Black Forest Vases and Vessels
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
19th C. Black Forest Figural Wood Carved Night Watchman Lidded Tobacco Jar Box
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Antique 19th C. European Black Forest Figural Wood Carved Night Watchman Lidded Tobacco Jar Box with Removable Tin Metal. Liner. Believed to be 19th Century. Measurements: 14" H x 5....
Category
19th Century Antique Black Forest Vases and Vessels
Materials
Wood
Black Forest Crystal Latern Amber Hunting Decor Sofina Boutique Kitzbühel
Located in Kitzbühel, Tirol
Hand blown crystal latern in amber crystal glass from Bavaria Germany. The decor is hands-free engraved by glass artists all around with a hunting scene with trees in the style of Bl...
Category
2010s German Black Forest Vases and Vessels
Materials
Crystal
Black Forest Crystal Latern Red Hunting Decor Sofina Boutique Kitzbühel
Located in Kitzbühel, Tirol
Hand blown crystal latern in red crystal glass from Bavaria Germany. The decor is hands-free engraved by glass artists all around with a hunting scen...
Category
2010s German Black Forest Vases and Vessels
Materials
Crystal
Black Forest Crystal Latern Green Hunting Decor Sofina Boutique Kitzbühel
Located in Kitzbühel, Tirol
Hand blown crystal latern in green crystal glass from Bavaria Germany. The decor is hands-free engraved by glass artists all around with a hunting scene with trees in the style of Bl...
Category
2010s German Black Forest Vases and Vessels
Materials
Crystal
Black Forest Crystal Latern Hand Blown Hunting Decor Sofina Boutique Kitzbühel
Located in Kitzbühel, Tirol
Hand blown crystal latern in green glass from Bavaria. The decor is hand blown and hands-free engraved by glass artists all around with a hunting scene with trees all around in the s...
Category
2010s German Black Forest Vases and Vessels
Materials
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...
Category
2010s German Black Forest Vases and Vessels
Materials
Crystal
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...
Category
2010s German Black Forest Vases and Vessels
Materials
Crystal
Antique Pair of Black Forest Jardinière’s Hand Carved Switzerland circaLate1800s
Located in Chicago, IL
Black Forest Pair of Jardinière’s hand carved in Switzerland during the late 1800s. The Jardinière’s are complete with their original metal liners and are ready to be planted. Black Forest Furniture first began to appear in the mid-1800s in Brienz, Switzerland and originally only included small Black Forest animal objects made for the tourist trade. In the late 1800s, as tourism traffic increased, so did the number and Size of Black Forest Carvings and soon thereafter was followed by Black Forest Furniture. As luck would have it, Old Plank has recently discovered a treasure Trove of Black Forest Carved...
Category
1880s Swiss Antique Black Forest Vases and Vessels
Materials
Tin
19th C Black Forest Hand-Carved Swiss Brienz Bear with Brass Holder
Located in Savannah, GA
This whimsical hand carved seated wooden brown bear holds a brass cup suitable for cigarettes, matches or even a small bouquet of flowers. Very detailed carving with tiny teeth and a...
Category
Late 19th Century Swiss Antique Black Forest Vases and Vessels
Materials
Wood
Swiss Black Forest Carved Wooden Planter Box/Jardinière, circa 1880
Located in Evergreen, CO
Graceful and elegant, this beautiful wooden planter box features a pierced front carving of a floral basket flanked by scrolled grape vines. The bac...
Category
Late 19th Century Swiss Antique Black Forest Vases and Vessels
Materials
Wood
Antique Hand-Carved Black Forest Tobacco Jar or Humidor & Ashtray with Bears
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
This antique tobacco jar or humidor is unsigned, but presumed to have originated from Austria and date to approximately 1900 and done in the perio...
Category
Early 20th Century Austrian Black Forest Vases and Vessels
Materials
Walnut
Swiss Black Forest Carved Wooden Planter Box / Jardinière, circa 1895
Located in Evergreen, CO
Elegant from every angle, this beautiful wooden planter box (or jardinière in French) features elaborate carvings over a lattice background. The fro...
Category
Late 19th Century Swiss Antique Black Forest Vases and Vessels
Materials
Wood
19th Century French Black Forest Carved Walnut and Porcelain Jardinière
Located in Dallas, TX
This elegant antique planter was crafted in France, circa 1870. Rectangular in shape with scrolled decor and scalloped edge, the detailed planter stands on small curved feet, and is ...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Black Forest Vases and Vessels
Materials
Porcelain, Walnut
Black Forest Crystal Laterne Green Hunting Scene Sofina Boutique Kitzbuehel
Located in Kitzbühel, Tirol
Hand blown crystal vase/lantern in green with hand engraved deers and trees all around in the style of black forest.
Completely handmade in Bavaria/Germany. Can be used also with ca...
Category
2010s German Black Forest Vases and Vessels
Materials
Crystal
19th Century French Black Forest Carved Walnut Jardinière with Zinc Liner
Located in Dallas, TX
This beautiful, walnut, Black Forest jardinière carved as a wooden log was crafted in France, circa 1870. The rectangular fruitwood planter features hand carved floral, tree branches with leaf decor. The antique planter is in excellent condition, and has its original removable zinc liner...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Black Forest Vases and Vessels
Materials
Walnut
Black Forest Porcelain Vase Hunting Decor Sofina Boutique Kitzbuehel
Located in Kitzbühel, Tirol
Hands-free painted porcelain vase with a hunting design with deers and trees all around. Lined with a green line and rimmed with a 24 carat gold line. Completely hand painted in Bava...
Category
2010s German Black Forest Vases and Vessels
Materials
Porcelain
Black Forest Crystal Laterne Green Sofina Boutique Kitzbuehel
Located in Kitzbühel, Tirol
Handblown crystal vase/latern in green with hand-etched deers and trees decor in the style of Black Forest
Completely handmade in Bavaria/Germany. Can be used also with candles as l...
Category
2010s German Black Forest Vases and Vessels
Materials
Crystal
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...
Category
2010s German Black Forest Vases and Vessels
Materials
Crystal
pair of German 19th century Black Forest st. etched Glass and Walnut vases
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An elegant pair of German 19th century Black Forest st. etched Glass and Walnut vases. Each beautiful vase is raised on a wonderful array of Walnut water flora below a fluted socle s...
Category
19th Century German Antique Black Forest Vases and Vessels
Materials
Glass, Walnut
Pair of 19th Century Black Forest Austrian Carved Wood Vases
Located in Petworth,West Sussex, GB
A beautiful pair of 19th century carved wood black forest hunting scene, shaped glass flower vases. In perfect original condition.
The dimensions are:
Height: 42.5cm (16.7in)
Width...
Category
19th Century Austrian Antique Black Forest Vases and Vessels
Materials
Glass, Blown Glass, Cut Glass, Oak
Antique ‘Black Forest’ Jardinière of Substantial Size
Located in London, GB
Constructed in a well carved lindenwood, rising from quadripartite feet, naturalistically, representing branches, supporting a tree form central column dressed with two storks and supporting a carved rope dressed rectangular plant trough...
Category
19th Century Swiss Antique Black Forest Vases and Vessels
Materials
Wood
Black Forest Crystal Latern Hand-Crafted Hunting Decor Sofina Boutique Kitzbühel
Located in Kitzbühel, Tirol
Hand blown crystal vase/latern in dark green glass with hunting scene all around in the style of black forest. The glass is in a first step ...
Category
2010s German Black Forest Vases and Vessels
Materials
Crystal
Black Forest Vase Crystal with Hunting Decor Green Sofina Boutique Kitzbuehel
Located in Kitzbühel, Tirol
hand blown crystal vase in green glass with a hunting scene. The decor is a hunting decor with 4 hands-free engraved animals in natrualistic style. Completely hand blown and hand-eng...
Category
2010s German Black Forest Vases and Vessels
Materials
Crystal
Black Forest Vase Crystal with Hunting Decor Green Sofina Boutique Kitzbuehel
Located in Kitzbühel, Tirol
Handblown crystal vase in green glass with a hunting scene. The decor is a hunting decor with 4 hands-free engraved animals in natrualistic style. Completely handblown and hand-engra...
Category
2010s German Black Forest Vases and Vessels
Materials
Crystal
19th Century Black Forest Carved Walnut and Crystal Center Piece with Goat Decor
Located in Dallas, TX
Dress a table or a console with this elegant antique black forest center piece composition. Crafted in Switzerland (or France) circa 1870, the glass vase rests on a leafy branch shap...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Black Forest Vases and Vessels
Materials
Walnut, Cut Glass
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 in the style of black forest. The decor is an antique decor with deers, trees and bambis all around. Completely ha...
Category
2010s German Black Forest Vases and Vessels
Materials
Crystal
Black Forest Crystal Latern Red with Hunting Decor Sofina Boutique Kitzbuehel
Located in Kitzbühel, Tirol
Handblown crystal vase/lantern in brillant red with hand-edged hunting decor with deers and trees decor all around.
Completely handmade in Bavaria/German...
Category
2010s German Black Forest Vases and Vessels
Materials
Crystal
Black Forest Crystal Laterne Green Hunting Scene Sofina Boutique Kitzbuehel
Located in Kitzbühel, Tirol
Hand blown crystal vase / latern in green with hand-etched deers and trees.
Completely handmade in Bavaria/Germany. Can be used also with candles as laterne. Comes in green, red and...
Category
2010s German Black Forest Vases and Vessels
Materials
Crystal
Three Piece Black Forrest Center Bowl with Garniture Trumpet Vases
Located in Lambertville, NJ
A three piece Black Forest set consisting of and oval pedestal center bow with two flanking wood and etched glass trumpet garniture. The set is a medium hand carved black forest Germany...
Category
1880s German Antique Black Forest Vases and Vessels
Materials
Walnut, Cut Glass
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...
Category
2010s German Black Forest Vases and Vessels
Materials
Crystal
Black Forest Crystal Laterne Green Hunting Scene Sofina Boutique Kitzbuehel
Located in Kitzbühel, Tirol
Handblown crystal vase/latern in green with hand-etched Black Forest decor with deers and trees all around.
Completely handmade in Bavaria/Germany....
Category
2010s German Black Forest Vases and Vessels
Materials
Crystal
Black Forest German Porcelain Vase with Hunting Scene Sofina Boutique Kitzbuehel
Located in Kitzbühel, Tirol
Hand-painted porcelain vase is completely handmade and handpainted in Bavaria Germany. Rimmed with a 24-carat gold line. The decor is hands-free painted all round with a hunting scene. The black forest decor...
Category
2010s German Black Forest Vases and Vessels
Materials
Porcelain
Black Forest Crystal Laterne Green Hunting Scene Sofina Boutique Kitzbuehel
Located in Kitzbühel, Tirol
Hand blown crystal vase/lantern in green with hand engraved deers and trees all around in the style of Black Forest.
Completely handmade in Bavaria/Germany. Can be used also with can...
Category
2010s German Black Forest Vases and Vessels
Materials
Crystal
Black Forest vases and vessels for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a broad range of unique Black Forest vases and vessels for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the 21st Century and Contemporary, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage vases and vessels created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include decorative objects, serveware, ceramics, silver and glass, building and garden elements and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with crystal, stone and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Black Forest vases and vessels 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 vases and vessels, popular names associated with this style include and Sofina Boutique Kitzbühel. 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 vases and vessels differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $150 and tops out at $27,872 while the average work can sell for $879.