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Black Forest Furniture

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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Item Ships From: Europe
Style: Black Forest
Antique Hand Carved and Mint Condition Black Forest Gnome Sculpture Nutcracker
Located in Lisse, NL
Top quality carved, early 20th century, wooden Black Forest nut cracker. If you are a collector of only the best quality and condition Black...
Category

Early 20th Century German Black Forest Furniture

Materials

Wood

Rustic Black Forest Mirror Hand Carved, Austria, circa 1890
Located in Lichtenberg, AT
Lovely small Black Forest mirror from Austria, circa 1890. Artfully processed out of basswood, this frame shows unusual hand carved leaves designs and was combined with protruding co...
Category

Late 19th Century Austrian Antique Black Forest Furniture

Materials

Softwood, Mirror

19th Century Black Forest Carved Bear Hall Stand, Three Bears Coat Stand
Located in Chillerton, Isle of Wight
This is a very impressive piece dating from the turn of the 19th century, carved in the Black Forest we have three bears, the mother bellowing from below, ...
Category

Late 19th Century German Antique Black Forest Furniture

Materials

Wood

19th Century 'Black Forest' Bear
Located in London, GB
A 'Black Forest' Bear In naturalistically carved lindenwood, having glass eyes, head tilted aloft, prowls on all fours. From the Brienz Area. Brienz, in the Bernese Oberland, Sw...
Category

Late 19th Century Swiss Antique Black Forest Furniture

Materials

Wood

Country Style Porcelain Pastry Dish Handpainted Birds Sofina Boutique Kitzbühel
Located in Kitzbuhel, AT
Large completely handmade porcelain dish is hands-free painted with a naturalistic decor of three great tits sitting on leaves. Green rimmed with a fine 24-carat gold line. Handmade...
Category

2010s German Black Forest Furniture

Materials

Porcelain

Wall Coat Rack with Black Forest Oak Leaf and Acorn Design, 1960s
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 Furniture

Materials

Iron

Swallow Nest Black Forest Key Rack Holder Wall Mount Vintage Folk Art
Located in Nuernberg, DE
A lovely key board made of hand carved wood, made in the black forest area in Germany. Found at an estate sale in Nuremberg, Germany. It is not marked. A nic...
Category

Early 20th Century German Black Forest Furniture

Materials

Brass

Antique Antler Smoking Desk Set, circa 1900
Located in Berghuelen, DE
The antique antler smoking desk set is made of original antlers from the deer and the stag. It was in Germany, circa 1900. Measures: Width 16.93" (43cm) Height 11.42" (29cm) Antle...
Category

Early 20th Century German Black Forest Furniture

Materials

Antler

Group of Three Hand Carved Swiss Black Forest Wild Boar Sculptures by N. Deneffe
By N. Deneffe
Located in Lisse, NL
Rare group of three Black Forest sculptures. We have been in the business of buying and selling rare antiques for quite some time now, but never before had we seen more than one Black Forest boar...
Category

Late 19th Century Swiss Antique Black Forest Furniture

Materials

Nutwood

Large Antique Antler Standing Mirror, Germany, ca. 1890
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Large antique antler standing mirror, Germany, ca. 1890 A great antique Black Forest antler standing mirror manufactured in Germany around 1890. An oval wooden frame richly decorate...
Category

19th Century German Antique Black Forest Furniture

Materials

Antler, Glass, Wood

Large Black Forest Antler Gun Cabinet, ca. 1900
Located in Berghuelen, DE
A large antique oak wood gun cabinet decorated with several original antlers from the deer, the fallow deer, antelope and chamois. Elaborately manufactured...
Category

19th Century Austrian Antique Black Forest Furniture

Materials

Antler, Wood

Large Black Forest Woodcarving Ibex Sculpture, Austria, circa 1920
Located in Berghuelen, DE
An antique early 20th century wooden carved sculpture of an ibex. Handcarved in lindenwood with naturalistic details - most probably in Austria around 1900. On the rocky base with a ...
Category

Early 20th Century Austrian Black Forest Furniture

Materials

Wood

Black Forest Set of Six Tumbler Green Hunting Decor Sofina Boutique Kitzbuehel
Located in Kitzbuhel, AT
Set of six handblown tumbler in green crystal with a hand-edged hunting scene in the style of black forest. The decor is an antique hunting scene...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary German Black Forest Furniture

Materials

Crystal

Antique Black Forest Chamois Antler Trophy on Wood Carved Plaque, German, 1900s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
A beautiful antique Black Forest Chamois antler trophy on hand carved, Black Forest wooden plaque. A nice addition to your hunters loge or just to display it in your house.
Category

Early 20th Century German Black Forest Furniture

Materials

Antler, Wood

Antique German Wine Table or Stand with Hand-Carved Saying and Sculptural Legs
Located in Lisse, NL
Rare, meaningful, practical, handcrafted and highly decorative antique table. This one of a kind table will appeal to spiritual people and collectors of stylish, rare and meaningful...
Category

Late 19th Century German Antique Black Forest Furniture

Materials

Wood, Leather

Black Forest Austrian Cushion Red Deer Fur Sofina Boutique Kitzbühel
Located in Kitzbuhel, AT
Cushion red deer fur with white spots. Backside grey wool. The fur comes from the Kitzbuehel alps. Made in Kitzbühel, Austria.
Category

2010s Austrian Black Forest Furniture

Materials

Fur

Hand Carved Black Forest Brienz Wooden Bear with an Engraved Glass Vase or Flute
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Classic late 1900s Black Forest Brienz work of art. This small and hand carved bear sculpture is a great example of the Black Forest craftsm...
Category

Late 19th Century German Antique Black Forest Furniture

Materials

Wood, Cut Glass

Hand Carved Wood Black Forest Bear Hard Liqueur Stand, Czechoslovakia, 1985
Located in Nuernberg, DE
A 20th century Black Forest wood carved bear. Nice addition to your room or just for use it on your desk. Made of hand carved wood and has original Becherovka Schnaps Glasses. Signed...
Category

1980s Czech Vintage Black Forest Furniture

Materials

Wood, Glass

Top Quality Carved Antique Swiss Black Forest Linden Wood Ibex Corner Shelf
Located in Lisse, NL
All hand carved and amazing condition Black Forest corner shelf. Looking at the marvelous details of this striking Black Forest ibex, this corner br...
Category

Early 20th Century Swiss Black Forest Furniture

Materials

Wood

Set of Six Porcelain Dishes with Hunting Trophies Sofina Boutique Kitzbuehel
Located in Kitzbuhel, AT
Set of six porcelain dishes . Hands-free painted with 6 different detailed painted trophies heads in the style of black forest. Rimmed with a fine 24-carat gold line. Handmade in Bav...
Category

2010s German Black Forest Furniture

Materials

Porcelain

Black Forest Wall Mirror with Grapes and Leaves Hand Carved, Austria Dated 1919
Located in Lichtenberg, AT
Gigantic, one of a kind Black Forest wall mirror out of Austria, dated to 1919. This early 20th century elaborately hand carved masterpiece impresses with a fantastic open worked vin...
Category

Early 20th Century Austrian Black Forest Furniture

Materials

Spruce, Mirror, Softwood

Tobacco Jar Wood Carved Black Forest Brienz German Antique, 1900s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Classic early 1900s Black Forest Brienz wood carved Tobacco Jar. Nice addition to your room or just for use it on your desk. Found at an estate sale in Nur...
Category

Early 1900s German Antique Black Forest Furniture

Materials

Wood

Hand Carved Arts & Crafts Baby or Doll Bed / Crib with Squirrel Rabbit & Sparrow
Located in Lisse, NL
Antique and unique Black Forest style crib with animal sculptures. With 1stdibs being 'home to the most beautiful things on earth', for us, there is only one place to offer this uni...
Category

Late 19th Century European Antique Black Forest Furniture

Materials

Oak

Black Forest Porcelain Bowl with Deer Figure Sofina Boutique Kitzbuehel
Located in Kitzbuhel, AT
Hand-painted porcelain dish for serving sweets or nuts with a naturalistic bambi figure in the center of the dish. The bambi figure and the bowl are completely handmade in Bavaria. H...
Category

2010s German Black Forest Furniture

Materials

Porcelain

Large Carved Wood Chamois Sculpture, Black Forest, circa 1900
Located in Berghuelen, DE
An expressive naturalistic carved large chamois sculpture standing on a rocky base. It is handcarved and stainied lindenwood. Executed in Austria around 1900. Measures: Length 17.72...
Category

Late 19th Century Austrian Antique Black Forest Furniture

Materials

Wood

Black Forest Rustic Wall Mirror Hand Carved Bass Wood, Austria, circa 1880
Located in Lichtenberg, AT
Uncommon rustic black forest wall mirror from Austria, around 1880. This antique wall mirror impresses with an unusual hand carved design, elaborately made out of basswood. A very da...
Category

Early 20th Century Austrian Black Forest Furniture

Materials

Mirror, Softwood

Black Forest Set of Six Glass Plates Green Crystal Sofina Boutique Kitzbuehel
Located in Kitzbuhel, AT
Set of six plates in green crystal with an antique hunting decor all around. The charming hand-engraved decor shows an antique decor with deers, a rabbit and trees in the style of bl...
Category

2010s German Black Forest Furniture

Materials

Crystal

Set of Six Porcelain Plates with Hunting Trophies for Claudia
Located in Kitzbuhel, AT
Set of six porcelain plates. Hands painted with 6 different detailed painted trophies heads. Rimmed with a fine 24-carat gold line and with an additional green one. Handmade in Bava...
Category

2010s German Black Forest Furniture

Materials

Porcelain

Rare & Practical Size Antique Black Forest Bear Table or Desk Piece / Sculpture
Located in Lisse, NL
Beautiful quality and perfect condition, antique bear desk piece. This Black Forest bear is carved in a beautiful pose. This rare, early 1900s desk piece is the perfect pen or pencil holder and it is handcrafted antiques like this that keep our work interesting and rewarding. Also, because we know that this rare and good quality Swiss bear...
Category

Early 20th Century Swiss Black Forest Furniture

Materials

Glass, Wood

Pair of Carved Lime Wood Pictures
Located in Lymington, Hampshire
A pair of Swiss carved lime-wood pictures one showing a hunter being attacked by an eagle as he attempts to raid its nest, the other a climber rescuing a g...
Category

1880s Swiss Antique Black Forest Furniture

Materials

Wood

Black Forest Bear Side Table, Late 19th Century
Located in Brighton, Sussex
An amusing late 19th century Black Forest carved wood bear side table, originally intended as a smoking compendium. Having two small bears lying on ...
Category

Late 19th Century Swiss Antique Black Forest Furniture

Materials

Softwood

Pair Renaissance Style Carved Children Chairs, Ca. 1890
Located in Berghuelen, DE
A pair of wonderful carved nut wood children chairs, backrest carved in Renaissance style with fantastic grimace carvings, Germany, ca. 1890. Measures: Width 13.98" (35.5cm) Height ...
Category

Late 19th Century German Antique Black Forest Furniture

Materials

Wood

Set of Six Black Forest Hand Painted Soup Plates Sofina Boutique Kitzbühel
Located in Kitzbuhel, AT
Set of six completely handmade and hand painted under glaze porcelain soup plates. The decor shows a black forest hands-free painted oak leaf with a green hands free line and platinu...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary German Black Forest Furniture

Materials

Porcelain

Set of Six Black Forest Hand-Engraved Glass Plates Sofina Boutique Kitzbuehel
Located in Kitzbuhel, AT
Set of six plates in red crystal with an hands-free engraved antique black forest hunting decor all around. The charming hand-engraved decor shows a hunting decor with deers, rabbit ...
Category

2010s German Black Forest Furniture

Materials

Crystal

Black Forest Rustic Wall Mirror Hand Carved, Germany, circa 1880
Located in Lichtenberg, AT
Exceptional Black Forest wall mirror out of Bavaria/ Germany from the late 19th century around 1880. An unusual designed rustic wall mirror with a ...
Category

Late 19th Century German Antique Black Forest Furniture

Materials

Mirror, Softwood

Hand Carved Antique 'Black Forest' Fox Stool
Located in London, GB
A 'Black Forest' fox stool Constructed in a very well patinated and carved lindenwood, the kneeling fox having glass eyes, with monochrome naturalistic highlights; the seat carved to resemble a mushroom. Brienz Area, circa 1900 Brienz, in the Bernese Oberland, Switzerland was remarked upon in Baedeker's Travel Guide, as having a population of 2400, of whom 600 persons were employed as woodcarvers, to supply the tourist trade to Switzerland with mementos of the tour. A museum devoted entirely to the art of wood carving may be visited today. Arenski, Jay, Simon Daniels, and Michael Daniels. Swiss Carvings: The Art of the 'Black Forrest', 1820-1940. Woodbridge: Antique Collectors' Club, 2005, p. 140 (fig. 224). Illustrating a kneeling bear stool...
Category

19th Century Swiss Antique Black Forest Furniture

Materials

Glass, Wood

Set of Six Black Forest Hand Painted Breakfast Plates Sofina Boutique Kitzbühel
Located in Kitzbuhel, AT
Set of six completely handmade and hand painted underglaze porzelain breakfast plates. The decor shows a Black Forest hands-free painted oak leaf with ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary German Black Forest Furniture

Materials

Porcelain

Pair of Antique Rustic Antler Parlor Chairs, Germany, circa 1900
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Pair of Antique Rustic Antler Parlor Chairs, Germany, circa 1900 A pair of antique antler chairs, made of antlers from the deer and fallow deer. ...
Category

Late 19th Century German Antique Black Forest Furniture

Materials

Antler, Oak

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...
Category

Late 19th Century Swiss Antique Black Forest Furniture

Materials

Wood

Black Forest Crystal Latern Green Hunting Scene Sofina Boutique Kitzbühel
Located in Kitzbuhel, AT
Handblown crystal vase/lantern in green glass with hunting scene in the style of black forest. The glass is in a first step all around facet...
Category

2010s German Black Forest Furniture

Materials

Crystal

Black Forest Rustic Wall Mirror Bass Wood, Austria, circa 1880
Located in Lichtenberg, AT
Amazing rustic Black Forest wall mirror from the late 19th century in Austria. Elaborately handcrafted around 1880 this rural mirror shows an absolute unique design. The hand carved ...
Category

Late 19th Century Austrian Antique Black Forest Furniture

Materials

Mirror, Softwood

Porcelain Bowl with Fox Figure Sofina Boutique Kitzbuehel
Located in Kitzbuhel, AT
Completely handmade porcelain bowl with a hands-free naturalistic painted fox in brown colors. The fox is sitting in the middle of the bowl for decorating nuts or sweets around the fox figure...
Category

2010s German Black Forest Furniture

Materials

Porcelain

19th Century Black Forest Photo Frame Set, Austria, circa 1880
Located in Lichtenberg, AT
Rustic set of two 19th century Black Forest photo frames out of Austria, circa 1880. Artfully hand carved out of basswood, this frame shows a fantastic de...
Category

Late 19th Century Austrian Antique Black Forest Furniture

Materials

Softwood, Glass

Large Black Forest Walnut Plaque
Located in Lymington, Hampshire
Showing a hunter being attached by an eagle as he attempts to raid its nest, attributed to Johann Fluck.  
Category

1850s Antique Black Forest Furniture

Materials

Walnut

Wooden Carved Sculpture of a Saint, circa 1850
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Wooden Carved Sculpture of a Saint, circa 1850 A beautifully hand carved and hand painted sculpture of a saint with a palm-branch. It is made most probably in Armenian or Georgian a...
Category

Mid-19th Century Unknown Antique Black Forest Furniture

Materials

Wood

Fine Carved Wood Chamois Family by Ernst Heissl, circa 1900
By Ernst Heissl
Located in Berghuelen, DE
A delicately hand-carved wood sculpture of a chamois family. The item is very detailed and a classical natural carving by the Austrian woodcarver Ernst Heissl...
Category

Late 19th Century Austrian Antique Black Forest Furniture

Materials

Wood

Unknown, Oil on Canvas Painting Angel with Sleeping Child
Located in Berghuelen, DE
A great angelic oil painting depicting an angel sheltering a sleeping child from a snake. Oil painting on canvas with vigorous pastel colors. Framed wit...
Category

Early 20th Century German Black Forest Furniture

Materials

Canvas

Black Forest Oval Porcelain Plate with Wild Boars Sofina Boutique Kitzbühel
Located in Kitzbuhel, AT
Completely handmade and hands-free painted large oval porcelain plate for decoration. Two natural moulded porcelain figures wild boars are sittin...
Category

2010s German Black Forest Furniture

Materials

Porcelain

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 Furniture

Materials

Antler, Wood

German Santa Claus Figure Papier Mâché Sofina Boutique Kitzbühel
Located in Kitzbuhel, AT
Large Santa Claus figure in papier mâché in red with a hand painted detailed face holding a tree. The Santa Claus is handmade in a original mould in Germany.
Category

2010s German Black Forest Furniture

Materials

Paper

Pair of Large Scale Swiss Black Forest Carved Couchant Hunting Dogs
Located in London, by appointment only
Loyal and watchful, this fabulous pair of Black Forest hounds, of excellent size and quality, are patiently waiting for their new home. The Black...
Category

Late 19th Century Swiss Antique Black Forest Furniture

Materials

Wood

19th Century Black Forest Carved Walnut Dog and Cat Head Inkwells with Pen Rest
Located in Haarlem, NL
Very cute set of two 19th century Black Forest, Schwarzwald, Forêt Noir carved walnut dog and cat heads with glass eyes and ink well with log pen rest. Intricate carved detail to hair, teeth, eyes and paws. The cat has green glass eyes, has painted stripes and the log is painted darker. The inkwell insert...
Category

Late 19th Century Swiss Antique Black Forest Furniture

Materials

Bone, Walnut, Glass

Rustic Decor Antique Wooden Humidor
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Rustic Decor Antique Wooden Humidor A very large highly decorative rustic wooden humidor turned out from a solid thunk, tin inset. Executed, ci...
Category

Mid-20th Century Unknown Black Forest Furniture

Materials

Wood

Masterly Crafted w. Edelweiss Flowers Swiss Black Forest Barometer & Thermometer
Located in Lisse, NL
Top museum quality carved Swiss barometer / weather station This antique barometer is not only about the actuality of the weather, it is also a true work of art and a real pleasure to look at. The attention to detail is incredible and it must have taken a true craftsman weeks rather than days to design and finish the carved frame alone. At a later stage, the handcrafted barometer (in German) and the thermometer (in Celsius & Fahrenheit) were integrated. Notice how the Edelweiss Flowers...
Category

Late 19th Century Swiss Antique Black Forest Furniture

Materials

Wood

Antique Wooden Mantel Clock with Eagle, Swiss 1900
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Antique Wooden Mantel Clock with Eagle, Swiss 1900 A great carved linden wood mantel clock with a very detailled carved eagle sitting on a rock with foliage decorations. The porcelaine clockface has handpainted numerals, handcarved in Switzerland - Brienz ca. 1900. The clockwork was overworked by a clockmaker and is in working order. It comes with original key. Measures: Width 14.17" (36.0cm) Height 24.8" (63.0cm) Depth 5.12" (13.0cm) Soberly considered mantel clocks are small pendulum clocks...
Category

Late 19th Century German Antique Black Forest Furniture

Materials

Wood

19th Century Austrian Black Forest Hunting Trophy with Deer Head
Located in Kitzbuhel, AT
19th century hughe deer head hand-carved in oakwood with real deer horns. The eyes with real eyelashes. Mounted on a great carved wood plaque with leaves and acorns in the style of ...
Category

Late 19th Century Austrian Antique Black Forest Furniture

Materials

Oak, Wood

1900 Black Forest Owl Carved Wood Extending Bookshelf Sir Walter Scott Books
Located in GB
We are delighted to offer for sale this absolutely sublime very decorative original circa 1900 Black forest wood hand carved Owl bookshelf with suite of Sir Walter Scott books Thi...
Category

Early 1900s German Antique Black Forest Furniture

Materials

Wood, Paper

Black Forest Wall Mirror Basswood, Austria, circa 1880
Located in Lichtenberg, AT
Decorative rustic Black Forest wall mirror from the late 19th century circa 1880 in Austria. A unique lovely hand carved frame impressing with an unusual "Black Forest" tree trunk design and protruding corners. Stained in a super dark brown almost black tone, this unusual late 19th century wooden...
Category

Late 19th Century Austrian Antique Black Forest Furniture

Materials

Softwood, Mirror

Black Forest furniture for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique Black Forest furniture 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 furniture created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include decorative objects, more furniture and collectibles, wall decorations and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with wood, glass and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Black Forest furniture made in a specific country, there are Europe, Germany, and Switzerland pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original furniture, popular names associated with this style include Sofina Boutique Kitzbühel, Black Forest, Sofina Porzellan, and Horrix. 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 furniture differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $30 and tops out at $150,000 while the average work can sell for $1,550.

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