Black Forest Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass
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.
21st Century and Contemporary German Black Forest Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass
Crystal
21st Century and Contemporary German Black Forest Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass
Crystal
21st Century and Contemporary German Black Forest Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass
Crystal
Late 19th Century French Antique Black Forest Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass
Crystal
21st Century and Contemporary German Black Forest Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass
Crystal
Early 20th Century German Black Forest Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass
Wood
21st Century and Contemporary German Black Forest Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass
Crystal
Mid-19th Century German Antique Black Forest Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass
Metal
1930s Austrian Vintage Black Forest Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass
Wood
21st Century and Contemporary German Black Forest Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass
Crystal
2010s Austrian Black Forest Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass
Ceramic
19th Century Antique Black Forest Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass
Walnut
Mid-20th Century German Black Forest Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass
Metal
2010s German Black Forest Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass
Crystal
2010s German Black Forest Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass
Glass
20th Century German Black Forest Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass
Hardwood
2010s German Black Forest Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass
Crystal
2010s Austrian Black Forest Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass
Ceramic
Late 19th Century Swiss Antique Black Forest Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass
Glass, Wood
2010s German Black Forest Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass
Crystal
Late 19th Century German Antique Black Forest Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass
Metal
2010s German Black Forest Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass
Crystal
2010s German Black Forest Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass
Porcelain
2010s German Black Forest Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass
Crystal
Late 19th Century French Antique Black Forest Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass
Glass, Walnut
2010s German Black Forest Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass
Porcelain
Early 20th Century German Black Forest Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass
Metal
Mid-20th Century German Black Forest Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass
Metal
21st Century and Contemporary German Black Forest Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass
Crystal
21st Century and Contemporary German Black Forest Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass
Porcelain
2010s German Black Forest Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass
Crystal
21st Century and Contemporary German Black Forest Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass
Porcelain
Mid-20th Century German Black Forest Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass
Metal
Early 20th Century German Black Forest Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass
Clay
Late 19th Century German Antique Black Forest Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass
Metal
Mid-20th Century German Black Forest Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass
Metal
2010s German Black Forest Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass
Crystal
21st Century and Contemporary German Black Forest Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass
Porcelain
Mid-20th Century German Black Forest Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass
Metal
21st Century and Contemporary German Black Forest Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass
Porcelain
Late 19th Century Swiss Antique Black Forest Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass
Glass, Walnut
2010s German Black Forest Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass
Crystal
2010s German Black Forest Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass
Crystal
Mid-20th Century German Black Forest Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass
Metal
2010s German Black Forest Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass
Glass
2010s Austrian Black Forest Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass
Oak
2010s German Black Forest Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass
Crystal
21st Century and Contemporary German Black Forest Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass
Crystal
21st Century and Contemporary German Black Forest Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass
Porcelain
2010s German Black Forest Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass
Porcelain
Late 19th Century German Antique Black Forest Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass
Metal
1930s German Vintage Black Forest Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass
Wood, Cork
Mid-18th Century German Antique Black Forest Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass
Metal
Late 19th Century European Antique Black Forest Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass
Crystal, Bronze
Early 20th Century German Black Forest Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass
Bone, Antler, Oak
19th Century French Antique Black Forest Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass
Glass, Wood
Early 20th Century Swiss Black Forest Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass
Glass, Wood
2010s German Black Forest Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass
Porcelain
2010s German Black Forest Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass
Crystal
2010s German Black Forest Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass
Crystal
19th Century French Antique Black Forest Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass
Crystal
21st Century and Contemporary German Black Forest Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass
Porcelain
21st Century and Contemporary German Black Forest Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass
Porcelain
2010s Austrian Black Forest Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass
Ceramic
2010s German Black Forest Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass
Crystal
2010s German Black Forest Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass
Crystal
Late 19th Century French Antique Black Forest Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass
Glass, Walnut
2010s German Black Forest Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass
Crystal
2010s German Black Forest Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass
Crystal
2010s German Black Forest Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass
Crystal
21st Century and Contemporary German Black Forest Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass
Porcelain
21st Century and Contemporary German Black Forest Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass
Crystal
2010s German Black Forest Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass
Crystal