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.
Pair of Antique Swiss Black Forest Chairs w. Matching Tilt-Top Table, Late 1800s
Located in Lisse, NL
Stunning hand carved Black Forest hall set with marquetry inlay. These very well crafted pieces of Black Forest furniture are an incredible sight to see. The workmanship and the lar...
Wood
$4,121Sale Price|25% Off
Antler Armchair with Wild Boar Hide, Red Deer, Fallow Deer, 1880s
Located in Zevenaar, NL
Hunting trophy armchair of antlers, wild boar and red deer. Very expressive and impressive looking throne. The fluid form of the antlers creates a sculptural, organic aesthetic. Ne...
Antler, Animal Skin
A Rare Beautifully Carved Swiss “Black Forest” Musical Bear Chair
Located in London, GB
A Rare Beautifully Carved Swiss “Black Forest” Musical Bear Chair Circa 1920 Retailed by Ed Jobin & Co Brienz. For the exact same model see Jay Arenski and Simon Daniels Swiss Carv...
Wood
$6,304Sale Price / set|20% Off
Antique Bull Horn Chairs by H.F.C. Rampendahl, Austria, Circa 1870
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Four Antique Bull Horn Chairs ca. 1870 A set of four antique bull horn chairs ca. 1870, covered with antique green velvet which has to be renewed (is loo...
Wood, Antler
Pair of Swiss Black Forest Hand-Carved Chairs
Located in Coeur d'Alene, ID
Matched pair of Swiss Black Forest hand-carved bear chairs with bears facing each other. Set in a tree and leaf design. with bears having two-tone coloring. Seats each have two carve...
Wood
Antique Swiss Black Forest Hand-Carved Bear Chairs
Located in Coeur d'Alene, ID
Matching pair of hand-carved Swiss Black Forest chairs with bears facing each other. Set in carved tree and leaf design. Seats carved with a f...
Wood
Antique Black Forest Chairs with Carved Animal Inlay, Germany, 1840
Located in Miami, FL
In walnut, the chairs are delicately carved with interesting inlayed of animal figures. Sold as is to refinish.
Walnut
$1,940Sale Price|20% Off
Nutwood Edelweis Marquetry Chair Swiss Brienz 1900
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Nutwood Edelweis Marquetry Chair Swiss Brienz 1900 A wonderful inlayed nutwood chair decorated with inlayed and painted sceneries depicting chamois, goat and edelweis flowers. Surro...
Nutwood
$4,760Sale Price / set|20% Off
Great Antique Horn Chairs, Austria ca. 1870
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Great Antique Horn Chairs, Austria ca. 1870 Item e5680 A pair large bull horn chairs ca. 1870, one covered with vintage cattle coat which has to be rene...
Metal
Late 19th Century Black Forest Farm House Chair Wood Painted Germany
Located in Kitzbühel, Tirol
Farmhouse chair in the style of Black Forest. Painted in green-blue with a white swan in the medaillon. Original painting, No restaurations. A second matching chair is available.
Wood
$2,928Sale Price / set|20% Off
Pair of Small Antique Horn Chairs, Austria ca. 1870
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Pair of Small Antique Horn Chairs, Austria ca. 1870 Item e5681 A pair small bull horn chairs ca. 1870, one covered with vintage cattle coat which has to...
Metal
Black Forest Music Box Chair
Located in New Orleans, LA
A music box hidden inside this beautifully carved Swiss chair will activate when the chair is sat upon. A remarkable example of the intricate craftsmanship and artistic innovation ch...
Walnut
$6,304Sale Price / set|20% Off
Pair of Antique Bull Horn Chairs Austria 1870
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Pair of Antique Bull Horn Chairs Austria 1870 A pair antique bull horn chairs, from a noble villa in Austria. The seats are with antique green velvet ...
Wood, Antler
A Wooden Carved Bavarian Board Chair ca. 1900
Located in Berghuelen, DE
A Wooden Carved Bavarian Board Chair ca. 1900 A wonderful carved Black Forest nutwood board chair. The backrest is carved with a wolf in the forest by night, Germany, ca. 1900. The ...
Wood
Pair of Black Forest Linden Wood Swiss Maharajah Chairs Circa 1890
By Peter Trauffer
Located in London, GB
Beautifully Carved by Peter Trauffer of Luzern For the same pair see Swiss Carvings the Art of the Black Forest by Jay Arenski and Simon Daniels p132 93cm by 50cm by 50cm approx
Wood
Late 19th Century Black Forest Farm House Chair Wood Painted Germany
Located in Kitzbühel, Tirol
Hand-painted wooden farm house chair in the style of Black forest in blue-green color with a medaillon showing two sheeps. Original color and paintin...
Wood
Pair of 19th Century Black Forest Escabell Chairs
Located in New Orleans, LA
These remarkable chairs are not just a piece of furniture, they are historical artifacts that bring a touch of rustic elegance and timeless beauty to any space. Crafted from rich, d...
Wood
$7,360Sale Price / set|20% Off
Pair of rare Antler Parlor Chairs, France ca. 1860
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Pair of rare Antler Parlor Chairs, France ca. 1860 These two very rare antler parlor chairs are made of stag antlers with feet carved as lions claws. Made in France, ca. 1860 - the ...
Antler, Wood
Nutwood Edelweis Marquetry Chair Swiss Brienz 1900
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Nutwood Edelweis Marquetry Chair Swiss Brienz 1900 A wonderful inlayed nutwood chair decorated with inlayed and painted sceneries depicting chamois, stag and edelweis flowers. Surro...
Nutwood
Pair of Antique Hand-Carved Black Forest Bear Chairs
Located in Coeur d'Alene, ID
Antique Swiss Black Forest carved bear chairs. Intricately hand-carved with chair backs featuring bear climbing branches of oak leaves with acorns. Carved seats and bear heads on fro...
Wood
19th Century Pair of Swiss Black Forest Carved Lindenwood Chairs With Bear Motif
Located in London, GB
A Pair of Carved Black Forest Chairs Constructed in carved Lindenwood, the legs carved to mimic branches, supporting naturalistically carved seats, the back of each chair centred by...
Wood
$7,360Sale Price / set|20% Off
Pair of Rare Antler Parlor Chairs, French, ca. 1860
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Pair of rare Antler Parlor chairs, French ca. 1860 The two very rare antler parlor chairs are made of stag antlers with feet carved as lions claws. French, ca. 1860 - covering renew...
Antler, Fur, Wood
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...
Wood
Rare 19th Century Black Forrest Carved Hall Chair Hand-Carved Hawk Bobbin Turned
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
We are delighted to offer for sale this absolutely stunning Black Forrest Oak hand carved hall chair with bobbin turned legs and a large Hawk in the back...
Hardwood
19th Century Carved Walnut Piano Stool, Black Forest
Located in North Miami, FL
19th Century carved walnut piano stool, Black Forest in the shape of a faun, which is a mythological half human half goat creature from Roman mythology. The height is adjustable to u...
Metal
Pair Renaissance Style Carved Children Chairs, Ca. 1890
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Pair Renaissance Style Carved Children Chairs, Ca. 1890 A pair of wonderful carved nut wood children chairs, backrest carved in Renaissance style with fantastic grimace carvings, Ge...
Wood
Antique Swiss Black Forest Hand-Carved Chairs
Located in Coeur d'Alene, ID
Pair of Swiss hand-carved Black Forest bear chairs. Both facing left with acorn and oak leaf motif, and carved seats. Bears looking out of a de...
Wood
$1,600 / set
Father Wind Spinning Chair
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This wooden chair was made in the late 1800s and was used for spinning yarn; hence the name "Spinning Chair". Made with strong oak wood; elegant, rich hand-carvings cover the chair head to toe. As the tail would tell us, these chairs were made in the Black Forest of Germany--the Father of the Wind is depicted as the back. He is taking a deep breath in of fresh air and new possibilities, as each season passes he is there to support the changing of the wind. Each season calls for different winds and temperatures, which meant new clothes, and Father Wind...
Wood, Oak
$18,400
H 33.6 in W 55.5 in D 19.6 in
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...
Glass, Wood
Antique English Papier-Mache Tilt-Top Table
Located in Belper, Derbyshire
A beautiful Papier-Mache tilt top occasional table, hand-painted with flowers and inlaid with mother-of-pearl. Gilt decoration has faded gently with age. Please note - due to the mo...
Mother-of-Pearl, Wood
English Mahogany Tilt-Top Table
Located in Woodbury, CT
While there is nothing extraordinary about this mahogany tilt-top table no fancy, carved edge or claw and ball feet there is nothing particularly ordinary, either. The top is just th...
Mahogany
$1,942Sale Price / set|25% Off
H 34 in W 43 in D 41 in
Oversized Lounge Chairs by HICKORY CHAIR - Set of 2
By Hickory Chair Furniture Company
Located in Lake Worth, FL
For FULL item description click on More Details below. Shipping Quote Information The shipping quote stated in the listing was from 1st Dibs and they normally set all the costs and ...
Velvet
Charles and Ray Eames, LCW Lounge Chair, circa 1960
Located in Belmont, MA
Charles and Ray Eames. Iconic LCW lounge chair in black stained plywood, designed by Charles and Ray Eames, Manufactured by Evans / Herman Miller. The veneer and chair is in good o...
Plywood
Antique Metamorphic Table/Chair Tilt-Top Monks Bench
Located in Forney, TX
A fascinating metamorphic table / chair English oak monk's bench from the early 20th century. Having a circular tabletop with molded edge and dec...
Oak
Rattan Rattan Lounge Chair by Isamu Kenmochi , Circa 1980s
By Yamakawa Rattan, Isamu Kenmochi
Located in Sammu-shi, Chiba
Rattan sofa designed by Isamu Kenmochi and manufactured by Yamakawa Rattan. Circa 1980s. No restorations or modifications have been made. The cushion is also original vintage condition.
Upholstery, Rattan
Rustic Antique Hand-Carved Tri Leg Chair
Located in Round Top, TX
This fascinating rustic chair has a traditional tri-leg design with extensive hand-carved details, including scroll work along the seat and names that frame the back. Please examine the close up photos to appreciate the numerous carved aspects and unique hand-crafted workmanship of this truly one of a kind chair...
Wood
Pair of Indian Wooden Carved & Hand-Painted Tiger Chairs
Located in Bruton, GB
A striking and whimsical pair of hand-carved wooden chairs, expertly crafted in the form of stylized tigers. Originating from India and executed in a vibrant, hand-painted finish, ea...
Wood
$2,030Sale Price|30% Off
H 27 in Dm 29.8 in
American Chippendale Tilt Top Tea Table, Cherry Wood, 1775-1800
Located in Kenilworth, IL
American Chippendale tilt top tea table with a two board cherry wood top. The top rests on a baluster turned pedestal which is supported...
Cherry
Vintage Hand-Carved Hand Chairs
Located in Roanoke, VA
Fantastic vintage pair of hand-carved hand-shaped chairs. Gorgeous detail on all sides of the chair, these look great coming and going. Beautiful rich finish. Sturdy and comfortable ...
Teak
Mid-Century, Micheal Thonet No. 37 Chair, Vienna 1880s
Located in Kampen, NL
Thonet No. 37 armchair, designed by Michael Thonet in Austria circa 1880s, is a masterful example of early industrial furniture. Crafted from steam bent beechwood with a cane seat an...
Cane, Bentwood
Sold
H 35.5 in W 18 in D 19 in
19th Century Black Forest Walnut & Leather Smoking Chair with Cigar Storage
Located in Dallas, TX
Bring charm and conversation to your space with this unique "Chaise de Fumeur" or smoking chair. Crafted in France circa 1880, the antique chair is made of richly patinated walnut an...
Leather, Walnut
Black Forest Antler Arm Chair by J. A. K. Horn, Turingen 1840s
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Black Forest Antler Arm Chair by J. A. K. Horn, Turingen 1840s An elaborate antique Black Forest antler arm chair with real stag and deer antlers as legs, arm- and backrests, seat w...
Antler, Wood
A Pair Carved Bavarian Board Chairs ca. 1900
Located in Berghuelen, DE
A Pair Carved Bavarian Board Chairs ca. 1900 A pair wonderful carved oak wood board chairs from a famous munich inn. The backrests are carved with whimsy folksy scenes of the Munich...
Nutwood
19th Century Swiss-German Black Forest Antler Horn Throne Chair
Located in Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent
A very unusual throne chair or armchair made in the Black Forest region of south-west Germany bordering Switzerland. The horns from elk/moose, antler and goat are intertwined to crea...
Fabric, Antler
Sold
H 29.53 in W 27.56 in D 21.66 in
19th Century Pair Of Black Forest Antler Horn Hall Chairs, Swiss/German, c.1890
Located in Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent
A very unusual pair of hall chairs or side chairs made in the Black Forest region of south-west Germany bordering Switzerland. The horns are intertwined and finished with carvings of...
Fabric, Pine, Antler
Sold
H 32.5 in W 18 in D 17.5 in
19th Century French Black Forest Carved Oak Smoking chair with Cigar Storage
Located in Dallas, TX
This elegant antique "Chaise de Fumeur" or smoking chair was crafted in France, circa 1880. This rich oak chair stands on two front scroll legs ending with paw feet and barley twist ...
Leather, Oak
Linden Wood ’Black Forest’ Bear Armchair from Peter Trauffer
Located in Lymington, Hampshire
A linden wood ’Black Forest’ Bear armchair from Peter Trauffer, modelled as a seated bear with a radiating grooved seat in his lap, his paws outstret...
Wood
Sold
H 36.2 in W 20.9 in D 27.4 in
Stunning Antique Black Forest Fireplace Chair by Horrix w Excellent Upholstery
By Horrix
Located in Lisse, NL
Amazing quality carved, great condition, beautifully upholstered and rare antique chair. Over the years we have sold beautiful Black Forest antiq...
Upholstery, Oak
Sold
H 38.63 in W 17.38 in D 17.38 in
Original Black Forest Set '6' Hand-Carved Dining Chairs Available Matching Table
Located in Highwood, IL
Black forest carvings became a symbol of wealth in the 1800’s and were found in the homes of serious collectors. Their history of Black Forest carvings dates back to the 1800’s in the town of Brienz, Switzerland. Black Forest carving began as a cottage industry and found a niche market and was popular with the tourist trade. When one thinks of Black Forest carvings, they immediately think of carved bears and that’s probably because there are thousands of reproductions. Old Plank has discovered a real treasure trove...
Wood
Pair of 19th Century Carved Linden Wood Chairs
Located in Gloucestershire, GB
An unusual pair of 19th century carved linden wood chairs. The backs and legs are carved in the form of tree branches and vines adorned with acorns and leaves. Having slatted bench seats...
Wood
Sold
H 40.95 in W 27.96 in D 24.02 in
Very Rare Pair of Original Early 20th Century Black Forest Wood Bear Armchairs
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
We are delighted to offer for sale this stunning and exceptionally rare pair of original hand carved in Black Forest wood very large Bear armchairs A collectable and signature pai...
Wood
Sold
H 40 in W 18.75 in D 16 in
Antique French Chair Barley Twist Black Forest Carved Oak Upholstered 19th C
Located in Tyler, TX
Rare antique French oak Black Forest upholstered chair with barley twist legs~~19th century Exquisite back is carved from one solid piece of oak~~red, gold and green striped uphol...
Upholstery, Oak