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 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...
Crystal
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...
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...
Cut Glass, Walnut
Carved Black Forest and Baccarat Crystal Epergne Centre Piece
Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight
Carved Black Forest and Baccarat Crystal Epergne Centre Piece A superb and very unusual combination, a Back Forest pedestal carved with oak leaves, mounted with an etched crystal di...
Crystal
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...
Porcelain
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...
Porcelain
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...
Glass, Walnut
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...
Crystal
$375Sale Price|40% Off
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...
Wood
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...
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...
Crystal
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...
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
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...
Crystal
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
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...
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...
Crystal
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...
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...
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....
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...
Crystal
$952 / item
H 5.91 in Dm 5.52 in
Country Style German Crystal Glas Latern in Red Sofina Boutique Kitzbühel
Located in Kitzbühel, Tirol
Hand blown crystal vase/latern in bright red color. Hand carved by Bavarian glass artists with a birds decor in the style of country. A rich oak leave garland all around with 2 birds...
Crystal
Oval jewelry box carved walnut swiss 19th century Black forest
Located in Ijzendijke, NL
This exceptional 19th-century Black Forest jewelry box from Switzerland is a true work of art, featuring a rare oval shape. Nearly 150 years old, the walnut wood has developed a beau...
Velvet, Wood
19th Century black forest centre piece
Located in Martlesham, GB
A lovely quality 19th Century black forest centre piece, having an ornate carved trunk at the centre with a removable glass stem with out swept scalloped edge, a large hunting dog st...
Walnut
$313 / item
H 6.5 in Dm 3.35 in
Hand Blown Wine Goblet Green Crystal Hunting Decor Sofina Boutique Kitzbuehel
Located in Kitzbühel, Tirol
Hand blown wine goblet in green crystal with an antique hunting decor all around. The charming hand-engraved decor shows deers and trees in the style of Black Forest. The pedestal co...
Crystal
$831 / item
H 6.7 in Dm 5.52 in
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...
Crystal
Set of Three Porcelain Bowls Winter Decor Sofina Boutique Kitzbuehel
Located in Kitzbühel, Tirol
These completely handmade porcelain bowls are painted by hand with a charming hands-free winter decor. Teh decor comes as a set of three decors. One shows...
Porcelain
$1,370
H 6 in W 8.25 in D 5.125 in
19th Century, Black Forest Carved Walnut Jewelry Casket Brienz Region
Located in Atlanta, GA
A finely carved 19th-century Black Forest walnut jewelry casket, attributed to the Brienz region of Switzerland, distinguished by its lavishly naturalistic ornamentation and sculptural detailing. The exterior is deeply carved with flowing rocaille motifs and a profusion of flowers and foliage in high relief, including a central rose in full bloom beneath the keyhole escutcheon. The lid is crowned with an exceptionally crisp and dimensional bouquet featuring a central rose surrounded by rosebuds and smaller blossoms arranged upon a scalloped bed...
Walnut
$710 / item
H 4.14 in Dm 7.88 in
Black Forest Porcelain Bowl with Bambi Figure Sofina Boutique Kitzbuehel
Located in Kitzbühel, Tirol
Black forest handmade porcelain bowl with a hands-free naturalistic painted bambi figure in brown in country style. The bambi is sitting in the middle of the bowl for decorating nuts...
Porcelain
Glass Vase Blue Crystal with Easter Decor Sofina Boutique Kitzbühel
Located in Kitzbühel, Tirol
Hand blown crystal vase in blue and pink glass with hand-edged Easter garland all around. The decor shows Easter bunnies and flowers all around. Completely hand blown and hand-engrav...
Crystal
$265 / item
H 3.94 in Dm 3.55 in
Black Forest Tumbler Green Crystal Hunting Decor Sofina Boutique Kitzbuehel
Located in Kitzbühel, Tirol
Handblown green crystal tumbler with hand-edged hunting scene in the style of Black Forest. The decor is an antique decor with deers, trees and bambis al...
Crystal
$505 / item
H 5.12 in Dm 3.94 in
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
$2,712 / set
H 6.5 in Dm 3.35 in
Set of Six Wine Goblets Green Crystal Hunting Decor Sofina Boutique Kitzbuehel
Located in Kitzbühel, Tirol
Set of six handblown wine goblets in green crystal with an antique hunting decor all around. The charming hand-engraved decor shows deers and trees in the style of black forest. The ...
Crystal
Sold
H 20.25 in W 8.5 in D 7.25 in
Pair, Antique Black Forest Carved Deer & Foliate Motif Vases or Epergnes
Located in Atlanta, GA
This pair of exquisite 19th-century Black Forest epergnes showcases masterful craftsmanship and naturalistic artistry. Each epergne features an intricately hand-carved wooden base de...
Crystal
Sold
H 2.37 in W 16.15 in D 10.63 in
Antique Black Forest Bowl or Basket Carved Leaf, Berries & Floral, Germany 1890s
Located in Andernach, DE
Large and expressive – in fact absolutely unique hand carved bread basket or bowl from the Black Forest, Germany. Made from intricately shaped & polished dark walnut wood. Made from ...
Walnut
Pair of 19th Century French Black Forest Crystal Vases with Dog Sculptures
Located in Dallas, TX
Decorate a mantel or a man's office with this elegant pair of antique Black Forest carvings with matching vases. Carved in France circa 1870, each large sculpture rests on a circular base and features an hand carved composition with a hunting setter Labrador dogs walking on rocky ground in front of a tree trunk and foliage; each carving is dressed with the original fluted and tapered crystal vase with scalloped edges. Both Black Forests sculptures...
Crystal
Pair of 19th Century French Carved Walnut Black Forest Deer Composition Carvings
Located in Dallas, TX
Decorate a mantel or a console table with this exquisite pair of Black Forest deer carvings. Created in France, circa 1860, and hand carved of walnut, each work composition depicts a...
Walnut
Antique Hand Carved Black Forest Owl Sculptures with Engraved Vases & Glass Eyes
Located in Lisse, NL
Rare pair of mint condition, Black Forest owl vases. Given the fact that owls are the international symbol for wisdom and learning, this Victorian ...
Glass, Wood
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...
Glass, Blown Glass, Cut Glass, Oak
Late 19th Century Black Forest Vase Holder
Located in Chapel Hill, NC
Late 19th century Black Forest vase holder of grouse under a pear tree. The glass vase insert is paneled and lobed blown crystal. Measures: 14 1/2" H., 5 1/2" W., 3 3/4" D. We hav...
Blown Glass, Wood
Sold
H 13 in Dm 5 in L 13 in
Pair of 19th Century Swiss Black Forest Carved Wood and Crystal Flower Vases
Located in Dallas, TX
Since the early 1800’s, the term “Black Forest” has been used to describe elaborate wood carvings, often showcasing animals in a realistic manner. The name was derived from the epony...
Crystal
Sold
H 6.7 in Dm 5.52 in
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...
Crystal
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. Completely handmade in Bavaria/Germany. Can be used also with candles as laterne. Comes in g...
Crystal
Black Forest Crystal Laterne Green Hunting Scene Sofina Boutique Kitzbuehel
Located in Kitzbühel, Tirol
Hand blown crystal vase/latern in green with hand engraved deers and trees. all around. Completely handmade in Bavaria/Germany. Can be used also with candles as laterne. Comes in gre...
Crystal
Pair of 19th Century Swiss Black Forest Carved Walnut and Cut Glass Vases
Located in Dallas, TX
These elegant antique fruitwood vases were crafted in Switzerland, circa 1870. Each vase rests on round base and features intricate hand carved motifs including birds, acorns, tree branches and leaves. The vases have their original cut glass tulip holders...
Cut Glass, Walnut