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 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 Crystal Latern Hand Blown Hunting Decor Sofina Boutique Kitzbühel
Located in Kitzbühel, Tirol
Hand blown crystal latern in grey glass from Bavaria. The votiv is hand blown and the decor is hands-free engraved by glass artists all around with a hunting scene with trees and dee...
Crystal
Black Forest Crystal Latern Hand Blown Hunting Decor Sofina Boutique Kitzbühel
Located in Kitzbühel, Tirol
Hand blown crystal latern in amber glass from Bavaria. The votiv is hand blown and the decor is hands-free engraved by glass artists all around with a hunting scene with trees and de...
Crystal
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
Late 19th Century Black Forest Carved Inkwell and Pen Rest with Bear
Located in Barntrup, DE
Black Forest carved inkwell and pen rest with a bear, late 19th century. This antique, dark brown, linden wood inkwell is masterfully carved and features a detailed figure of a bear ...
Glass, Wood
Antique Hand-Carved Tyrolean Farmer Sculpture, ca. 1880
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Antique Hand-Carved Tyrolean Farmer Sculpture, ca. 1880 This finely carved wooden figure depicts a traditional Tyrolean farmer sitting relaxed on a r...
Wood
19th Century Black Forest Cigar Holder of a Bear Holding a Barrel
Located in San Francisco, CA
the hand-carved standing bear with forward gaze and glass eyes holding a barrel for matches in front of a larger barrel for cigar storage; all over an oval carved base fitted with a ...
Walnut
$2,112Sale Price|20% Off
Whimsical Carving of a Dwarf with Snuffbox, 19th Century
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Whimsical Carving of a Dwarf with Snuffbox, 19th Century A 19th century funny carved and painted dwarf with snuffbox. Unrestored original condition, old wormholes, partly paintloss ...
Wood
19th Century Swiss Black Forest Carving of a Stag and Tree Nut Dish
Located in Stamford, CT
Sweet little Black Forest carving of a stag standing near a pine tree next to a brass lined nut or candy dish. Some writing bottom front in white is too worn for me to make out, prob...
Walnut
A Wooden Carved Black Forest Pen Holder with Bear ca. 1930
Located in Berghuelen, DE
A Wooden Carved Black Forest Pen Holder with Bear ca. 1930 A finely carved Black Forest pen holder with a bear holdung the pencil. A great example of the art of woodworking in the B...
Wood
Large Group of Carved Cattles with Glass Vase Inset, Brienz ca. 1890
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Large Group of Carved Cattles with Glass Vase Inset, Brienz ca. 1890 A rare group of naturalistically carved cattles - bull, female cattle and young cattle standing around a stump. ...
Cut Glass, Wood
Antique Salt and Pepper Bowl with Wooden Carved Bear
Located in Berghuelen, DE
AAntique Salt and Pepper Bowl with Wooden Carved Bear Item e7277 A small salt and pepper bowl made of pressed glass with tiny carved Black Forest ...
Blown Glass, Wood
Pair of Late 19th C. French Carved Oak Monks with Goblets, Black Forest Style
Located in Dallas, TX
Carved in France circa 1890, this expressive pair of antique oak monk figures blends Gallic charm with the rustic spirit of the Black Forest tradition. Each cheerful friar is shown m...
Oak
A Wooden Carved Black Forest Bear with Glass Vase ca. 1900s
Located in Berghuelen, DE
A Wooden Carved Black Forest Bear with Glass Vase ca. 1900s A finely carved standing Black Forest bear holding an Art Nouveau glass vase in his hands. Executed in Brienz, Switzerlan...
Wood, Blown Glass
Rustic Black Forest Root Wood Hunter Sculpture, Carved, Germany, 1920
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Rustic Black Forest Root Wood Hunter ca. 1920 A rustic wooden hunter statue with deer. It was carved out of a piece of root wood. Germany, Black Forest,...
Wood
Antique Black Forest Brienz Hand-Carved Figural Dog Inkwell
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
This antique inkwell is unsigned, but presumed to have originated from Austria and date to approximately 1920 and done in the period Black Forest style. The inkwell is composed of a ...
Art Glass, Softwood
Antique Anglo-Indian Vizagapatam Stag Antler Horn Slope Top Writing Desk c 1800s
Located in Highwood, IL
Stag Antler Table Top Desk Secretary or rather as described by a British expert: an Anglo-Indian Stag Antler Writing Slope Table Top Desk, late 19th century from Vizagapatam, which was the headquarters of the Vizagapatam District of Madras during the British period. Stag Antler anything is rare and unusual today, especially when it is completely covered in carved strips of Natural unpolished Antler. Finding Stag Antler Writing Desks are beyond rare and in our 30-years in the Antique business...
Bone, Antler, Leather, Sandalwood
Black Forest Carved Walnut Jewellery Box, Antique, Handcrafted, 1880
Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight
Black Forest Carved Walnut Jewellery Box A beautiful looking, well made piece, it is hand carved all over with woodcock and fauna decorations. B...
Walnut
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
Antique French Black Forest Carved Inkwell with Oak Leaves and Birds, Circa 1890
Located in Dallas, TX
A classic example of the intricate woodcarving known as Black Forest, this inkwell depicts an adult bird feeding its offspring. This inkwell dates to circa 1890, placing it in the mi...
Glass, Wood
Pair of 19th Century Rustic Black Forest Photo Frames, Handcarved, AT ca. 1880
Located in Lichtenberg, AT
Fantastic set of two rustic, late 19th century Black Forest photo frames out of Austria. Artfully hand carved out of basswood, around 1880, these frames show a beautiful design combi...
Glass, Softwood
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 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
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 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
Rustic Black Forest Humidor Box
Located in Queens, NY
Rustic Black Forest (19thcentury) walnut carved humidor box with faux wood design and smoking motif on top (interior of top has smoking accessories...
Wood, Walnut
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. The decor is hunting decor with four hand-engraved animals in naturalistic style. Completely handblown and hand-e...
Crystal
Black Forest inkwell cat in boot Swiss Antique 19th Century hand carved glass
Located in Ijzendijke, NL
Gorgeous most rare Swiss Black Forest 19th century Inkwell / desk accessory fully hand carved displaying a cat in a boot. The cat is very detailed with glass eyes, a perfect charm lo...
Glass, 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
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
A Wooden Carved Black Forest Bear Desk Set ca. 1920s
Located in Berghuelen, DE
A Wooden Carved Black Forest Bear Desk Set ca. 1920s Item e7286 A nicely carved Black Forest bear desk set for small utensils. Executed in Brienz, Switzerland around 1920. Very good ...
Wood
Black Forest Carved Dog Inkwell
By Black Forest
Located in Coeur d'Alene, ID
Swiss carved black Forest shaggy dog inkwell with pen holder. In the 1800’s the wood carving industry of Switzerland started in the town of Brienz. By the ...
Wood
Large Exceptional Swiss Black Forest double inkwell desk decoration 19th Century
Located in Ijzendijke, NL
Gorgeous most rare Swiss Black Forest 19th century double Inkwell / desk accessory fully hand carved displaying a bird eating nuts & floral leaves / walnuts. Carved by a master carve...
Glass, Wood
Set of Three Natural Antler Tips & Brass Desk Accessories
Located in North Miami, FL
This set of three (3) natural antler tips desk accessories are backed with brass base. Perfect for an executive desk, two paperweights and a letter opener. Rich natural coloring an...
Brass
Country Style Crystal Vase Green Glass Birds Decor Sofina Boutique Kitzbuehel
Located in Kitzbühel, Tirol
About Sofina Crystal: This handblown Crystal vase is one of a selection of Sofina crystal hand-crafted in Bavaria/Germany. Can be used as a vase or with candles. The two birds sittin...
Crystal
Antique Carved & Painted Troubadour or Minstrel, Nodder Figure with a Violin
Located in Nantucket, MA
19th Century carved and painted wood figure of a troubadour or minstrel wearing a hat and long coat with his trousers tucked into knee-high boots and having a violin under one arm wi...
Abalone, Gesso, Pine, Paint
Black Forest Carved Bear with Pen Inkwell
By Black Forest
Located in Coeur d'Alene, ID
Walking bear pen holder and inkwell. Published in "Black Forest Bears and Swiss Woodcarvings," plate 92a. Book included. In the 1800’s the wood carving industry of Switzerland started in the town of Brienz. By the end of the 1800’s it had become the driving force for this industry. Swiss wood carvers became world renown and featured at many international exhibitions. Period: 1900 Origin: Switzerland Size: 4" H x 7" W Family Owned & Operated Cisco’s Gallery deals in the rare, exceptional, and one-of-a-kind pieces that define the history of America and the Old West. Our pieces range from American Indian to Cowboy Western and include original items of everyday life, commerce, art, and warfare that tamed America’s frontier. Our 14,000 square foot gallery opened in 1996 in beautiful Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. Personal Service Cisco’s operates on old fashioned values – honesty and integrity, and all of our items are backed by our money back guarantee. We appreciate the opportunity to earn your business. Whether you desire assistance with a jewelry purchase, choosing a gift, identification, or even selling – we hope to be your trusted source. Black Forest, Brienz Collection, Carvings, Bears, Inkwells, Desk Accessories...
Wood
Rare black Forest rooster inkwell 19th century Swiss glass eyes hand carved
Located in Ijzendijke, NL
Gorgeous most rare Swiss Black Forest 19th century Inkwell / desk accessory fully hand carved displaying a dog wearing a hat and monocle. Detailed carving by a master carver. Comes w...
Glass, Wood
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
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
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
$207Sale 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
Large 19th Century Walnut Black Forest Painting Frame
Located in San Francisco, CA
A large 19th century hand carved solid walnut Black Forest style picture frame with traditional tree limb and foliage detail. Inner sight of the...
Walnut
A pair of fine Black Forest hand carved linden wood bears, Swiss circa 1900
Located in Central England, GB
This delightful pair of Swiss/ German black forest carved linden wood seated bears is rarely available as an original pair. They are beautifully hand carved and are left and right ha...
Wood
Black Forest Carved Bear with Pen Inkwell
By Black Forest
Located in Coeur d'Alene, ID
Swiss bear with log pen rest and inkwell. Published in "Black Forest Bears and Swiss Woodcarvings," plate 93a. Book included. In the 1800’s the wood carving...
Wood
A Black Forest carved wood inkwell with wheat sheafs and poultry
Located in Lymington, Hampshire
A Black Forest carved wood inkwell with wheat sheafs and poultry, made of ebonised fruitwood naturalistically carved with a cockerel and hen perched on a rocky outcrop, bundles of wh...
Wood