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 Green Hunting Scene Sofina Boutique Kitzbühel
Located in Kitzbühel, Tirol
Handblown crystal vase/lantern in green glass with hunting scene in the style of black forest. The glass is in a first step all around facet...
Crystal
Black Forest Set of 6 Hand-Painted 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 red. Can b...
Crystal
Black Forest Porcelain Bowl with Bambi Figure 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 Porcelain Bowl with Bambi Figure Sofina Boutique Kitzbuehel
Located in Kitzbühel, Tirol
Completely handmade porcelain bowl in the style of black forest with a hands-free naturalistic painted bambi figure in brown. The bambi is sitting in the middle of the bowl for decor...
Porcelain
Black Forest Porcelain Bowl with Bambi Figure Sofina Boutique Kitzbuehel
Located in Kitzbühel, Tirol
Completely handmade porcelain bowl with a hands-free natrualistic painted bambi figure in brown. The bambi is sitting in the middle of the bowl for decorating nuts or sweets around. ...
Porcelain
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
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 Set of Six Tumbler Green Hunting Decor Sofina Boutique Kitzbuehel
Located in Kitzbühel, Tirol
Set of six handblown tumbler in green crystal with a hand-edged hunting scene in the style of black forest. The decor is an antique hunting scene...
Crystal
$1,295 / 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
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 Beer Glass Hand Blown Sofina Boutique Kitzbuehel
Located in Kitzbühel, Tirol
Black Forest beer glass German called Bierseidl in clear crystal glass. Hand blown in Bavaria and hand-engraved with trees and a deer for 0.7 liter beer. ...
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
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 Porcelain Dish with Deer Figure Sofina Boutique Kitzbuehel
Located in Kitzbühel, Tirol
Charming completely handmade and hands-free painted oval porcelain plate. The naturalistic moulded porcelain bambi figure and three porcelain pine cones fixed on the porcelain plate ...
Porcelain
Black Forest Set of Six Porcelain Dishes Hand Painted 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 Bava...
Porcelain
Set of Six German Black Forest Schnapps Glasses Green with Hunting Scene
Located in Kitzbühel, Tirol
Set of six Schnapps glasses. Handblown crystal in green. Hand-edged with a decor of deer and leaves decor in the style of black forest. Handmade by So...
Crystal
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
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
Set of Six Porcelain Plates with Hunting Trophies for Claudia
Located in Kitzbühel, Tirol
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...
Porcelain
Black Forest Porcelain Dish Christmas Garland Sofina Boutique Kitzbuehel
Located in Kitzbühel, Tirol
Hands-free painted porcelain dish with platinum rim. Painted in a classic black forest Christmas decor with green fir and pine cone garland. Completely handmade in Bavaria/Germany.
Porcelain
Black Forest Hand-Painted Porcelain Bambi Figur Sofina Boutique Kitzbuehel
Located in Kitzbühel, Tirol
Hand painted porcelain bambi figure. Hand painted in a naturalistic style. The bambi figure is completely handmade in Bavaria. About Sofina porcelain: Sofina porcelain was found 20...
Porcelain
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
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
Black Forest Set vof Six Hand-Engraved Crystal Plates Sofina Boutique Kitzbuehel
Located in Kitzbühel, Tirol
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...
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