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.
19th Century French Black Forest Carved Walnut Hand Mirror with Mercury Glass
Located in Dallas, TX
Decorate a vanity, powder room, or dressing table with this elegant antique French hand mirror, crafted circa 1870 in the Black Forest tradition. The Louis XV–inspired form features ...
Mercury Glass, Walnut
Early 20th Century Hand Crafted Black Forest Tabletop Dresser Mirror
Located in Port Jervis, NY
Fabulous hand carved and hand crafted Black Forrest table top shaving mirror from the late 19th century early 20th century. In excellent antique condition with minimal wear all looks...
Mirror, Walnut
Antique Late 19th Century German Black Forest Antler Vanity Mirror
Located in Lancaster, PA
This is an antique antler vanity mirror, having an antler base and larger antlers flanking a smaller carved wooden oval mirror frame. This mirror dates to the late 1800s and is Ger...
Steel
Italian Rococo Giltwood Mirror, Hand-Carved, Mid-19th Century
Located in Stamford, CT
Venetian Rococo style wall mirror. Exuberantly carved with a double layer of acanthus leaf decoration, a tour de force of carving. Mid 19th century. 16 inches high 14 wide
Wood, Giltwood
$875
H 20.25 in W 14.75 in D 2.25 in
Early 20th Century French Silverplated Over Nickel Vanity Mirror with Bow Crest
Located in Dallas, TX
This elegant antique French vanity mirror was crafted circa 1900 and embodies the refined decorative spirit of the Belle Époque period. The oval glass is framed in finely cast silver...
Silver, Nickel
Maguire Hand-Crafted Bamboo Wall Mirror, 20th Century, USA
Located in Delray Beach, FL
Very nice mirror , artistically hand crafted from natural bamboo , great decorative addition to any room .
Bamboo, Glass
Late 19th Century French Vanity Bronze Mirror
Located in Plainview, NY
An exquisite late 19th century French Louis XV vanity mirror. The bronze carved mirror features impressive details with two cherubs. The mirror ...
Bronze
LATE 19th CENTURY SMALL MIRROR IN NEO GOTHIC STYLE
Located in Firenze, FI
Elegant small mirror made of wrought iron and hand-forged, in neo-Gothic style. Its "gate" shape evokes that of a Gothic window or stained glass window, characterized by an ogival pr...
Wrought Iron
An Early 20th century Edwardian Walnut Triptych Dressing Mirror
Located in London, GB
England, circa 1910 An Edwardian English dressing mirror, the triptych frame with arched walnut borders and adjustable central mirror plate, all supported on bun feet. Height 64.0...
Walnut
Antique Mirrored Tabletop Tray, Silver Plate, European, 19th Century
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Mirrored Oversized Tabletop Tray from the Early to Mid-19th Century. The European ornate silver plate tray is a very versatile accessory, with lots of functionality, including sittin...
Silver Plate
$6,450Sale Price|40% Off
H 26.5 in W 21.5 in D 11 in
19th Century Antique Chinese Turtle Shell Vanity Mirror
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Here is a rare and unusual antique, Chinese vanity mirror presented in a turtle shell. The mirror is in a mahogany frame, expertly carved with lo...
Marine turtle
$7,218
H 23.23 in W 20.48 in D 4.73 in
Gabriel Viardot 19th Century Carved Wooden Dragon Crescent Mirror
Located in Hastings, GB
This rare and exceptionally detailed bevelled crescent moon mirror is an iconic example of the Japonisme movement, attributed to the renowned 19th...
Mirror, Sycamore
19th Century Indian Tabletop Vanity Mirror
Located in Topanga, CA
A charming teak tabletop vanity mirror with scrolled side supports, original arched top mirror frame and a drawer at the bottom. The mirror surface reveals the passage of time with a...
Glass, Wood
Illuminated Round Vanity Mirror, United States, 20th Century
Located in New York, NY
While best known for his architectural practice—which played integral roles in the restoration of the Statue of Liberty, re-imagining of the Ritz in Paris, and designing the interior...
Metal
Small Late 19th Century Mahogany Table or Wall Mirror
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
English Mahogany Table or Wall Mirror, circa 1860-1900. This small rectangular veneered mirror can either stand on a table or hang on a wall.
Mirror, Mahogany
Swiss Black Forest Bear Hand Carved Table Mirror
By Black Forest
Located in Newark, England
From our Black Forest collection, we are delighted to introduced this superbly carved Black Forest Bear Table Mirror. The Black Forest Mirror i...
Wood
Antique Black Forest Mirror with Rustic Bear Carvings, ca. 1900
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Antique black forest mirror with rustic bear carvings ca. 1900 A large crescent vanity mirror in a handcarved wooden frame featuring two ...
Wood
Sold
H 44.5 in W 27.5 in D 17 in
Antique French Mirror Black Forest Oak Framed or Standing Mirrored Firescreen
Located in Tyler, TX
Exquisite 19th century antique French Qak Black Forest beveled framed mirror or firescreen~~c. 1880s We were fortunate enough to obtain this outstanding mirror or firescreen and other contents of a French castle estate~~most certainly commissioned pieces for a family of wealth or royalty~~High quality 19th century Black Forest, Gothic and Renaissance Revival pieces in spectacular condition Black Forest furniture...
Mirror, Oak
Sold
H 19 in W 11 in D 7 in
Antique French Mirror Black Forest Dresser Vanity Table Top Jewelry Box Oak 19c
Located in Tyler, TX
Superb and dainty antique French oak black forest tilting table top dresser or vanity beveled mirror jewelry box with drawer~~c. 1880s We can't say enough wonderful things about...
Mirror, Oak
19th Century Black Forest Mirror
Located in High Point, NC
From the Black Forrest, circa 1920. Likely inspired by surrounding flora, these frames are carved from hardwood in decorative wreaths of leaves, stained in a dark color, and a hint o...
Mirror, Hardwood
19th Century Black Forest Mirror
Located in High Point, NC
From the Black Forrest, circa 1920. Likely inspired by surrounding flora, these frames are carved from hardwood in decorative wreaths of leaves, stained in a dark color, and a hint o...
Mirror, Hardwood
19th Century Hand-Carved Black Forest Vanity Mirror-Box
Located in Dallas, TX
19th century hand-carved black forest vanity mirror-box was sculpted from solid fruitwood in the naturalistic form that is definitive of the region, ap...
Fruitwood
19th Century Carved Lindenwood Black Forest Vanity Mirror
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
Carved Black Forest vanity mirror, circa 1890. Original plate. Carved shell below the mirror used for trinkets etc. Carved leaves and branches. Minor l...
Sold
H 24.75 in W 15 in D 6 in
19th Century French Black Forest Carved Oak Freestanding Vanity Table Mirror
Located in Dallas, TX
Decorate a counter with this elegant antique makeup mirror frame from the Alps of France. Crafted, circa 1860, the rectangular, tilt-top mirror with bev...
Mercury Glass, Oak
Sold
H 23.23 in W 16.93 in D 2.37 in
Mirror with Geometrics Motifs Surrounded by a Frame Beautifully Detailed
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Mirror with geometrics motifs surrounded by a frame beautifully detailed and hand-carved in the Renaissance style, end of the 19th century.
Wood
Black Forest Carved Gnome or Elf Table Top Mirror
Located in Wiscasset, ME
Uunique form and great example of Black Forest carving
Wood, Glass
Biedermeier Table Top Decorative Mirror
Located in Wiscasset, ME
Great Inlay Detail.