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: USA
Style: Black Forest
Swiss Black Forest Carved Wooden Planter Box/Jardinière, circa 1880
Located in Evergreen, CO
Graceful and elegant, this beautiful wooden planter box features a pierced front carving of a floral basket flanked by scrolled grape vines. The bac...
Category
Late 19th Century Swiss Antique Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Wood
Black Forest Mantle Carving "Antler's Clash"
By Black Forest
Located in Coeur d'Alene, ID
Swiss Black Forest mantle carving of two fighting stags. Great mangle carving piece. Part of the Brienz Collection but not published.
Period: circa 1920
...
Category
1920s Swiss Vintage Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Wood
Beautiful Colorful Vintage Inspired Suzani Embroidery
Located in New York, NY
Hand-embroidered Suzani textile made in the last quarter of the 20th century. Glowing vibrant colors executed by the weave giving it an old world look and vintage feel.
Measure...
Category
Late 20th Century Uzbek Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Cotton
Swiss Hand Carved Black Forest Figure of a Fox with Thermometer, circa 1880
Located in Banner Elk, NC
Swiss hand-carved Black Forest figure of a fox with thermometer, Brienz, Switzerland, circa 1880 in linden wood, with the original antique thermometer...
Category
1880s Swiss Antique Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Wood
Antique Carved Inkwell, Swiss Milk Cow, Late 19th Century
Located in Dallas, TX
This intriguing Black Forest inkwell has been meticulously hand carved from wood and dates to 19th century Switzerland.
The piece depicts two men attempting to milk a cow. The man wearing a hat is struggling to control the cow by pulling on the bovine’s tail; his bespectacled partner is situated next to the cow in an attempt to milk it.
The ground immediately beneath these three figures is a rocky formation of varying height. Below this is a wooden terrain that also has quite a lot of depth. Among the forest-like environment, there are two indentations that house the colored and cut glass inkwells. The colored portions of the mushroom-shaped wells are a rustic orange that ties in nicely with the dark brown wood used in the carving. The wells are then capped with silvered lids. One of the glass containers has a perforated top, which would have held the pounce or sand (pounce pot). This would have permitted the writer to sprinkle the sand on the paper before inking to aid in the drying process. Excess pounce was often poured back into the container.
The milk cows...
Category
19th Century Swiss Antique Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Cut Glass, Wood
Large German Black Forest Carved Mirror with Bird Motif from the 19th Century
Located in Atlanta, GA
This large late 19th century French mirror is set within a rectangular carved Black Forest style crested wooden frame. The intricate decor is composed of beautifully detailed openwork intertwined vines with leaves and grapes while a bird with its spread wings just landed on the crest. The artistically distributed foliage is highly decorative and the very naturalistically carved bird brings an unexpected and charming presence to the piece. This wooden German Black Forest style mirror...
Category
Late 19th Century German Antique Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Mirror, Wood
Collection of Four Black Forest Chamois Mounts of Carved Wood Plaques Priced per
Located in Buchanan, MI
Collection of four Black forest chamois mounts of carved wood plaques. Priced per mount.
Category
Early 20th Century German Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Antler, Wood
Early 20th Century Hand Carved Wall Plaques
Located in High Point, NC
Early 20th century set of three hand carved wall plaques which have been meticulously carved in the designs of European village landscapes. The...
Category
Early 1900s Swiss Antique Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Fruitwood
French Mid-20th Century Black Forest Faux-Bois Mirror with Leaf Motifs
Located in Atlanta, GA
French Black Forest style mirror from the mid-20th century features a faux-bois frame made of a variety of leaves nicely intertwined along t...
Category
Mid-20th Century French Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Wood
Important 19th Century Black Forest Hall Stand
Located in Dallas, TX
Magnificent rare Swiss Black Forest carved deer form hall stand with mirror. Having impeccably detailed deer and eagle carvings above rock form base and ...
Category
19th Century Swiss Antique Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Wood
Folding Beer Hall Table
Located in Sheffield, MA
Authentic German beer hall folding table. Pair of matching folding benches available. Bench dimensions: 11" D x 86" x 18" H. Great as picnic tables an...
Category
Early 2000s German Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Steel
Palace Size Antique Senneh Bakhtiari Rug
Located in New York, NY
A magnificent palace size early 20th century Persian Bakhtiari rug from the early 20th century. Large scale all-over design on a dark brown and navy blue ground with lobed diamond sh...
Category
Early 20th Century Persian Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Wool
French 19th Century Black Forest Barometer
Located in Stockbridge, GA
French 19th century black forest barometer.
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Mahogany
Glazed Ceramic Owl Form Tankard with Pewter Mounts
By Mettlach
Located in Stamford, CT
An extremely charming stoneware tankard in the form of an owl. With a two toned gray and blue glaze and handsome pewter mounts. The thumb lift depict...
Category
Late 19th Century German Antique Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Stoneware
"Bavarian Sonnenaufgang" by Erwin Kettemann
Located in Wiscasset, ME
Oil on canvas, signed lower right.
Erwin Kettemann (1897–1971) was a landscape painter from Munich. He was a representative of late Impressionism as well as the 19th century “Karlsr...
Category
1930s German Vintage Black Forest Furniture
19th Century Carved Wood 3rd Station of the Cross, 'Jesus Falls’, Switzerland
Located in Buffalo, NY
19th century carved wood 3rd station of the cross, 'JESUS FALLS’ carved in Switzerland, recently acquired from Holy Angels Church located in Buffalo New Yo...
Category
1880s Swiss Antique Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Wood
Austrian Majolica Dressed Bear Candelstick, circa 1890
Located in Austin, TX
Austrian Majolica candelstick with a dressed bear holding a cone pine circa 1890.
Category
1890s Austrian Antique Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Ceramic
Rustic Black Forest Walnut Barometer
Located in New York, NY
Rustic Black Forest (Late 19th Century) walnut wall barometer/thermometer with carved bird, deer and floral carving.
Category
19th Century German Antique Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Metal
Pair of 19th Century French Carved Walnut Cabaret Figures Lamp Bases
Located in Dallas, TX
Decorate a wine cellar or a bar with this pair of antique cabaret lamp bases. Crafted in France circa 1880, each sculpture stands on a round base and fea...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Walnut
Exceptional 19th Century Black Forest Carving of Basket and Fruit
Located in Buchanan, MI
Exceptional 19th century black forest carving of basket and fruit very detailed and in-depth carving. Can send additional photo's upon request.
Category
19th Century Austrian Antique Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Walnut
Large Black Forest Lamp Mountain Goats, circa 1880
Located in Austin, TX
Large black forest lamp with two mountain goats on a rack, circa 1880.
Electrified and wired for US, include shade.
Category
1880s French Antique Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Metal
Green Vintage Anatolian Turkish Rug
Located in New York, NY
A vintage Anatolian Turkish Yastik rug mat in pretty green and reds.
1'5'' x 3'5''
Category
20th Century Asian Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Wool
Extraordinary Hand-Carved from Knot of a Tree, Folk Art Sculpture "Gorilla"
Located in Buffalo, NY
Unusual hand-carved from knot of a tree, Folk Art sculpture depicting a gorilla face, head, amazing life-like image, extremely well executed.
Category
1940s Unknown Vintage Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Wood
Austrian-German 19th Century Carved Walnut Black-Forest Hunt Credenza Bookcase
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A very large and impressive Austrian-German 19th century finely carved walnut figural Black-Forest "Hunting" credenza Bibliothèque (Bookacase). The intricately carved two-part body, ...
Category
19th Century Austrian Antique Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Glass, Walnut
Large Floor Size Vintage Beige Green Muave Accent Turkish Rug Pillow
Located in New York, NY
Large pillow made from a Turkish rug with a solid cotton back and zipper closure. Foam fill. Beige green mauve accents.
Measures: 24" x 33".
Category
20th Century Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Cotton, Foam, Wool
Pair of Rustic Black Forest Walnut Bear Side Chairs
Located in New York, NY
Pair of Rustic Black Forest (19th Cent) walnut side chairs with floral carving and bear figure on back with faux wood carved seat and legs (1 having...
Category
19th Century German Antique Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Walnut
Early 20th Century French Carved Walnut Wine Bottle Holder Clog with Vine Decor
Located in Dallas, TX
Impress your guests with this interesting antique wine bottle holder shaped as a clog shoe, crafted in France, circa 1920, the unique, hand ...
Category
Early 20th Century French Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Walnut
Early 20th Century French Carved Walnut Wine Bottle Holder Clog with Vine Decor
Located in Dallas, TX
Impress your guests with this interesting antique wine bottle holder shaped as a clog shoe; crafted in France, circa 1920, the unique, hand ...
Category
Early 20th Century French Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Walnut
Pair Of Large American Antler Armchairs, 1920s
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Pair of black forest antler armchairs, 1920s.
$250 flat rate front door delivery includes Washington DC metro, Baltimore and Philadelphia.
Category
Early 20th Century German Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Antler, Wood
19th Century Black Forrest round Covered Box
Located in Lambertville, NJ
A whimsical had carved Black Forest box. The walnut box with a hen house motif, complete with three chickens.
Category
1870s German Antique Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Walnut
Vintage Persian Bakhtiari Rug with Garden Design and Black Forest Style
Located in Dallas, TX
73299, distressed vintage Persian Bakhtiari rug with garden design and Black Forest style. A beautiful, unique garden design is on display in this distressed vintage Bakhtiari Persian rug. Each individual square compartment is "planted" with a different flower species...
Category
Mid-20th Century Persian Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Wool
1920s German Black Forest Planter with Vines and Four Truncated Pots
Located in Atlanta, GA
This early 20th century Black Forest wood planter is composed of a shaped base supporting four boles, a very short one in front, a great one in the center flanked by two shorter tilt...
Category
Early 20th Century German Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Wood
Black Forest Carved Walnut Hunting Presentation Cup
Located in Essex, MA
A beautifully crafted Black Forest hand carved walnut hunting presentation cup, the basket weave bowl supported by the figure of a gentleman hunter l...
Category
1870s German Antique Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Walnut
Black Forest Canterbury
Located in New York, NY
Intricately carved Black Forest Canterbury or magazine rack. Designed in a swirled leaf pattern with horned grotesque figures on each corner.
Category
19th Century Swiss Antique Black Forest Furniture
19th Century Dutch Hand-Carved Flack Forest Walnut Vitrine by Horrix
By Horrix
Located in Dallas, TX
19th century Dutch Vitrine by Horrix is a study in the Dutch interpretation of the Regency style, hand-crafted from old-growth walnut with century old patina. Carved embellishment ap...
Category
1860s Dutch Antique Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Walnut
Black Forest Walnut Bear Umbrella Stand
Located in New York, NY
Rustic Black Forest (19th Century) walnut carved bear umbrella stand holding leaf shaped dish
Category
19th Century German Antique Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Walnut
Rustic Black Forest Style Walnut Gnome Hatrack
Located in New York, NY
Rustic Black Forest-style (19th Century) carved walnut hatrack/umbrella stand with gnome figure holding tree form with birds in upper branches.
Category
19th Century European Antique Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Walnut
Black Forest Walnut Library Ladder
Located in New York, NY
Rustic Black Forest (19th Cent) walnut 3 step library ladder with carved branch design. (late 19th cent.)
Category
19th Century German Antique Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Walnut
Rustic Black Forest Floral Easel
Located in New York, NY
Rustic Black Forest (19th Cent) walnut floral carved easel stand.
Category
19th Century German Antique Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Walnut
19th Century Hand Carved Bracket Shelf
Located in High Point, NC
19th century hand carved bracket shelf from Holland, made from fruitwood. The shelf is shaped and has a molded edge sitting atop a hand carved man holding a horn. Very detailed carving.
Category
19th Century Dutch Antique Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Fruitwood
19th Century Black Forest Carved Humidor
Located in High Point, NC
19th century hand-carved black forest humidor with a figure of a dog and cat. The cat is atop a barrel, which has a lid which lifts to reveal a compartment for tobacco. The barrel is sitting on a base with hand-carved sticks and logs and an upside down hunting hat...
Category
Late 19th Century Swiss Antique Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Fruitwood
Folding Beer Hall Benches, Pair
Located in Sheffield, MA
2 authentic folding benches from German beer hall. Matching folding table available. Dimensions: 20" D x 86" x 30" H. Great as picnic tables and bench...
Category
Early 2000s German Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Steel
Linden Wood Black Forest Bear Hall Tree, circa 1900 Attributed to Seilar-Brawant
Located in Evergreen, CO
An excellent example of turn of the century Brienz Swiss carving in linden wood. There are many Swiss carvers well known for carving certain subjects and Seilar-Brawant is known for ...
Category
Early 20th Century Swiss Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Mirror, Wood
Rustic Black Forest Walnut Carved Dog Pen Holder
Located in New York, NY
Rustic Black Forest (19/20th Century) walnut pen holder and inkwell with carved dog head leaning on log
Category
19th Century German Antique Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Walnut
19th Century Black Forest Carved Humidor
Located in High Point, NC
19th century hand-carved humidor in the form of a dog's head. The dog is very whimsical with a hat, which lifts to reveal a compartment for storage and finished with a cigar and a bo...
Category
19th Century Swiss Antique Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Fruitwood
Vintage Bakhtiari Persian Rug with Garden Design with Black Forest Style
Located in Dallas, TX
72028 Vintage Bakhtiari Persian Rug with Garden Design with Black Forest Style. A beautiful, unique garden design is on display in this vintage Bakhtiari Persian rug. Each individual square compartment is "planted" with a different flower species...
Category
Mid-20th Century Persian Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Wool
Black Forest Walnut Bird Mantel Clock
Located in New York, NY
Rustic Black Forest (19th Century) walnut carved mantel clock with 1 large bird and several small chicks within a floral environment. (Not working)
Category
19th Century European Antique Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Glass, Walnut
Rare Black Forest Alpine Ibex Wood Box, circa 1890
Located in Austin, TX
Rare and unusual Black Forest box in the shape of wood log with a large wood carved Alpine ibex or bouquetin, circa 1890.
The carved bouquetin is 5" height and the box is 8".
Category
1890s French Antique Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Wood
Bavarian Antler Settee
Located in New York, NY
Rare late 19th century Bavarian deer antler settee. A three-section settee with large fallow deer antler-shaped backs and natural red deer antler arms. Expertly crafted with interloc...
Category
19th Century German Antique Black Forest Furniture
19th Century Black Forest Carved Humidor
Located in High Point, NC
19th century black forest humidor hand-carved in the shape of a dog's head. His hat lifts to reveal storage for tobacco or cigars. The carving on this piece is wonderfully detailed a...
Category
19th Century Swiss Antique Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Fruitwood
Rustic Black Forest Walnut Display Box with Etched Glass and A Carved Fox
Located in New York, NY
Rustic Black Forest (4th Quarter 19th Century) walnut carved table top display cabinet box with etched glass inset panels and floral carving ...
Category
19th Century Austrian Antique Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Walnut, Glass
Set of 10 Rustic Black Forest Walnut Side Chairs
Located in New York, NY
Set of 10 Rustic Black Forest (19th Cent) walnut side chairs with shaped seat and back with filigree carving and animals.
Category
19th Century European Antique Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Walnut
Distressed Vintage Turkish Oushak with Black Forest Style, Warm Earth Tones
Located in Dallas, TX
73661, distressed vintage Turkish Oushak with Black Forest style. This hand knotted wool distressed vintage Oushak rug features large scale f...
Category
Mid-20th Century Turkish Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Wool
Rustic Black Forest Walnut Bear Settee
Located in New York, NY
Rustic Black Forest style (20th Cent) carved walnut settee with bear sides suppports and center hat tree
Category
Early 20th Century German Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Wood, Mirror
Rustic Black Forest Walnut Trunk
Located in New York, NY
Rustic Black Forest walnut floor trunk with a folding rounded top and supported on "X" form side legs with faux wood, straps, and floral carved design.
Category
19th Century Swiss Antique Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Walnut
Colorful Antique Turkish Rug from Ghiordes Village
Located in New York, NY
A wild and crazy antique Turkish Ghiordes rug with all types of fun and dazzling elements.
Since the beginning of their production in the 18th century, rugs from the Anatolian tow...
Category
19th Century Turkish Antique Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Wool
Rustic Black Forest Walnut Center Table
Located in New York, NY
Rustic Black Forest style (German 19th Century) light walnut rectangular center table with carved leaf & vine design on apron with open cluster legs and tooled brown leather top.
Category
19th Century German Antique Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Walnut, Leather
Black Forest Carved Walnut Cabinet
Located in New York, NY
Rustic Black Forest (19th Century) carved walnut cabinet on stand with birds and floral filigree apron.
Category
19th Century Austrian Antique Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Walnut
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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