Black Forest Desks

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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.

Style: Black Forest

Large Oak Wood Desk with Antler Decorations by Rudolf Brix 1900

$9,416Sale Price|20% Off

Large Oak Wood Desk with Antler Decorations by Rudolf Brix 1900

Located in Berghuelen, DE

A large antique oak wood desk decorated with several antler pieces from the deer and the Virginia deer as well as wild boar tusks. The doors and sides carry animal heads (staghound and fox) made of pottery. A rare rustic furniture manufactured in Austria ca. 1900 by Rudolf Brix...

Category

19th Century Austrian Antique Black Forest Desks

Materials

Antler, Wood

Antique Derby School Paneled Oak Roll Top Desk with Full Interior, C1900

$4,400Sale Price|20% Off

H 50.5 in W 60 in D 32 in

Antique Derby School Paneled Oak Roll Top Desk with Full Interior, C1900

By Derby Desk Company

Located in Big Flats, NY

An antique roll top desk offers paneled quarter sawn oak construction with s-top opening to full interior over base with flanking drawer towers h...

Category

Early 20th Century American Black Forest Desks

Materials

Oak

L. & J. G. Stickley Antique Mission Oak Arts & Crafts Writing Desk, Circa 1900

$3,595

H 37 in W 40 in D 22.13 in

L. & J. G. Stickley Antique Mission Oak Arts & Crafts Writing Desk, Circa 1900

By L. & J.G. Stickley Inc.

Located in South Bend, IN

An exceptional antique Mission or Arts & Crafts period quarter sawn oak writing desk By L. & J.G. Stickley USA, Circa 1900 Measures: 40"W x 22.13"D x 37"H. Good original vintage ...

Category

Early 1900s American Antique Black Forest Desks

Materials

Oak

Victorian Oak Smoker's Display Cabinet With Drop Front Desk, Circa 1900

$1,995

H 58.75 in W 48.75 in D 14.25 in

Victorian Oak Smoker's Display Cabinet With Drop Front Desk, Circa 1900

By R.J. Horner & Co.

Located in South Bend, IN

A gorgeous antique Victorian smoker's display cabinet with drop-front desk In the manner of R.J. Horner & Co. USA, Circa 1900 Carved quarter sawn oak, with glass door, and origina...

Category

Early 20th Century American Black Forest Desks

Materials

Brass

Antique Oak S-Roll Top Desk with Full Interior Unsigned C1900

$3,160Sale Price|20% Off

H 50.25 in W 60.25 in D 32 in

Antique Oak S-Roll Top Desk with Full Interior Unsigned C1900

Located in Big Flats, NY

***Reduced In-House Delivery Rates - Click on “Ask Seller” to Request a Quote*** Antique Oak S Roll Top Desk with Full Interior Unsigned C1900 Measures - 50.25"H x 60.25"W x 32"D Thi...

Category

20th Century Black Forest Desks

Materials

Oak

Antique Victorian Tiger Oak Bookcase Drop Front Secretary Desk, Circa 1900

$2,995

H 71.5 in W 42.25 in D 14 in

Antique Victorian Tiger Oak Bookcase Drop Front Secretary Desk, Circa 1900

By R.J. Horner & Co.

Located in South Bend, IN

A gorgeous antique Victorian side-by-side drop front secretary desk and bookcase or display cabinet In the manner of R.J. Horner & Co. USA, Circa 1900 Carved tiger oak, with glass...

Category

Early 20th Century American Black Forest Desks

Materials

Brass

Antique Arts & Crafts Oak Raised Panel S-Roll Top Desk with Full Interior C1900

$3,000Sale Price|20% Off

H 49 in W 54 in D 33.75 in

Antique Arts & Crafts Oak Raised Panel S-Roll Top Desk with Full Interior C1900

Located in Big Flats, NY

***Reduced In-House Delivery Rates - Click on “Ask Seller” to Request a Quote***Antique Arts & Crafts Oak Raised Panel S Roll Top Desk with Full Drawer Interior Unsigned C1900 Measur...

Category

20th Century Black Forest Desks

Materials

Oak

Contemporary Desk in White Oak with Pencil Drawers by Boyd & Allister

$8,900

H 30 in W 60 in D 26 in

Contemporary Desk in White Oak with Pencil Drawers by Boyd & Allister

By Boyd & Allister

Located in Santa Fe, NM

We designed this desk to feel light and airy while remaining stable and providing some small storage for papers and pencils. The diagonal supports in the back provide the stability n...

Category

2010s American Black Forest Desks

Materials

Oak

Mission Oak/Tiger Oak Single Drawer Desk with Bookshelves

$1,920Sale Price|20% Off

H 30.5 in W 42.5 in D 29 in

Mission Oak/Tiger Oak Single Drawer Desk with Bookshelves

Located in Pasadena, TX

This is a nice example of Arts and Crafts craftsmanship. This Mission Oak desk is made of oak and quarter sawn oak. It has a single drawer for storage and bookshelves built-in on bot...

Category

Early 20th Century American Black Forest Desks

Materials

Oak

Antique Victorian Oak Bookcase With Drop Front Secretary Desk, Circa 1900

$2,995

H 65.5 in W 44.25 in D 13.25 in

Antique Victorian Oak Bookcase With Drop Front Secretary Desk, Circa 1900

By Herter Brothers

Located in South Bend, IN

A gorgeous antique Victorian side-by-side drop front secretary desk and bookcase or display cabinet. In the manner of Herter Brothers USA, Circa 1900 Quarter sawn oak, with glass ...

Category

Early 1900s American Antique Black Forest Desks

Materials

Brass

1950s Cerused Oak Desk with Brass Pulls

$7,450

H 29 in W 47 in D 25 in

1950s Cerused Oak Desk with Brass Pulls

Located in Dallas, TX

A very well crafted oak desk produced by Huntington Chair Corporation. This incredible example of Art Deco design is a collectible piece. Restored to mint condition. The desk has a cerused finish which highlights the nubian oak wood grain. Slightly shaped rectangular top with three well proportioned drawers to each side and an upper central pencil drawer. Unique round wood insert brass pulls with Art Deco form and design. Resting on angled and tapered wooden feet, clean Modernist lines. Having carved lines to the wood break...

Category

1940s American Vintage Black Forest Desks

Materials

Brass

Antique Oak Side by Side with Drop Front Writing Desk & Mirror

$1,695

H 70 in W 41.5 in D 14 in

Antique Oak Side by Side with Drop Front Writing Desk & Mirror

Located in Freehold, NJ

This antique oak side by side features three dovetailed drawers with brass hardware, compact drop front writing surface, interior storage shelving for...

Category

1920s American Vintage Black Forest Desks

Materials

Glass, Mirror, Oak

Small School Desk in Oak, 1900

$466

H 28.75 in W 19.69 in D 17.33 in

Small School Desk in Oak, 1900

Located in Marseille, FR

Small school desk in oak 1900 with vintage porcelain inkwell. Dimension height 73 cm for a width of 50 cm and a depth of 44 cm. Additional informa...

Category

19th Century Antique Black Forest Desks

Materials

Oak

Previously Available Items

Antique Swiss German Black Forest Carved Walnut Writing Letter Box Folding Desk

Sold

H 10.5 in W 14.5 in D 8.375 in

Antique Swiss German Black Forest Carved Walnut Writing Letter Box Folding Desk

By Black Forest

Located in Portland, OR

A very good carved walnut Swiss German Black Forest writing box, folding desk desk, Brienz Switzerland, circa 1890. The slant front is finely carved in relief with a design of quills...

Category

1880s German Antique Black Forest Desks

Materials

Walnut

19th Century German Black Forest Chip-Carved Suite Desk with Drawer and Chair

Sold

H 25.5 in W 31.5 in D 21.5 in

19th Century German Black Forest Chip-Carved Suite Desk with Drawer and Chair

Located in Vero Beach, FL

19th century German black forest chip-carved suite desk with drawer and chair. Impressive and extremely rare Black Forest desk and chair. The rectangul...

Category

19th Century German Antique Black Forest Desks

Materials

Pine

19th Century Black Forest Leather Top Antler Desk and Removable Shelf

Sold

H 29 in W 44.5 in D 29 in

19th Century Black Forest Leather Top Antler Desk and Removable Shelf

Located in Richmond, VA

Impressive 19th century Black Forest leather top antler desk and removable shelf with a stags head. Desk is finished all around and can float in the center of the room. The shelf is meant to be hung on the wall but looks nice resting on the desk as well. The desk consists of three drawers and a complex German lock...

Category

19th Century Austrian Antique Black Forest Desks

Materials

Antler, Oak

Antique RJ Horner School Figural Carved Oak Knee Hole Campaign Desk, circa 1910

Sold

H 29.5 in W 48 in D 32.5 in

Antique RJ Horner School Figural Carved Oak Knee Hole Campaign Desk, circa 1910

By R.J. Horner & Co.

Located in Big Flats, NY

Antique R.J. Horner School knee hole campaign desk features deeply carved oak construction with rope twist top surmounting central drawer with flanking drawer columns, each deeply ca...

Category

20th Century American Black Forest Desks

Materials

Oak

18th Century Baroque Intarsia Walnut Wood Austrian or Tyrolean Bureau, 1780

Sold

H 47.64 in W 47.25 in D 26.78 in

18th Century Baroque Intarsia Walnut Wood Austrian or Tyrolean Bureau, 1780

Located in Valladolid, ES

One of kind 18th century intarsia walnut wood Austrian or Tyrolean bureau, 1780 with drawers in the upper part there are a central space of boureau abbatant with small drawers on the...

Category

1780s Swiss Antique Black Forest Desks

Materials

Wood

Black Forest desks for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique Black Forest desks for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the 19th Century, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage desks created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include case pieces and storage cabinets, tables and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with wood, antler and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Black Forest desks made in a specific country, there are Europe, Austria, 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 desks differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $5,300 and tops out at $11,770 while the average work can sell for $8,535.