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Black Forest Benches

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
Antique Black Forest Bear Bench w. Five Bear Sculptures & Carved Oak Leaf Seat
Antique Black Forest Bear Bench w. Five Bear Sculptures & Carved Oak Leaf Seat

Antique Black Forest Bear Bench w. Five Bear Sculptures & Carved Oak Leaf Seat

$18,518

Antique Black Forest Bear Bench w. Five Bear Sculptures & Carved Oak Leaf Seat

Located in Lisse, NL

Large and impressive, hand carved and demountable bench with five bear sculptures. This superbly hand carved bench is entirely made of solid wood and therefor too this stunning and highly decorative antique is as strong and stable as the day it was it was made. We cannot single out one detail that is more special than others, because the standing bear sculptures...

Category

Early 20th Century Swiss Black Forest Benches

Materials

Glass, Wood

Victorian Black Forest Bench
Victorian Black Forest Bench

Victorian Black Forest Bench

$15,867

Victorian Black Forest Bench

Located in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire

Victorian black forest carved bench seat. Back carved with branches, oak leaves and acorns. Patterned seat with scroll arms and entwined border. S sc...

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19th Century European Antique Black Forest Benches

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Early 20th Century French Rustic Hand-Carved Oak Bench from the Alps
Early 20th Century French Rustic Hand-Carved Oak Bench from the Alps

Early 20th Century French Rustic Hand-Carved Oak Bench from the Alps

$2,100

Early 20th Century French Rustic Hand-Carved Oak Bench from the Alps

Located in Dallas, TX

This distinctive antique rustic bench from the French Alps is hand carved from a single thick slab of solid oak, retaining its raw, organic edges and expressive tool marks throughout...

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Early 20th Century French Black Forest Benches

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Early 20th Century Austrian Black Forest Antler Bench with Leather Seat
Early 20th Century Austrian Black Forest Antler Bench with Leather Seat

Early 20th Century Austrian Black Forest Antler Bench with Leather Seat

$3,300

Early 20th Century Austrian Black Forest Antler Bench with Leather Seat

Located in Dallas, TX

This striking antique Alpine bench was crafted in the Black Forest tradition, likely in Austria’s Tyrolean region, circa 1930–1950. Sculptural and highly expressive, the bench is con...

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Early 20th Century Austrian Black Forest Benches

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Black Forest benches for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique Black Forest benches 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 benches created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include seating, building and garden elements, case pieces and storage cabinets and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with wood, fruitwood and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Black Forest benches made in a specific country, there are Europe, Switzerland, and Germany pieces for sale on 1stDibs. 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 benches differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $1,200 and tops out at $82,819 while the average work can sell for $12,200.

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