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.
Antique Casted Bronze Cow Bell Made in Switzerland, ca. 1930
Located in Berghuelen, DE
A large and heavy casted bronze cow bell manufactured in Switzerland around 1930. The antique bell features high relief motifs of farm animals, human heads and foliages. The bell com...
Bronze
Finest Quality, Antique Hand Carved Nutwood Swiss Black Forest Cow Sculpture
Located in Lisse, NL
Museum quality and condition Swiss black forest sculpture. For collectors of the rarest and finest Black Forest sculptures: this incredibly detailed, hand-carved cow could only orig...
Nutwood
Antique Handforged Cattle Bell Made in Switzerland ca. 1900s
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Antique Handforged Cattle Bell Made in Switzerland ca. 1900s Item e7309 An antique handforged cattle bell, made in Switzerland around 1900. The bell comes with its original brown lea...
Metal
Antique Leather Strap with Six Brass Bells, Switzerland ca. 1900s
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Antique Leather Strap with Six Brass Bells, Switzerland ca. 1900s Item e6991 An antique leather strap with six brass bells from the swiss Alps manufactured ca. 1900. These bells are ...
Metal, Brass
Antique Swiss Casted Bronze Cattle Bell ca. 1900s
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Antique Swiss Casted Bronze Cattle Bell ca. 1900s Item e7313 An antique cast bronze cattle bell, made in Switzerland around 1900. The bell comes with its ...
Bronze
Large Handforged Cattle Bell Made in Switzerland ca. 1900s
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Antique Handforged Cattle Bell Made in Switzerland ca. 1900s Item e7309 An antique handforged cattle bell, made in Switzerland around 1900. The bell comes with its original brown lea...
Metal
Swiss Casted Bronze Cattle Bell ca. 1900s
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Swiss Casted Bronze Cattle Bell ca. 1900s Item e7311 An antique cast bronze cattle bell, made in Switzerland around 1900. The bell comes with its original brown leather strap with bu...
Bronze
Antique Handforged Goat Bell Made in Switzerland ca. 1900s
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Antique Handforged Goat Bell Made in Switzerland ca. 1900s Item e7308 An antique forged iron goat bell, made in Switzerland around 1900. The bell comes with its original brown leathe...
Metal
Antique Swiss Casted Bronze Cattle Bell ca. 1900s
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Antique Swiss Casted Bronze Cattle Bell ca. 1900s Item e7315 An antique cast bronze cattle bell, made in Switzerland around 1900. The bell comes with its ...
Bronze
Late 19th Century German Carved Black Forest Wood Trophy Plaque
Located in Middleburg, VA
Late 19th century German carved black Forest wood trophy plaque. This intricately carved piece depicts horns, spear, and hunter's pouch hung on plaque en...
Wood
Antique Handforged Cattle Bell Made in Switzerland ca. 1900s
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Antique Handforged Cattle Bell Made in Switzerland ca. 1900s Item e7310 An antique handforged cattle bell, made in Switzerland around 1900. The bell comes with its original brown lea...
Metal
Large & Finest Quality, Antique Carved Nutwood Swiss Black Forest Bull Sculpture
Located in Lisse, NL
Museum quality and condition, hand carved livestock sculpture. This marvelous bull is for the collectors of the rarest and best quality Black Forest sculptures. Incredibly detailed,...
Nutwood
Pair of Carved Lime Wood Pictures
Located in Lymington, Hampshire
A pair of Swiss carved lime-wood pictures one showing a hunter being attacked by an eagle as he attempts to raid its nest, the other a climber rescuing a g...
Wood
$275
H 2.25 in Dm 1.5 in
Resin Egg with Clock Parts on Pierre GIRAUDON Sculpture /Ornament / Paperweight
Rare Pair of Fireman's Axe Parade Torches
Located in York County, PA
Rare pair of fireman’s axe parade torches, 1860-1880: Pair of fireman’s axe parade torches with traditional wooden axe handles and the heads made o...
$2,087
H 14.18 in W 4.34 in D 3.15 in
Abstract Metal Midcentury Sculpture by Alain Douillard Black Metallic Form
Located in Neuilly-en- sancerre, FR
Alain Douillard Famous French metal abstract sculptor, circa 1975, mid-20th century art sculpture Black abstract freeform by the artist, signe...
Metal
Bronze Sculpture by Johan Vierthaler, Germany, 1900s
Located in Brussels, BE
Bronze Sculpture by Johan Vierthaler, Germany, 1900s
Bronze
$600 / set
H 4.75 in W 5 in D 2 in
Medieval Antique Cast Bronze Mission Bell Sculpture Bookend, a Pair
Located in Plainview, NY
Medieval Antique Cast Bronze Mission Bell Sculpture Bookend, a Pair Bring a touch of old-world history and structural elegance to your library with this striking pair of antique-sty...
Bronze
$1,009
H 5.91 in W 13 in D 8.67 in
Vintage Coco de mer container decorative arts décor Interior design
Located in London, GB
Vintage Coco de mer container decorative arts décor A coco de mer nut from the Seychelles islands carved on the back side to make a decorative container. This highly pleasing decor...
Coconut
Hand-Carved Ebony African Statue by Unknown Sculptor, Folk Art, Kenya
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Decorative ebony well hand-carved African statue of a young women. Handmade in Kenya, Africa.
Ebony
17thc Polychrome Painted Ceiling Panel
Located in Staffordshire, GB
Circa 1680. 17thc polychrome painted ceiling panel Mounted on a later block Measures: W48 x D11 x H39.5cm.
Pine
Moroccan Glass Perfume Bottle Sprinkler with Metal Overlay
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Handcrafted Moroccan Moorish amber painted glass perfume bottle or rose water sprinkler with raised embossed silvered metal floral design over amber glass. The pressed glass bottle in Art Deco, Art Nouveau style is oval shape with curved sides and hand decorated with embossed metal silvered overlay. This has a long metal top spout that unscrews. This is a recycled vintage French perfume...
Metal
Swiss Black Forest Carved Wood Owl With Glass Eyes, Early 1900s
Located in London, GB
A delightful decorative carved wood owl. This finely hand carved Black Forest owl sculpture demonstrates incredible workmanship and attention to detail, along with his/her beautiful...
Wood
Vienna Bronze Art Nouveau Lady Bust Signet Antique, Austria, 1900s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Classic early 20th century Austrian signet, Engraved with AK initials. Nice addition to your desktop or just for your collection of Austrian bronze miniatures. Found at an estate sal...
Bronze
Monumental 19th Century Brass School Dinner Bell
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This 19th century brass bell was once used to either call students to class or family and workers to the dinner table. Due to the substantive density of the bell along with its origi...
Brass
Antique Black Forest Deer Head Bavaria ca. 1890s
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Antique Black Forest Deer Head Bavaria ca. 1890s A lovely carved wooden Black Forest deer head. Handcarved in Baroque style around 1890. It features a real 6 point deer horn trophy....
Antler, Wood
Antique Swiss Casted Bronze Cattle Bell ca. 1900s
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Antique Swiss Casted Bronze Cattle Bell ca. 1900s Item e7314 An antique cast bronze cattle bell, made in Switzerland around 1900. The bell comes with its ...
Bronze
Sold
H 24.41 in W 11.03 in D 7.09 in
Vintage Swiss Alpine Cow Bell with Decorated Leather Strap ca. 1950
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Vintage Swiss Alpine Cow Bell with Decorated Leather Strap ca. 1950 A large handforged cow bell from the Alps region of Switzerland, manufactured around 1950. The bell comes with it...
Metal
Sold
H 20.08 in W 8.67 in D 5.52 in
Vintage Swiss Alpine Cattle Bell with Decorated Leather Strap, circa 1930s
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Vintage Swiss Alpine Cattle Bell with Decorated Leather Strap, circa 1930s A large handforged cattle bell from the Alps region of Switzerland, manufact...
Metal
Sold
H 12 in W 17.7 in D 6 in
Large Pair & Finest Quality, Antique Nutwood Swiss Black Forest Bull and Cow
Located in Lisse, NL
Museum quality and condition, hand carved livestock sculptures. This marvelous pair is for the collectors of the rarest and best quality Black Forest sculptures. These incredibly ...
Nutwood
19th Century Black Forest Carved Wall Bracket
Located in Martlesham, GB
19th Century black forest carved wall bracket incorporating a wildlife scene with a fox above a bird amongst various foliage. Circa 1880.
Walnut
19th Century Black Forest Coat Rack
Located in Martlesham, GB
A superb quality 19th Century black forest carved chamois head mount on a coat rack, the chamois at the centre of the rack amongst various ...
Walnut
Sold
H 27.56 in W 14.97 in D 7.88 in
Large Handforged Cow Bell with Leather Strap, Swizerland, ca. 1950s
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Large handforged cow bell with leather strap, Swizerland ca. 1950s A very large handforged and gilded iron cow bell from the Swiss Alps manufactured ca. 1950ties. The bell comes w...
Metal
Sold
H 31.3 in W 14.6 in D 8 in
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 ...
Metal, Brass
Sold
H 22.84 in W 9.45 in D 6.3 in
Antique Swiss Alpine Handforged Cow Bell with Leather Strap, ca. 1900
Located in Berghuelen, DE
A large forged cow bell from the Alps region of Switzerland, manufactured around 1900. The bell comes with its original brown leather strap with buckle. These bells are used to locat...
Metal
Set of Nine Swiss Alpine Goat and Sheep Bells with Leather Straps
Located in Berghuelen, DE
A set of nine antique and vintage bells from the Alps region of Switzerland, manufactured between 1900 and 1950. All bells come with their original brown leather strap with buckle. T...
Metal
Sold
H 24.41 in W 11.03 in D 7.09 in
Vintage Swiss Alpine Cow Bell with Decorated Leather Strap ca. 1950
Located in Berghuelen, DE
A large handforged cow bell from the Alps region of Switzerland, manufactured around 1950. The bell comes with its original brown leather strap with buckle and colorful wool decorati...
Metal