest Wall Clocks
Materials
Wood
Huge Antique Victorian Era Black Forest Wall Clock or Mirror Frame with Hare
Located in Lisse, NL
Incredible size and great quality black forest hunting plaque for wall mounting with Fruits of the Hunt.
This rare size and all hand-carv...
Category
Late 19th Century German Antique Black Forest Wall Clocks
Materials
Nutwood
Antique Cabin Antler Wall Clock with Deer and Chamois Austria ca. 1900
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Antique Cabin Antler Wall Clock with Deer and Chamois Austria ca. 1900
A great rustic antler wall clock. The wooden case is richly decorated with plaster applications, a plaster deer...
Category
Late 19th Century Austrian Antique Black Forest Wall Clocks
Materials
Wood, Plaster, Antler
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Large Masterly Carved Swiss Black Forest Nutwood Chalet with Clock and Music Box
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Black Forest Cuckoo Clock
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Mocap 'Black White' Illusionistic Wall Clock
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Previously Available Items
German E. Schmeckenbecher 8 Day Regula Black Forest Hunt Cuckoo Clock 23"
Located in Dayton, OH
Vintage mid to late 20th century wall hanging, 8 day, chiming cuckoo clock by E. Schmeckenbecher. Features a carved wood Black Forest hunter design...
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Vintage Black Forest German Carved Walnut Figural Cuckoo Wall Clock 12"
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Large Masterly Carved Black Forest Nutwood Wall Clock w. Owl Sculpture & Bracket
Located in Lisse, NL
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Antique German Hand Carved Black Forest "Cuckoo" Clock, Circa 1890.
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Antique German Schatz & Sohne Black Forest 8 Day Stag Hunt Cuckoo Clock 17"
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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...
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H 16.5 in W 9 in D 11.5 in
Vintage Black Forest German Walnut Swiss Musical Regula Cuckoo Clock Edelweiss
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Rare Antique George Kuehl German Black Forest Figural Walnut Cuckoo Clock
Located in Dayton, OH
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Antique 1930s G.M. Angem German Cuckoo Clock Black Forest Figural Birds
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Vintage Black Forest Hunter Cuckoo Clock Regula German Deer Rabbit G.M. 8 Day
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Sizable Antique & Hand-Carved Black Forest Wooden Wall Clock w. Brass Pendulum
Located in Lisse, NL
Fine quality, hand carved antique oak wall clock.
This beautiful black Forest wall clock from the earliest years of the twentieth century is ...
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Early 20th Century German Black Forest Wall Clocks
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H 31.3 in W 14.6 in D 8 in
Magnificent German Black Forest Spread Winged Eagle Cuckoo Wall Clock, 20th Cent
By Black Forest
Located in Charleston, 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...
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H 54 in W 27 in D 12 in
Black Forest wall clocks for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a broad range of unique Black Forest wall 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 wall clocks created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include decorative objects, wall decorations, mirrors and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with wood, brass and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Black Forest wall clocks made in a specific country, there are Europe, Germany, and Austria pieces for sale on 1stDibs. 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 wall 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 $8,105 while the average work can sell for $2,714.