Black Forest Serving Pieces
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 Deer Horn Carving Set, Sheffield ca. 1900s
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Antique Deer Horn Carving Set, Sheffield ca. 1900s
A rustic carving set consisting of fork and knife. The handles are made of genuine deer horn and feature a silver knob on their en...
Category
Early 20th Century German Black Forest Serving Pieces
Materials
Metal
Vintage Stag Horn Carving Set by Anton Wingen, Solingen
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Vintage Stag Horn Carving Set by Anton Wingen, Solingen
A rustic carving set consisting of fork and knife. The handles are made of genuine stag horn and feature a silver knob on the...
Category
Mid-20th Century German Black Forest Serving Pieces
Materials
Metal
Antique Cheese and Butter Knives with Deer Handles, circa 1950s
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Antique Cheese and Butter Knives with Deer Handles, circa 1950s
A rustic serving set consisting of cheese knife and butter knife. The handles are made of genuine deer feet. The blad...
Category
Mid-20th Century German Black Forest Serving Pieces
Materials
Metal
Vintage Stag Horn Winged Poultry Shears by J. A. Henkels, Solingen
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Vintage Stag Horn Winged Poultry Shears by J. A. Henkels, Solingen
A rustic winged poultry shears with handles made of genuine stag horn. Blades made of chromed steel. Manufactured ...
Category
Mid-20th Century German Black Forest Serving Pieces
Materials
Metal
Vintage Stag Horn Carving Set Solingen, Germany
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Vintage Stag Horn Carving Set Solingen, Germany
A rustic carving set consisting of fork and knife. The handles are made of genuine stag horn and feature ...
Category
Mid-20th Century German Black Forest Serving Pieces
Materials
Metal
Vintage Stag Horn Carving Set Solingen, Germany
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Vintage Stag Horn Carving Set Solingen, Germany
A rustic carving set consisting of fork and knife. The handles are made of genuine stag horn and feature ...
Category
Mid-20th Century German Black Forest Serving Pieces
Materials
Metal
Set of Six Black Forest Hand Painted Dinner Plates Sofina Boutique Kitzbühel
Located in Kitzbuhel, AT
Set of six completely handmade and hand painted underglaze porzelain dishes. The decor shows a black forest hands-free painted oak leaf with a green handsfree line and platinum rimme...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary German Black Forest Serving Pieces
Materials
Porcelain
Antique Set of Rustic Hunters Cutlery with Carved Deer Horn Handles
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Antique set of rustic hunters cutlery with carved deer horn handles
A rare antique set of 2 knives and 2 forks. The handles are made of deer horn and decorated with handcarved animals like deer, wild boar, hare or stag hound...
Category
Mid-19th Century German Antique Black Forest Serving Pieces
Materials
Metal
Antique Set of Rustic Hunters Cutlery with Chamois Horn Handles
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Antique set of rustic hunters cutlery with chamois horn handles
A rustic set of six knives and forks. The handles are made of genuine chamois horn and feature a decorated silver kno...
Category
Late 19th Century German Antique Black Forest Serving Pieces
Materials
Metal
Antique Set of Rustic Hunters Cutlery with Chamois Horn Handles
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Antique set of rustic hunters cutlery with Chamois Horn Handles
A rare antique set of knife and fork. The handles are made of genuine chamois horn. Tines and blade are made of galva...
Category
Late 19th Century German Antique Black Forest Serving Pieces
Materials
Metal
Antique Set of Rustic Carter Cutlery with Carved Horn Handles 18th
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Antique Set of Rustic Carter Cutlery with Carved Horn Handles 18th
A rare antique set of knife and fork as serving cutlery. The handles are made of deer horn with handcarved heads o...
Category
Mid-18th Century German Antique Black Forest Serving Pieces
Materials
Metal
Antique Set of Rustic Hunters Knives with Chamois Horn Handles
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Antique Set of Rustic hunters knives with Chamois Horn handles
A rare antique set of six knives. The handles are made of genuine chamois horn and feature a decorated silver knob on ...
Category
Late 19th Century German Antique Black Forest Serving Pieces
Materials
Metal
Antique Set of Rustic Serving Cutlery with Carved Horn Handles, 19th Century
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Antique set of rustic serving cutlery with carved horn handles 19th century.
A rare antique set of knife and fork as serving cutlery. The handles are made of deer horn with handcarv...
Category
Late 19th Century German Antique Black Forest Serving Pieces
Materials
Metal
Antique Set of Rustic Carter Cutlery with Carved Horn Handles 18th
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Antique Set of Rustic Carter Cutlery with Carved Horn Handles 18th
A rare antique set of knife and fork as serving cutlery. The handles are made of deer horns with handcarved heads ...
Category
Mid-18th Century German Antique Black Forest Serving Pieces
Materials
Metal
Black Forest Set vof Six Hand-Engraved Crystal Plates Sofina Boutique Kitzbuehel
Located in Kitzbuhel, AT
Set of six plates in colored blue crystal with a hands-free engraved winter decor all around. The charming hand-engraved decor shows different trees and mountains in the style of Bla...
Category
2010s German Black Forest Serving Pieces
Materials
Crystal
Set of Six Black Forest Hand Painted Dinner Plates Sofina Boutique Kitzbühel
Located in Kitzbuhel, AT
Set of six completely handmade and hand painted underglaze porzelain dishes. The decor shows a black forest hands-free painted oak leaf with a green handsfree line and platinum rimme...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary German Black Forest Serving Pieces
Materials
Porcelain
Black Forest Set of Six Porcelain Dishes Hand Painted Sofina Boutique Kitzbuehel
Located in Kitzbuhel, AT
Set of six porcelain dishes hands-free painted with 6 different detailed painted trophies heads in the style of Black Forest.
Rimmed with a fine 24-carat gold line. Handmade in Bava...
Category
2010s German Black Forest Serving Pieces
Materials
Porcelain
Set of Six Porcelain Plates with Hunting Trophies for Claudia
Located in Kitzbuhel, AT
Set of six porcelain plates. Hands painted with 6 different detailed painted trophies heads.
Rimmed with a fine 24-carat gold line and with an additional green one. Handmade in Bava...
Category
2010s German Black Forest Serving Pieces
Materials
Porcelain
Black Forest Set of Six Glass Plates Green Crystal Sofina Boutique Kitzbuehel
Located in Kitzbuhel, AT
Set of six plates in green crystal with an antique hunting decor all around. The charming hand-engraved decor shows an antique decor with deers, a rabbit and trees in the style of bl...
Category
2010s German Black Forest Serving Pieces
Materials
Crystal
Set of Six Black Forest Hand Painted Soup Plates Sofina Boutique Kitzbühel
Located in Kitzbuhel, AT
Set of six completely handmade and hand painted under glaze porcelain soup plates. The decor shows a black forest hands-free painted oak leaf with a green hands free line and platinu...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary German Black Forest Serving Pieces
Materials
Porcelain
Set of Six Porcelain Dishes with Hunting Trophies Sofina Boutique Kitzbuehel
Located in Kitzbuhel, AT
Set of six porcelain dishes . Hands-free painted with 6 different detailed painted trophies heads in the style of black forest.
Rimmed with a fine 24-carat gold line. Handmade in Bav...
Category
2010s German Black Forest Serving Pieces
Materials
Porcelain
Set of Six Black Forest Hand Painted Breakfast Plates Sofina Boutique Kitzbühel
Located in Kitzbuhel, AT
Set of six completely handmade and hand painted underglaze porzelain breakfast plates. The decor shows a Black Forest hands-free painted oak leaf with ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary German Black Forest Serving Pieces
Materials
Porcelain
Set of Six Black Forest Hand-Engraved Glass Plates Sofina Boutique Kitzbuehel
Located in Kitzbuhel, AT
Set of six plates in red crystal with an hands-free engraved antique black forest hunting decor all around. The charming hand-engraved decor shows a hunting decor with deers, rabbit ...
Category
2010s German Black Forest Serving Pieces
Materials
Crystal
Black Forest Hand Carved Cut Board Sofina Boutique Kitzbuehel
Located in Kitzbuhel, AT
Completely hand carved cut board in Black Forest style with two goat heads on top. The cutboards are cut by hand in solid oakwood with our SOFINA brand logo ...
Category
2010s Austrian Black Forest Serving Pieces
Materials
Oak
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Antique Watercolour Painting "Girl in Forest", circa 1850s
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Dimensions:
Image size: 21.3 × 16.3 cm
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Friedr. Herder Solingen Knife Scissors and Shaving Razor Advertising Enamel Sign
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SOLINGEN - Set of 4 Horn Handled Steak Knives & Forks - Germany - Circa 1950's
Located in Chatham, ON
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4 French Alpine Mounted Deer Antler / Horns
Located in New York, NY
A collection of 4 European deer antler / horns mounted on wood plaques from the French Alpine Region and the Black Forest. Each rustic piece is slightly different while expressing the beauty, purity and serenity of nature. Can fit in an Adirondack camp...
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1940s French Vintage Black Forest Serving Pieces
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19th Century Butter Churn Crock With Blue Decoration
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This fine butter churn has the salt glaze and blue decoration with a number six on the face of the crock. It has the doubled handles in fine condition.
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Late 19th Century American Antique Black Forest Serving Pieces
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1900s Edwardian Sterling Silver Fruit/Dessert Service
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
An exceptional, fine and impressive antique Edwardian English sterling silver Reed and Ribbon pattern fruit/dessert cutlery set for twelve persons made by Mappin & Webb Ltd - boxed; an addition to our dining silverware collection
This exceptional antique Edwardian sterling silver fruit/dessert cutlery set consists of twelve knives and twelve forks.
The blades of the knives have a rounded form and the forks each have four tines/prongs; the surface of each are plain and unembellished apart from the feature hallmarks.
Each piece of this silver flatware service is fitted with the original hallmarked sterling silver handle, crafted in the Reed and Ribbon pattern; this pattern is also known as the Empire II pattern.
Each handle is encompassed with a paralleling border of reed and tied ribbon decoration, terminating at the original sterling silver ferrules ornamented with plain embossed bands.
Each knife and fork is fitted to the fine and impressive original hinged oak wood canteen box with a lift up lid and lift out tray.
The interior of the box retains the original velvet lining.
The interior of the cover bears a satin lining bearing the retailer's mark 'Mappin & Webb, 220 Regent Street, London'.
This impressive canteen box is ornamented with a brass vacant shaped cartouche to the cover.
This exceptional solid silver Edwardian service, crafted by the renowned silversmiths Mappin & Webb Ltd, is the finest example of its type you could hope to acquire.
Condition
This antique boxed canteen is a superior gauge of silver, exceptional quality and in exceptional condition.
Each piece has been professionally polished and is in presentation condition.
The decoration is all very sharp.
The original box has been polished by a cabinet maker and is in excellent presentation condition.
Full hallmarks struck to the surface of each handle and blade, in addition to the reverse of each fork drop are all very clear; the hallmarks are struck deeply due to the superior gauge of silver.
Reflections in photographs may detract from the true representation of this exceptional Mappin and Webb boxed cutlery set...
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Early 1900s British Antique Black Forest Serving Pieces
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Vintage Sheffield Knife and Fork Set
By Sheffield
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Vintage Sheffield carving knife and fork set, stainless steel, pink Floraine porcelain handles.
This vintage set of fine Sheffield carving knife and...
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Mid-20th Century English Black Forest Serving Pieces
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Antique English Walker & Hall Sheffield Silver Plate Toast Rack, Dated 1903
Located in Pearland, TX
A superb antique English silverplated four slice toast rack made by Walker & Hall of Sheffield, England, dated 1903. Maker's mark on reverse. This Fine quality silver toast rack is w...
Category
Early 20th Century English Black Forest Serving Pieces
Materials
Silver Plate
1950s Catrin "Dandy" Mask, Tlaxcala, Mexico
Located in Point Richmond, CA
Catrin (Dandy) mask
Nahua people, Tlaxcala, Mexico
Wood, gesso, paint
1950s-1960s
Measures: 7? (17.8 cm) high, 6.5? (16.5 cm) wide, 5? (12.7 cm) deep
This mask is called the C...
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1950s Mexican Vintage Black Forest Serving Pieces
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Antique English Tole Tray with Orientalist Painting
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Lofty 19th century English oval tole tray with two cut out handles featuring a colorful orientalist oil painting complete with figures in a boat architecture and tropical setting ins...
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Mid-19th Century English Antique Black Forest Serving Pieces
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Previously Available Items
Vintage Six Pieces Deer Horn Carving Set Solingen, Germany 1960s
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Vintage Six Pieces Deer Horn Carving Set Solingen, Germany 1960s
A rustic six pieces carving set consisting of 2 forks, knife, axe, wing shears and honing steel. The handles are mad...
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Mid-20th Century German Black Forest Serving Pieces
Materials
Metal
Late 20th Century Black Forest Cutlery Set
Located in Kitzbuhel, AT
Large and impressive set of a cutlery from Italy. The handle of the fork is a naturalistic formed rabitt and the handle of the knife is a naturalistic formed pheasant. Lenght of the ...
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Late 20th Century Italian Black Forest Serving Pieces
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Metal
Rare Pair of Original circa 1880 Black Forest Carved Wood Wine Bottle Holders
Located in GB
We are delighted to offer for sale this lovely pair of original Brienz Switzerland black forest wood hand carved 19th century wine bottle holders
This pair are exquisite from top ...
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1880s Swiss Antique Black Forest Serving Pieces
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Wood
H 12.41 in W 17.33 in D 5.71 in
19th Century Black Forest Carved Walnut Serving Tray or Bowl
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
Carved and pierced walnut Black Forest serving bowl/tray with grape and foliate designs.
Category
19th Century Antique Black Forest Serving Pieces
Materials
Walnut
French Trompe L'oeil Porcelain Partridge Pâté Tureen Pillivuyt Mehun
Located in Austin, TX
French trompe l’oeil porcelain partridge tureen signed "Mehun" manufacture of Pillivuyt, circa 1900.
The manufacture of Pillivuyt produced different kinds of porcelain and this ture...
Category
Early 1900s French Antique Black Forest Serving Pieces
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Ceramic
19th Century French Carved Walnut Black Forest Centrepiece with Crystal Bowl
Located in Dallas, TX
Beautifully carved antique centrepiece from France, circa 1860. Depicting a tree with hanging leaves, and two deer, one resting while the other is ...
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Mid-19th Century French Antique Black Forest Serving Pieces
Materials
Crystal
Black Forest serving pieces for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a broad range of unique Black Forest serving pieces 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 serving pieces created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include serveware, ceramics, silver and glass, folk art and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with metal, bone and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Black Forest serving pieces made in a specific country, there are Europe, Germany, and Austria pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original serving pieces, 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 serving pieces 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 $1,957 while the average work can sell for $1,138.
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