Black Forest Racks and Stands
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.
to
6
19
16
35
2,609
423
334
272
168
161
142
118
87
68
63
26
24
17
11
9
7
6
26
9
7
1
4
35
7
6
3
3
34
17
6
3
1
35
35
35
1
Style: Black Forest
Wood Carved Roe Deer Head German Black Forest, Antique, 1900s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
A beautiful whimsical early 20th century German Black Forest carved and hand painted head, mounted to a carved back with oak or marble leaves. Nice addition to a hunters loge or any ...
Category
Early 1900s German Antique Black Forest Racks and Stands
Materials
Wood
Swiss Black Forest Hall Tree by Seilar-Brawant, c. 1900
Located in Chicago, IL
A masterful example of Swiss Black Forest craftsmanship, this c. 1900 linden wood hall tree is by the esteemed Seilar-Brawant workshop of Brienz. Towering in scale and rich in detail...
Category
Early 1900s Swiss Antique Black Forest Racks and Stands
Materials
Wood
Oak Black Forest Wall Coat Rack with Hand Carved Double-Headed Eagle, 1900s
Located in Amsterdam, NL
Magnificent and ultra rare Black Forest style wall coat rack.
Striking European design from the 1900s.
Solid oak frame with a hand-carved sculptured double-headed eagle.
Four pati...
Category
Early 1900s Serbian Antique Black Forest Racks and Stands
Materials
Brass
Antique Bull Horn Hall Stand with Cow Fur ca. 1870
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Antique Bull Horn Hall Stand with Cow Fur ca. 1870
Item e5682
A bull horn hall stand ca. 1870, covered with vintage cattle fur which has to be renewed (...
Category
Late 19th Century Austrian Antique Black Forest Racks and Stands
Materials
Fur, Glass, Wood, Horn
Superb Over 1 Metre Tall Black Forest Bear Stickstand
Located in Forest Row, East Sussex
A superb quality late 19th century Black Forest Bear. Carved linden wood with original glass eyes. Excellent quality and condition with wear consistent with age use.
Dimensions: H ...
Category
1880s Swiss Antique Black Forest Racks and Stands
Materials
Wood
19th Carved Wood Black Forest Bears Tree Umbrella Cane Hat Stick Coat Stand Rack
Located in Wijnegem, BE
"Black Forest, Bear Coat Rack, Late 19th Century "
Very beautiful work from the Black Forest, late 19th century: the sculpture is of very high quality, ...
Category
1890s Swiss Antique Black Forest Racks and Stands
Materials
Wood
Important 19th Century Black Forest Hall Stand
Located in Dallas, TX
Magnificent rare Swiss Black Forest carved deer form hall stand with mirror. Having impeccably detailed deer and eagle carvings above rock form base and ...
Category
19th Century Swiss Antique Black Forest Racks and Stands
Materials
Wood
Spanish Wall Coat Rack, Black Forest Oak Leaf and Acorn Design
Located in Barcelona, ES
Iron and Wood Wall Coat Rack, Spain, 1960s
Eye-catching rustic style hats an coats rack with oak leaves iron backplate and wood acorn hangers.
This wall coat rack features two branch...
Category
Mid-20th Century European Black Forest Racks and Stands
Materials
Iron
Rustic Black Forest Floral Easel
Located in Queens, NY
Rustic Black Forest (19th Cent) walnut floral carved easel stand.
Category
19th Century German Antique Black Forest Racks and Stands
Materials
Walnut
Antique Swiss Black Forest Bear Sculpture Umbrella & Cane Stand by Ruef Brothers
By Ruef Brothers
Located in Lisse, NL
Rare hand-crafted entree stand. . .signed ‘RUEF’. (Ruef Brothers)
This beautifully carved Black Forest bear will always be there to greet you when you come home. It does not matter...
Category
Late 19th Century Swiss Antique Black Forest Racks and Stands
Materials
Wood
Antique Swiss Black Forest Carved Dog Head Bronze Hook Hanger Coat Rack, c. 1900
Located in Pearland, TX
A fine antique black forest Swiss hand carved dog head sculpture plaque coat rack with a gilt bronze hook, circa 1900. It's perfect for your rustic lodge decor in an entryway for han...
Category
Early 1900s Swiss Antique Black Forest Racks and Stands
Materials
Bronze
Black Forest 1880s Hand-Carved Coat or Hat Rack with Stag and Grapevines
Located in Atlanta, GA
A Black Forest period hand-carved wall coat or hat rack from circa 1880 depicting a majestic stag with antlers surrounded by grapevines. This Black Forest period hand-carved wall coa...
Category
Late 19th Century Swiss Antique Black Forest Racks and Stands
Materials
Wood
Black Forest, Bear Coat Rack, Late 19th Early 20th Century
Located in MARSEILLE, FR
Large Black Forest coat rack, with in the lower part a bear clinging to a tree trunk at the top of which a teddy bear is playing: the branches form the coat rack, with a mirror, the ...
Category
Late 19th Century Swiss Antique Black Forest Racks and Stands
Materials
Wood
Antique 19th Century Swiss Black Forest Stag Coat Rack / Hat Rack Carved Hallway
Located in Ijzendijke, NL
Gorgeous small coat rack / kitchen rack from Switzerland 1890s hand carved Black Forest stag with brass hooks.
This will look simply amazing in your kitchen hung full with towels or...
Category
Late 19th Century Swiss Antique Black Forest Racks and Stands
Materials
Brass
Rustic Black Forest Style Walnut Gnome Hatrack
Located in Queens, NY
Rustic Black Forest-style (19th Century) carved walnut hatrack/umbrella stand with gnome figure holding tree form with birds in upper branches.
Category
19th Century European Antique Black Forest Racks and Stands
Materials
Walnut
Black Forest Canterbury
Located in New York, NY
Intricately carved Black Forest Canterbury or magazine rack. Designed in a swirled leaf pattern with horned grotesque figures on each corner.
Category
19th Century Swiss Antique Black Forest Racks and Stands
Materials
Hardwood
19th Century Carved Ebonized Black Forest Painting Easel
Located in Milford, NH
A fine example of an ebonized Black Forest hand carved easel with foliate crest and faux bois supports, a hinged rear support leg, and adjustable painting ...
Category
Late 19th Century German Antique Black Forest Racks and Stands
Materials
Wood
Oversized Black Forest 19th Century Carved Oak Stag Rack with Antlers
Located in Atlanta, GA
A black forest oversized carved oak coat and hat rack from the 19th century depicting stags with antlers and umbrella stand. Created during the 19th century, this stunning black forest rack captures our attention with its oversized proportions and skillful carvings. Our eyes are immediately drawn to the two stags facing away from one another and topped with very large antlers. Showcasing great finessed in their execution particularly visible on the details of their coat, they exude a majestic expression. They are alert, their ears raised up. Their necks are connected to one another through a central section carved with foliage and twisted rope motifs and topped with a sphere reminiscent of a regalia. These carved heads are resting on a central column with fluted and gadroon motifs, supporting additional antlers of smaller sizes. The lower part showcases an umbrella stand with brass ring, the ensemble being completed by oval container...
Category
19th Century German Antique Black Forest Racks and Stands
Materials
Oak, Antler
Black Forest Walnut Bear Umbrella Stand
Located in Queens, NY
Rustic Black Forest (19th Century) walnut carved bear umbrella stand holding leaf shaped dish
Category
19th Century German Antique Black Forest Racks and Stands
Materials
Walnut
A Black Forest lindenwood mountain dog stick stand
Located in Lymington, Hampshire
A Black Forest lindenwood mountain dog stick stand, in the form of a shaggy dog standing on his hind legs holding a circle of twisted branches in his front paws, the base also of si...
Category
Late 19th Century Swiss Antique Black Forest Racks and Stands
Materials
Wood
Exquisite Swiss Black Forest ''Eagle'' 19th Century Coat Rack / Hat Rack Walnut
Located in Ijzendijke, NL
Exquisite & most impressive! This 19th century Swiss Black Forest eagle coat rack from carved walnut.
Very large, highly detailed model with 8 hooks for plenty of coats.
The coat...
Category
Late 19th Century Swiss Antique Black Forest Racks and Stands
Materials
Walnut
Black Forest, Bear Umbrella Stand, Late 19th Early 20th Century
Located in MARSEILLE, FR
Large Black Forest umbrella stand, a bear standing on a tree stump, arms forming a circle
Very beautiful work from the Black Forest, late 19th early 20th century: the sculpture is o...
Category
Late 19th Century Swiss Antique Black Forest Racks and Stands
Materials
Wood
Exquisite 19th century Swiss Black Forest Coat rack carved eagle hallway antique
Located in Ijzendijke, NL
Exquisite & most impressive! This 19th century Swiss Black Forest eagle coat rack from carved wood. Highly detailed model with 4 hooks. The coat rack shows a scene of an eagle holdi...
Category
1880s Swiss Antique Black Forest Racks and Stands
Materials
Wood
Carved Black Forest Style Cane Stand with Bear Figure
Located in Bridgeport, CT
A very solid black forest style bear carving serving as a cane and umbrella stand. A standing bear figure holding the open oval support for umbrellas and ...
Category
20th Century Black Forest Racks and Stands
Materials
Wood
Pair of Black Forest 1880s Carved Wooden Chamois Coat or Hat Racks with Foliage
Located in Atlanta, GA
A pair of Black Forest carved wooden chamois heads hat or coat racks from the late 19th century, with foliage accents. Created during the last quarter of the 19th century, each of this pair of racks features a chamois head with glass eyes, emerging from an oval backplate connected to three hoof leg hangers. Boasting a dark brown patina, this pair of Black Forest carved chamois...
Category
Late 19th Century European Antique Black Forest Racks and Stands
Materials
Wood
19th Century Carved Bear Hall Stand
Located in Shipston-On-Stour, GB
An impressive late 19 century Black Forest carved bear hall stand, of a bear looking up while holding a tree with three branches forming coat/hat hooks, with an inquisitive bear cub ...
Category
1880s Swiss Antique Black Forest Racks and Stands
Materials
Wood
An unusual ‘Black Forest’ walnut eagle and chamois hall stand
Located in Lymington, Hampshire
An unusual ‘Black Forest’ walnut eagle and chamois hall stand, modelled as an eagle perched in the bare branches of a tree sizing up a chamois below, with a shaped vine branch for en...
Category
Late 19th Century Swiss Antique Black Forest Racks and Stands
Materials
Walnut
Early 20th Century 'Black Forest' Stick & Umbrella Stand Bear
Located in North Miami, FL
Early 20th century Swiss 'Black Forest' stick & umbrella stand in the form of a charming bear with inset glass eyes. Arms outstretched in a hug-like form the piece will fit perfectly in a front foyer or boot room...
Category
Early 20th Century Swiss Black Forest Racks and Stands
Materials
Metal
Rare Antique Black Forest Carved Tree Shaped Coat Rack, Umbrella Hall Stand Tree
Located in Lisse, NL
Stunning black forest entrance furniture.
Imagine coming home to this work of art after a tough day at the office. This 19th century work of art will make you feel right back home. In order to understand and enjoy this kind of beauty, you have to see it. You have to see the design that was beforehand, see the craftsman that gave his all, see the natural and beautiful materials he used, see the detail of his work and see what inspired him to make this artistic piece. Once you see it in that way, you will truly love this antique and you will appreciate it for it's unmistakeble quality, beauty and for what it radiates. Pictures may say more than a thousand words, but standing next to and using this antique is what really makes the difference
Although it is not marked, we are certain that this eyecatcher is made by Horrix of the Hague. They were the true and internationally respected Dutch makers of top quality Black Forest style masterpieces. This coat rack is no exception.
The beautifully carved walnut branches covered with leafs seem to have naturally grown over the oval mirror in the middle. The mirror, by the way, is purposely covered in soap so there are no reflections that could distract. The base section comes with the original iron, barley twisted ring looking like rope. This ring obviously serves as the umbrella holder above the removable zinc drip pan. This stand is also perfect for holding walking sticks or even rifles. The rim around the zinc pan is again beautifully carved in the shape of a woven basket. Finally, the top section around the central mirror comes with a total of 8 practical and perfectly carved hangers...
Category
Mid-19th Century Dutch Antique Black Forest Racks and Stands
Materials
Metal
Antique Hand Carved Wood Black Forest Bear Entrance, Hall Umbrella & cane Stand
Located in Lisse, NL
Early 1900s Black Forest standing bear umbrella stand.
This vintage Black Forest bear umbrella Stand is a great looking piece for any...
Category
Early 20th Century European Black Forest Racks and Stands
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 Racks and Stands
Materials
Wood, Antler
Black Forest 1890s Carved Wooden Umbrella Stand Depicting a Bear Climbing a Tree
Located in Atlanta, GA
A large Black Forest carved wooden umbrella stand from the late 19th century, depicting a bear climbing a tree branch. Created during the last de...
Category
Late 19th Century European Antique Black Forest Racks and Stands
Materials
Wood
19th C Shield-Backed Lead/Leash Holder, Carved Wood Bulldog Head with Glass Eyes
Located in Chapel Hill, NC
19th Century lead / leash hanger of shield form having a carved wood bulldog head with glass eyes below 3 single hooks and above a double hook.
Category
Late 19th Century Austrian Antique Black Forest Racks and Stands
Materials
Metal
Rare 1880 American Eagle Black Forest Wood Carved Coat Hat & Umbrella Rack Stand
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
We are delighted to this very rare original Black Forest wood hand carved coat hat and umbrella rack finished with large American eagle
A very rare and collectable piece, I’ve onl...
Category
1880s German Antique Black Forest Racks and Stands
Materials
Wood
Early 20th Century French Black Forest Carved Bear Sculpture with Gun Holder
Located in Dallas, TX
This interesting antique gun rack was carved in France, circa 1920. The oak sculpture features a young bear standing up with open arms. The wooden ani...
Category
Early 20th Century French Black Forest Racks and Stands
Materials
Oak
Black Forest racks and stands for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a broad range of unique Black Forest racks and stands for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the Mid-20th Century, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage racks and stands created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include more furniture and collectibles, decorative objects, folk art and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with wood, metal and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Black Forest racks and stands made in a specific country, there are Europe, Switzerland, and Germany pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original racks and stands, popular names associated with this style include Black Forest, and Ruef Brothers. 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 racks and stands differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $360 and tops out at $59,000 while the average work can sell for $5,069.