Black Forest Folk Art
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
19th Century German Black Forest Hunting Plaque
Located in Kitzbühel, Tirol
Large German wooden plaque hand carved in basswood in German Black Forest style. About 1890. The hunting plaque shows a large hare figure and oak leaves in a naturalistic detailed style. Backside antique...
Category
Late 19th Century German Antique Black Forest Folk Art
Materials
Wood
Large Wooden Carved Female Cattle Sculpture Brienz Switzerland ca. 1920s
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Large Wooden Carved Female Cattle Sculpture Brienz Switzerland ca. 1920s
Item e7301
A very large naturalistically carved female cattle - masterly carved in lindenwood, Swiss, Brienz ...
Category
Early 20th Century Swiss Black Forest Folk Art
Materials
Wood
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 Folk Art
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 Folk Art
Materials
Metal
19th Century Black Forest Carved Bear Motif Wood Box with Swing-Out Compartment
Located in Cincinnati, OH
This unusual antique Black Forest box features a pair of fully dimensional bears cavorting at the base of a tree stump. The mother and cub hav...
Category
Late 19th Century German Antique Black Forest Folk Art
Materials
Glass, Wood
Antique Oil Print with Dramatic Tiger Hunting Scene in India, 19th Century
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Antique Oil Print with Dramatic Tiger Hunting Scene in India 19th century
A colorful oil print depicting a dramatic tiger hunting scenery in India. ...
Category
Late 19th Century German Antique Black Forest Folk Art
Materials
Wood
Great Lodge Style Antler Mantel Clock 1900
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Great Lodge Style Antler Mantel Clock 1900
A rare antique lodge style mantel clock. Oakwood case, richly decorated with antlers from the deer and fallow deer, mountain goat antlers ...
Category
Early 20th Century German Black Forest Folk Art
Materials
Wood, Antler
Antique Bell Belt with Eight Brass Bells, Tyrol ca. 1900s
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Antique Bell Belt with Eight Brass Bells, Tyrol ca. 1900s
An antique bell belt with eight brass bells from the Tyrolian Alps ca. 1900s. Bell belts are used to locate goats or sheep ...
Category
Early 20th Century Swiss Black Forest Folk Art
Materials
Metal
19th Century Black Forest Carved Bear Chair
By Black Forest
Located in Coeur d'Alene, ID
Black Forest Swiss carved chair having bear on fallen log. Carved bear on lifting seat which once had a music box. Part of the Brienz collection pla...
Category
Late 19th Century Swiss Antique Black Forest Folk Art
Materials
Wood
Antique Oil Print with Dramatic Poacher Scene After Josef Ringeisen
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Antique Oil Print with Dramatic Poacher Scene after Josef Ringeisen
A colorful oil print depicting a dramatic poaching scenery in the Bavarian for...
Category
Late 19th Century German Antique Black Forest Folk Art
Materials
Glass, Wood
Antique Print with Humoristic Scene Featuring Wild Boars and a Painter
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Antique Print with Humoristic Scene featuring Wild Boars and a Painter
A colorful antique oil print depicting a humoristic scene in the Black Fore...
Category
Late 19th Century German Antique Black Forest Folk Art
Materials
Glass, Wood
Large Black Forest Woodcarving Ibex Sculpture, Austria, circa 1920
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Large Black Forest Woodcarving Ibex Sculpture, Austria, circa 1920
An antique early 20th century wooden carved sculpture of an ibex. Handcarved in lindenwood with naturalistic detai...
Category
Early 20th Century Austrian Black Forest Folk Art
Materials
Wood
Late 19th century Black Forest Dog Sculpture, 1890s
By Black Forest
Located in LEGNY, FR
Very beautiful hand arved wooden statue representing a cocker spaniel with glass eyes.
Black Forest, Austrian work dating from the end of the 19th century.
Carved from a single piec...
Category
1890s Austrian Antique Black Forest Folk Art
Materials
Glass, Wood
Rare Cabin Decor Antler Humidor, circa 1890-1900
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Rare Cabin Decor Antler Humidor, circa 1890-1900
An antique turned wooden box with lid, venered with several fine antler slices from the deer and decorated with tips of roe deer antlers. (woodcrack at the lid - see pictures). On top of the lid with hollow turned antler box for matches...
Category
Late 19th Century Unknown Antique Black Forest Folk Art
Materials
Wood, Antler
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 Folk Art
Materials
Metal
Finely Carved Wood Thermometer Stand Hunter and Staghound, 1910
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Finely Carved Wood Thermometer Stand Hunter and Staghound, 1910
A Black Forest thermometer with impressive carved hunter and staghound standi...
Category
Early 20th Century Austrian Black Forest Folk Art
Materials
Wood
Antique Oil Print with Bear Hunt Scene After Heinrich Buerkel, 19th Century
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Antique Oil Print with Bear Hunt Scene after Heinrich Buerkel 19th cetntury
A colorful oil print depicting an alpine bear hunt scenery in the Bava...
Category
Late 19th Century German Antique Black Forest Folk Art
Materials
Glass, Wood
Antique Photo Print Collage with Hunt Company and Game in the Forest
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Antique Photo Print Collage with Hunt Company and Game in the Forest
An antique collage of several victorian hunters in a forest. Made with a pai...
Category
Early 20th Century German Black Forest Folk Art
Materials
Wood
Black Forest Carved Bird Plaque
By Black Forest
Located in Coeur d'Alene, ID
Swiss carved walnut plaque with game bird and two chicks with vine and leaf design. Part of the Brienz Collection but not published.
Period: circ...
Category
1920s Swiss Vintage Black Forest Folk Art
Materials
Wood
Pair of Carved Wood Deer with Roe Buck Antlers
Located in Pasadena, CA
This is wonderful pair of early to mid-19th century carved deer heads that have been completed with actual roe buck deer antlers. The carvings show a deep patina with wear to one ea...
Category
Mid-19th Century German Antique Black Forest Folk Art
Materials
Antler, Wood
Antique Antler Mirror with Console Table, Austria, ca. 1860
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Antique Antler Mirror with Console Table, Austria, ca. 1860
A large antler mirror with console table, made in Austria ca. 1860. The mirror is de...
Category
19th Century German Antique Black Forest Folk Art
Materials
Antler, Glass, Wood, Stucco
Rustic Decor Antique Wooden Humidor
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Rustic Decor Antique Wooden Humidor
A very large highly decorative rustic wooden humidor turned out from a solid thunk, tin inset. Executed, ci...
Category
Mid-20th Century Unknown Black Forest Folk Art
Materials
Wood
Set of Three Historical Dragon Head Wood Beams
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Set of Three Historical Dragon Head Wood Beams
This set of three antique massive dragon head wood beams comes from a Bavarian half-timber house in the area ...
Category
Late 19th Century German Antique Black Forest Folk Art
Materials
Wood
Pair Black Forest Carved Hanging Game Plaques
By Black Forest
Located in Coeur d'Alene, ID
Matched pair of Black Forest linden wood hanging game plaques. One with chamois and grouse, the other red stag and fox. Both complete with rifle and game ...
Category
Early 1900s Swiss Antique Black Forest Folk Art
Materials
Wood
19th Century Black Forest Carved Cabinet
By Black Forest
Located in Coeur d'Alene, ID
Swiss carved china cabinet. Front door has bear paying accordion. Mother and father dancing together as cub plays close by. Two bears supporting shelves. Two drawers for flatware. Be...
Category
Early 1900s Swiss Antique Black Forest Folk Art
Materials
Wood
19th Century Black Wrought Iron Alpine Front Door Bell
Located in Chillerton, Isle of Wight
19th Century Black Wrought Iron Alpine Front Door Bell
This is a delightful and very unusual item, the brass bell is housed in an attractive wrought Iron frame, it is suspended on ...
Category
19th Century Antique Black Forest Folk Art
Materials
Bronze
Black Forest Wood Carving of an Ibex
Located in Lymington, Hampshire
An imposing ‘Black Forest’ wood carving of an Ibex,
standing on a rocky outcrop with realistically carved ribbed antlers and rippling fur.
Category
1880s Swiss Antique Black Forest Folk Art
Materials
Wood
Folk Art 20th Century Carved Wood Man Holding a Beer Stein, Austria 1960s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Pine carving of a beer drinking man, 20th century Austria, he is holding his stein in one hand and straightened his jacket with the other. With a manufact...
Category
1960s Austrian Vintage Black Forest Folk Art
Materials
Wood
Large Hand Carved Black Forest Military Soldier & His Horse Under a Shade Tree
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
This well executed carving is unsigned by the artist, but presumed to have been done in Eastern Europe in circa 1940 in the Black Forest style. The carving depicts a military soldier holding a 'Tommy...
Category
Early 20th Century German Black Forest Folk Art
Materials
Softwood
Black Forest Style Carved Wall Bracket Shelf
Located in Chillerton, Isle of Wight
Black Forest style carved wall bracket shelf
This is a delightful item, the bracket has a carved stag’s head decorated with leaves and trees fro...
Category
Early 20th Century Black Forest Folk Art
Materials
Walnut
Black Forest Wall Light Shades Goat Fur Sofina Boutique Kitzbuehel
Located in Kitzbühel, Tirol
Pair of handmade lampshades with goat fur. Typical light grey fur color with a black line. Inside with gold.
Rimmed by hand with a beige grosgrain. Iron angels...
Category
2010s Austrian Black Forest Folk Art
Materials
Fur
Black Forest Carved Bear with Pen Inkwell
By Black Forest
Located in Coeur d'Alene, ID
Swiss bear with log pen rest and inkwell. Published in "Black Forest Bears and Swiss Woodcarvings," plate 93a. Book included.
In the 1800’s the wood carving...
Category
19th Century Swiss Antique Black Forest Folk Art
Materials
Wood
Wooden Statue of a Walking Bear Hand Carved in Switzerland, circa 1930s
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Wooden Statue of a Walking Bear Handcarved in Switzerland circa 1930s.
A vintage statue of a strolling bear. Made of lindenwood, finely handcarved and handpainted with naturalistic details in Brienz, Switzerland ca. 1930s. A nice example of the famous Black Forest Woodcarvings made in Switzerland.
The tradition of wood carving in Brienz dates back to mid of the 19th century. People in the region were looking for new employment opportunities. They used their skills from traditional crafts, carving everyday objects and sculptures, and created a new business. Many woodcarvers where trained in the 'School of Wood Carving, Brienz' which was established in 1884. Around 1900 the woodcarving industry counted ca. 2000 woodcarvers. Brienz woodcarvings were presented on several worlds fairs with great success. With the Gran Tour Tourism wealthy people from all over the word visited the area and took their woodcarving souvenirs home. Today some companies, like 'Huggler Holzbildhauerei' still exist and build traditional sculptures.
Measures:
Length: 11.02" (28 cm)
Width: 3.94" (10 cm)
Height: 6.69" (17 cm)
Literature Reference:
Peter F. Blackman, Black Forest Woodcarvings, Atglen 2009.
Jay Arenski, Simon and Michael Daniels, Swiss Carvings...
Category
Early 20th Century Swiss Black Forest Folk Art
Materials
Wood
Large 1920s Plaster Figure of the Seated Blacksmith, Le Travail
Located in Chillerton, Isle of Wight
Large 1920s plaster figure of the seated blacksmith, Le Travail
A charming piece Folk Art, a painted statue of the famous blacksmith, known as “Le Travai...
Category
Early 20th Century Black Forest Folk Art
Materials
Plaster
Black Forest Carved Dog Inkwell
By Black Forest
Located in Coeur d'Alene, ID
Swiss carved black Forest shaggy dog inkwell with pen holder. In the 1800’s the wood carving industry of Switzerland started in the town of Brienz. By the ...
Category
19th Century Swiss Antique Black Forest Folk Art
Materials
Wood
Black Forest Wooden Carved Begging Dog, Brienz, ca. 1900
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Black Forest Wooden Carved Begging Dog, Brienz, ca. 1900
A whimsical Swiss wood carving, a long hair terrier is begging with his masters hat besid...
Category
Early 20th Century Swiss Black Forest Folk Art
Materials
Wood
Large Deer Head primitive Black Forest Hand Carved Folk Art Wooden Trophy
Located in Nuernberg, DE
A great looking hand carved original wooden Folk Art wall decoration. A great piece for a suitable ambiance in a trophy room or the office of a Hunter or Woodsman. More than likely o...
Category
1920s Austrian Vintage Black Forest Folk Art
Materials
Wood
19th Century Black Forest Bear
Located in Forney, TX
A large and most impressive late 19th century Swiss Black Forest style hand carved and painted wooden bear sculpture (also known as a Black Forest bear...
Category
Late 19th Century European Antique Black Forest Folk Art
Materials
Glass, Wood
Antique Swiss Casted Bronze Cattle Bell ca. 1900s
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Antique Swiss Casted Bronze Cattle Bell ca. 1900s
Item e7315
An antique cast bronze cattle bell, made in Switzerland around 1900. The bell comes with its ...
Category
Early 20th Century Swiss Black Forest Folk Art
Materials
Bronze
Nice Carved and Painted Tyrolian Carnival Fasnet Mask
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Nice Carved and Painted Tyrolian Carnival Fasnet Mask
A handcarved pine wood, hand painted, antique wooden carved carnival mask from the region of South Tyrol. Excecuted in the firs...
Category
Early 20th Century German Black Forest Folk Art
Materials
Wood
Large Vintage Wooden Strolling Bear Handcarved in Brienz Ca. 1930s
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Large Vintage Wooden Strolling Bear Handcarved in Brienz ca. 1930s
A large vintage statue of a walking bear. Made of lindenwood, finely handcarve...
Category
Early 20th Century Swiss Black Forest Folk Art
Materials
Wood
Mountain Sheep primitive Black Forest Carved Folk Art Wooden Trophy 19th Century
Located in Nuernberg, DE
A great looking hand carved original wooden Folk Art wall decoration. A great piece for a suitable ambiance in a trophy room or the office of a Hunter or Woodsman. More than likely o...
Category
1860s Austrian Antique Black Forest Folk Art
Materials
Wood
Antique Handforged Goat Bell Made in Switzerland ca. 1900s
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Antique Handforged Goat Bell Made in Switzerland ca. 1900s
Item e7308
An antique forged iron goat bell, made in Switzerland around 1900. The bell comes with its original brown leathe...
Category
Early 20th Century Swiss Black Forest Folk Art
Materials
Metal
Swiss Casted Bronze Cattle Bell ca. 1900s
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Swiss Casted Bronze Cattle Bell ca. 1900s
Item e7311
An antique cast bronze cattle bell, made in Switzerland around 1900. The bell comes with its original brown leather strap with bu...
Category
Early 20th Century Swiss Black Forest Folk Art
Materials
Bronze
Antique Wooden Carved Crib Figurine of a Shepherd
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Antique Wooden Carved Crib Figurine of a Shepherd
A large antique wooden carved statue of a shepherd, probably from a Christmas crib. Handcarved in Germany in the second half of the...
Category
Mid-19th Century German Antique Black Forest Folk Art
Materials
Wood
Antique Handforged Cattle Bell Made in Switzerland ca. 1900s
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Antique Handforged Cattle Bell Made in Switzerland ca. 1900s
Item e7310
An antique handforged cattle bell, made in Switzerland around 1900. The bell comes with its original brown lea...
Category
Early 20th Century Swiss Black Forest Folk Art
Materials
Metal
Vintage Wooden Walking Bear Handcarved in Brienz ca. 1930s
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Vintage Wooden Walking Bear Handcarved in Brienz ca. 1930s
A vintage statue of a Black Forest walking bear. Made of lindenwood, finely handcarved with na...
Category
Early 20th Century Swiss Black Forest Folk Art
Materials
Wood
A Swiss Black Forest gnome matchstick holder/striker made in 1916
Located in Central England, GB
This superb small Black Forest hand-carved lime wood novelty match holder features a standing gnome wearing a tall peaked hat, tunic, and long beard.
This little fellow is standing ...
Category
Early 20th Century Swiss Black Forest Folk Art
Materials
Wood
Antique Bull Horn Hall Stand ca. 1870
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Antique Bull Horn Hall Stand ca .1870
A large bull horn hall stand made of wood, original Austrian cattle horns and a green velvet cover. Manufactured i...
Category
Late 19th Century Austrian Antique Black Forest Folk Art
Materials
Wood, Antler
A Wooden Carved Black Forest Bear Desk Set ca. 1920s
Located in Berghuelen, DE
A Wooden Carved Black Forest Bear Desk Set ca. 1920s
Item e7286
A nicely carved Black Forest bear desk set for small utensils. Executed in Brienz, Switzerland around 1920. Very good ...
Category
Early 20th Century Swiss Black Forest Folk Art
Materials
Wood
Large Vintage German Christmas Jumping Jack
Located in Kitzbühel, Tirol
Large vintage christmas jumping jack in wood. The front covered in paper with a beautiful vintage decoration Handmade in the area of Erzgebirge Germany. T...
Category
1950s German Vintage Black Forest Folk Art
Materials
Wood
Rustic Black Forest Wall Mirror, Austria circa 1870
Located in Lichtenberg, AT
Extraordinary rustic wall mirror from the 19th century around 1870 in Austria. An unusual piece of a Black Forest mirror that has been elaborately handcarved out of basswood in an ex...
Category
Late 19th Century Antique Black Forest Folk Art
Materials
Mirror, Softwood
Antique Carved & Painted Troubadour or Minstrel, Nodder Figure with a Violin
Located in Nantucket, MA
19th Century carved and painted wood figure of a troubadour or minstrel wearing a hat and long coat with his trousers tucked into knee-high boots and having a violin under one arm wi...
Category
Late 19th Century European Antique Black Forest Folk Art
Materials
Abalone, Gesso, Pine, Paint
Wooden Carved Sculpture of a Saint, circa 1850
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Wooden Carved Sculpture of a Saint, circa 1850
A beautifully hand carved and hand painted sculpture of a saint with a palm-branch. It is made most probably in Armenian or Georgian a...
Category
Mid-19th Century Unknown Antique Black Forest Folk Art
Materials
Wood
Traditional Handcarved and Painted Tyrolian Carnival Mask
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Traditional handcarved and painted tyrolian carnival mask
An nice antique wooden carved carnival mask which comes from the region of South Tyrol. Made of handcarved and handpainted ...
Category
Early 20th Century German Black Forest Folk Art
Materials
Wood
Vintage Wooden Strolling Bear Handcarved in Brienz ca. 1950
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Vintage Wooden Strolling Bear Handcarved in Brienz ca. 1950
A vintage statue of a walking bear. Made of lindenwood, finely handcarved with naturalistic details in Brienz, Switzerlan...
Category
Mid-20th Century Swiss Black Forest Folk Art
Materials
Wood
Folksy Hand Carved Tyrolian Carnival Fasnet Mask
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Folksy Hand Carved Tyrolian Carnival Fasnet Mask
A folksy wooden carved carnival mask from the region of South Tyrol. These masks are used in Austria, South Germany and Italy at the...
Category
Early 20th Century German Black Forest Folk Art
Materials
Wood
Fine Carved Statue of a Staghound, circa 1920
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Fine Carved Statue of a Staghound, circa 1920
A wooden carved statue of a staghound. It is carved as half relief out of one piece of nutwood. Made in Brienz, Switzerland circa 1920....
Category
Early 20th Century Swiss Black Forest Folk Art
Materials
Wood
Black Forest folk art for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a broad range of unique Black Forest folk art 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 folk art created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include folk art, decorative objects, wall decorations and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with wood, metal and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Black Forest folk art made in a specific country, there are Europe, and Switzerland pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original folk art, popular names associated with this style include Black Forest, A.W. Goebel, Hermann Steiner, 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 folk art differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $900 and tops out at $75,000 while the average work can sell for $6,250.