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 Set of Six Tumbler Red Hunting Decor Sofina Boutique Kitzbuehel
Located in Kitzbühel, Tirol
Set of six handblown tumbler in red crystal with a hand-edged hunting scene in the style of black forest. The decor is an antique hunting scene showing deers, trees and bambis all-ov...
Crystal
Black Forest Set of Six Schnapps Glasses Green Sofina Boutique Kitzbuehel
Located in Kitzbühel, Tirol
Set of six hand blown schnapps glasses in green crystal with a hand-edged hunting decor. The decor is an antique Black Forest style scene, showing a dee...
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...
Crystal
Hand Carved Black Forest Style Wooden Gnome Nutcracker, Germany, 1930s
Located in Barntrup, DE
This beautiful nutcracker in the German Black Forest style is decorated with a hand carved sculpture of a gnome. His mouth opens and closes to crack the nut. Dimensions: height 22 c...
Wood
Man Hand Carved and Painted Black Forest Mechanical Wooden Bottle Stopper, 1930s
By ANRI
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Vintage Folk Art bottle stopper - I believe these are ANRI, made in Italy or Austria, but I see no markings, so I'll let the collectors out there be the judge. It depicts a lovely Ma...
Wood
Majolica German Dog Bottle, circa 1890
By Gesetzlich Geschützt
Located in Austin, TX
Majolica German figural dog bottle, circa 1890. The bottle represent a dog in hunting costume smoking a pipe and carrying a riffle, the lid is the hat with a feather. The piece is ...
Ceramic
Playful Antique Black Forest Bear Family Liquor Tantalus with Glasses & Decanter
By Black Forest
Located in Lisse, NL
All hand-carved, Victorian Era, Black Forest hiking bear and cub, liquor tantalus set. This finely carved Black Forest drinks set, dates from circa 1880 and it is both decorative an...
Glass, Wood
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...
Metal
German Black Forest Wood Carved Figural Gnome Cork Bottle Stopper, 1910s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Adorable wood and cork bottle stopper. Germany, 1910s or older. Ideal decoration bottle stopper. Great idea to surprise your guests or a very interesting gift. Found at an Estate Sal...
Wood, Cork
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
Black Forest Antler-Mounted Oak Spirits Cabinet, circa 1900
Located in Atlanta, GA
A richly textured and visually commanding Black Forest spirits cabinet, crafted in Germany around 1900. This compact yet sculptural piece is clad in a carved faux bois surface and dr...
Bone, Antler, Oak
Antique Enamelled Glass Claret Jug with Stag Motif, Hunting Lodge Wine Pitcher
Located in Bad Säckingen, DE
This charming antique glass claret jug features a beautifully hand-enamelled portrait of a stag set against a softly graduated sky and lush gr...
Enamel
Set of Six Hand Blown Wine Goblets Green Crystal Sofina Boutique Kitzbuehel
Located in Kitzbühel, Tirol
Set of six hand blown 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
Late 20t Century Set of Six Pewter Stirrup cups Forst Italy
By E.M. Forster 1
Located in Kitzbühel, Tirol
Set of six stirrup cups in pewter. Made in Italy by compny Forst. The original boxes are available. Finely modeled heads showing two horses and four stags. Stamped at the rim 95 for ...
Pewter
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 decor...
Porcelain
Black Forest Porcelain Bowl with Wild Boar Figure Sofina Boutique Kitzbuehel
Located in Kitzbühel, Tirol
Completely handmade porcelain bowl with a hands-free natrualistic painted wild boar figure in grey colors. The fox is sitting in the middle of the bowl for decorating nuts or sweets ...
Porcelain
Set of Six Black Forest Hand Painted Breakfast Plates Sofina Boutique Kitzbühel
Located in Kitzbühel, Tirol
Set of six completely handmade and hand painted underglaze porzelain breakfast plates. The decor shows a Black Forest hands-free painted oak leaf with ...
Porcelain
$4,875Sale Price / set|25% Off
Black Forest Decanter Set in Carved Box with St Louis Crystal Decanters/Stems
Located in Houston, TX
This cave a liqueur set is truly special because the box is exquisitely Carved and has the original beveled glass. The decanters and stem Ware are by St. Louis and the original la...
Crystal
Vintage Stainless Steel and Horn Tableware Set for 6 Germany, 1900s
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Vintage Stainless Steel and Horn Tableware Set for 6 Germany, 1900s A rustic tabelware set consisting of six knives and six forks. The handles are made of genuine deer horn and feat...
Metal
Country Style Pottery Dish Hand-Painted Sofina Boutique Kitzbühel Austria
Located in Kitzbühel, Tirol
Large hands-free painted pottery dish in Country style. Glazed in ice blue and handsfree painting in white. The decor shows a hands-free painted pomegranate with butterflies and a ha...
Ceramic
Antique Set of 19th Century Rustic Cutlery with Carved Horn Handles
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Antique Set of 19th Century Rustic Cutlery with Carved Horn Handles A rare antique cutlery set of knife and fork. The handles are made of deer horn with handcarved heads of a bear a...
Metal
Set of Six Black Forest Hand Painted Dinner Plates Sofina Boutique Kitzbühel
Located in Kitzbühel, Tirol
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...
Porcelain
Black Forest Set of Six Hand Painted Crystal Tumbler Sofina Boutique Kitzbühel
Located in Kitzbühel, Tirol
Set of six hand blown tumbler hands-free painted in Black Forest style. Each glass is handsfree painted with different rims and trees in green colo...
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
Set of Six Black Forest Hand Painted Soup Plates Sofina Boutique Kitzbühel
Located in Kitzbühel, Tirol
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...
Porcelain
Black Forest Porcelain Figure Fox Handpainted Sofina Boutique Kitzbuehel
Located in Kitzbühel, Tirol
Completely handmade porcelain figure with a hands-free naturalistic hand-painted fox in brown colors in the style of Black Forest. Handmade in Bavaria/Germany by Sofina Boutique Kitz...
Porcelain
Black Forest Carved Jewelry Box, circa 1900
By Black Forest
Located in Coeur d'Alene, ID
Beautiful hand carved Black Forest footed jewelry box with two song birds as finials. Comes with original key. Unique find. Origin: Switzerland,...
Wood
Black Forest Porcelain Bowl with Fox Figure Sofina Boutique Kitzbuehel
Located in Kitzbühel, Tirol
Completely handmade porcelain bowl with a hands-free naturalistic painted fox figure in brown colors. The fox is sitting in the middle of the bowl for decorating nuts or sweets aroun...
Porcelain
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 ...
Metal
19th Century French Black Forest Cave A Liqueur with Etched Glass Hunting Motifs
Located in Dallas, TX
It is rare to find a 19th-century tantalus box with a complete set of glassware, but this immaculate Black Forest-themed French cave a liqueur has all of the original receptacles, de...
Glass, Wood
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
Black Forest Hand-Painted Pottery Dish Sofina Boutique Kitzbühel Austria
Located in Kitzbühel, Tirol
Hands-free painted round pottery dish from Austria in Black Forest style. Decorated with a hand-painted tree decor in green all around. Showing trees in the bottom and a handpainted green garland...
Pottery
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 Set of Six Beer Glasses Skier Decor Sofina Boutique Kitzbuehel
Located in Kitzbühel, Tirol
Set of six beer glass called Bierseidl in clear crystal glass. Hand blown in Bavaria and hand-engraved with trees and a skier boy in the style of Black Forest. For 0.7 liter beer. Ca...
Crystal
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
Antique Hand Carved Early 20th Century Black Forest Nutcracker With Book
Located in San Diego, CA
Very rare early 20th century antique Black Forest hand carved wood nutcracker with book. These particular pieces often feature anthropomorphic figures with exaggerated features, and this one is no exception. The figure's mouth opens to crack nuts! Black Forest nutcrackers...
Wood
Black Forest Carved Jewelry Box, circa 1900
By Black Forest
Located in Coeur d'Alene, ID
Footed oval Black Forest jewelry box with floral finials. Stunning piece. Origin: Switzerland, circa 1900 Dimensions: 8" x 5" x 5". Family Owned & Operated Cisco’s Gallery deals ...
Wood
Set of Six Black Forest Schnapps Glasses Amber German with Hunting Scene Sofina
Located in Kitzbühel, Tirol
Set of six Schnapps glasses handmade in Bavaria. Handblown crystal and hand-edged with a deer and leaves decor in amber in the style of black forest. Co...
Crystal
Black Forest Porcelain Bowl Hand Painted Deer Figure Sofina Boutique Kitzbühel
Located in Kitzbühel, Tirol
Completely handmade porcelain bowl with a hands-free painted bambi in the center of the bowl. The charming bambi figure is painted in black and sits in the middle of the dish. The po...
Porcelain
Liqueur Cellar in Carved Wood "Black Forest" and Crystal, Late 19th Century
Located in Paris, FR
Carved wood liquor cabinet called "Black Forest". This charming liquor cabinet of the late nineteenth century is decorated with plant motifs, pine cones, saddlebags, hats, rifles, po...
Crystal, Gold
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
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
Black Forest Set of Six Tumbler Green Crystal Sofina Boutique Kitzbuehel
Located in Kitzbühel, Tirol
Set of six handblown green crystal tumblers with hand-edged hunting scene in the style of Black Forest. The decor is an antique decor with deers, trees and bambis all around. Complet...
Crystal
Black Forest Set of Six Glass Plates Green Crystal Sofina Boutique Kitzbuehel
Located in Kitzbühel, Tirol
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...
Crystal
$1,288 / set
Set of Six Antique Bohemian Glasses
Located in London, GB
Set of six antique Bohemian glasses Bohemian, Late 19th Century Height 10cm, diameter 4.5cm This beautifully crafted set of Bohemian glass dat...
Glass
19th Century French Black Forest Carved Walnut and Glass Complete Liquor Box
Located in Dallas, TX
Create an elegant bar area with this antique "Cave à Liqueur"! Created in France, circa 1870 and shaped as a house log cabin, the rectangular Black Forest Tantalus is decorated on the top with a carved floral medallion in high relief. The side and front glass panels are all decorated with an arched glass window form. Lifting the top, it features an inside removable caddy with a complete set of 16 cut glass cordials decorated with gilt motifs, and four matching carafes with glass...
Glass, Walnut
Black Forest Oval Porcelain Plate with Wild Boars Sofina Boutique Kitzbühel
Located in Kitzbühel, Tirol
Completely handmade and hands-free painted large oval porcelain plate for decoration. Two natural moulded porcelain figures wild boars are sittin...
Porcelain
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
Set of Six Porcelain Dishes with Hunting Trophies Sofina Boutique Kitzbuehel
Located in Kitzbühel, Tirol
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...
Porcelain
Black Forest Set of Six Glass Tumblers Red Sofina Boutique Kitzbuehel
Located in Kitzbühel, Tirol
Set of six handblown red crystal tumblers with hand-edged hunting scene. The decor is an antique black forest hunting scene decor with deers, trees and bambis all around. Completely ...
Crystal
Black Forest Set of Six Glass Tumbler Amber Sofina Boutique Kitzbuehel
Located in Kitzbühel, Tirol
Set of six handblown amber crystal tumblers with hand-edged hunting scene in the style of Black forest. The decor is an antique hunting scene dec...
Crystal
Set of Six Wine Goblets Green Crystal Hunting Decor Sofina Boutique Kitzbuehel
Located in Kitzbühel, Tirol
Set of six hand blown 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
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
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
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...
Metal
Black Forest Carved Wooden Standing Bear with an Engraved Glass Vase or Flute
Located in Lisse, NL
Early 20th century Swiss work of art. This small and hand-carved bear sculpture is a great example of the Black Forest craftsmanship in early 20th century, Switzerland. Anyone who i...
Glass, Wood
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 ...
Metal
Antique Hand Carved and Mint Condition Black Forest Gnome Sculpture Nutcracker
Located in Lisse, NL
Top quality carved, early 20th century, wooden Black Forest nut cracker. If you are a collector of only the best quality and condition Black...
Wood
19th Century Ceramic Pitcher - Hunting Scene - Shore & Co Isleworth England
Located in Casteren, Noord-Brabant
A beautiful antique ceramic jug. The jug has beautiful relief decorations with animals / hunting. The jug is marked on the bottom, with a blind mark. Made by Shore & Co, Isleworth, 1...
Ceramic
Black Forest Hand-Crafted Porcelain Dish Bambi Sofina Boutique Kitzbühel
Located in Kitzbühel, Tirol
Completely handmade and hands-free painted large oval porcelain plate in Black Forest style. A natural molded porcelain bambi figure is sitting left hand and three pines are fixed on...
Porcelain