Black Forest Furniture
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.
Early 20th Century Swiss Black Forest Furniture
Brass, Zinc
Late 19th Century European Antique Black Forest Furniture
Iron
19th Century Swiss Antique Black Forest Furniture
Metal
Early 20th Century European Black Forest Furniture
Brass
19th Century European Antique Black Forest Furniture
Bronze
Late 19th Century Swiss Antique Black Forest Furniture
Brass
Early 20th Century Swiss Black Forest Furniture
Wood
Late 19th Century Swiss Antique Black Forest Furniture
Nutwood
Mid-19th Century Dutch Antique Black Forest Furniture
Oak, Upholstery
Early 20th Century European Black Forest Furniture
Brass, Iron
Late 19th Century European Antique Black Forest Furniture
Brass
Early 20th Century Swiss Black Forest Furniture
Brass, Bronze
Early 20th Century Swiss Black Forest Furniture
Wood, Glass, Paint
19th Century Swiss Antique Black Forest Furniture
Glass, Oak, Paint
20th Century Austrian Black Forest Furniture
Metal, Brass, Iron
Early 20th Century Swiss Black Forest Furniture
Glass, Wood, Nutwood
Late 19th Century Swiss Antique Black Forest Furniture
Brass
Early 20th Century European Black Forest Furniture
Wood
Late 19th Century Swiss Antique Black Forest Furniture
Metal
Early 20th Century European Black Forest Furniture
Brass, Metal
Early 20th Century Swiss Black Forest Furniture
Brass
Early 20th Century French Black Forest Furniture
Wood
Early 20th Century German Black Forest Furniture
Wood
19th Century European Antique Black Forest Furniture
Brass, Copper, Iron
Mid-20th Century European Black Forest Furniture
Wood
19th Century Swiss Antique Black Forest Furniture
Mirror, Wood
Early 20th Century German Black Forest Furniture
Glass, Wood
Late 19th Century Swiss Antique Black Forest Furniture
Nutwood
Early 20th Century Swiss Black Forest Furniture
Glass, Opaline Glass, Wood
19th Century German Antique Black Forest Furniture
Brass
Late 19th Century European Antique Black Forest Furniture
Oak
Late 19th Century German Antique Black Forest Furniture
Wood, Leather
Early 20th Century Swiss Black Forest Furniture
Wood
Early 20th Century German Black Forest Furniture
Wood
Early 20th Century Swiss Black Forest Furniture
Glass, Wood
Late 19th Century Swiss Antique Black Forest Furniture
Wood
Late 19th Century Swiss Antique Black Forest Furniture
Wood
Late 19th Century Swiss Antique Black Forest Furniture
Glass, Oak
Mid-19th Century Dutch Antique Black Forest Furniture
Brass
19th Century German Antique Black Forest Furniture
Fabric, Wood
Early 20th Century German Black Forest Furniture
Wood
Early 20th Century German Black Forest Furniture
Copper
1950s European Vintage Black Forest Furniture
Concrete
Early 20th Century Swiss Black Forest Furniture
Glass, Wood
Early 20th Century Italian Black Forest Furniture
Wood
Early 20th Century European Black Forest Furniture
Mirror, Wood
Late 19th Century Swiss Antique Black Forest Furniture
Wood
Late 19th Century Swiss Antique Black Forest Furniture
Wood
Mid-19th Century European Antique Black Forest Furniture
Mirror, Walnut
Late 19th Century Dutch Antique Black Forest Furniture
Fabric, Walnut
Early 20th Century European Black Forest Furniture
Wood
Late 19th Century German Antique Black Forest Furniture
Nutwood
Early 20th Century German Black Forest Furniture
Wrought Iron
Late 19th Century Swiss Antique Black Forest Furniture
Wood, Felt
Late 19th Century Swiss Antique Black Forest Furniture
Wood, Pine
Mid-19th Century Dutch Antique Black Forest Furniture
Metal
Late 19th Century Swiss Antique Black Forest Furniture
Wood
Mid-19th Century Dutch Antique Black Forest Furniture
Wood