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.
to
105
691
285
872
114
7
198,756
114,245
43,742
33,575
16,102
12,265
10,811
10,740
9,952
8,931
7,262
6,848
6,481
6,412
6,130
5,898
4,949
3,811
4
482
386
121
228
127
16
39
6
25
33
12
30
11
3
3
2
777
162
159
151
130
931
401
252
144
77
993
993
993
105
32
8
3
3
Style: Black Forest
Antique Swiss Black Forest hand carved walnut study of William Tell and his son
Located in Central England, GB
This superb quality walnut Swiss black forest sculpture depicts the Swiss legend William Tell jubilantly walking home arm in arm with his son with a large...
Category
Early 20th Century Swiss Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Walnut
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
Rustic Black Forest Walnut Center Table
Located in Queens, NY
Rustic Black Forest style (20th Century) walnut center table with carved figure of bear sitting on floor holding round top.
Category
20th Century Unknown Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Walnut
19th C Black Forest Dressing Table w/ Drawer and Mirror
Located in Houston, TX
Elevate your decor with a touch of 19th-century beauty! This Carved French Oak Black Forest Tilting Tabletop Dresser is functional as well as elegant....
Category
19th Century French Antique Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Mirror, Oak
Pair of 19th C Signed Black Forest Style French Carved Walnut Hunting Gun Racks
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
A highly rare and most unusual pair of carved walnut gun racks, each with a different carved bird at the bottom, one being a hawk or eagle with spread ...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Walnut
Antique Oil Print with Bear Hunt Scene After Heinrich Buerkel, 19th Century
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Antique Oil Print with Bear Hunt Scene after Heinrich Buerkel 19th cetntury
A colorful oil print depicting an alpine bear hunt scenery in the Bava...
Category
Late 19th Century German Antique Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Glass, Wood
Black Forest Wood Carving of a Mountain Goat
Located in Lymington, Hampshire
A charming small ‘Black Forest’ wood carving of a mountain goat and her kids.
Category
1890s Swiss Antique Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Wood
19th Century French Hand Carved Walnut Black Forest Jardiniére or Planter
Located in Birmingham, AL
A 19th century Black Forest jardinière hand carved of solid walnut in the Alsace region of France, circa 1870s. The detailed, intricately carved wood planter features a realistic han...
Category
1870s French Antique Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Walnut
Large 19th Century Carved Black Forest Mantel Clock
By Black Forest
Located in London, GB
A Large Black Forest Mantle Clock
Constructed in carved linden wood, fitted with a two train eight day striking clock; mounted on a shaped...
Category
19th Century Swiss Antique Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Wood
19th Century Black Forest Carved Walnut and Crystal Center Piece with Goat Decor
Located in Dallas, TX
Dress a table or a console with this elegant antique black forest center piece composition. Crafted in Switzerland (or France) circa 1870, the glass vase rests on a leafy branch shap...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Cut Glass, Walnut
Antique Carved Wooden Dry Bar with Stained Glass Top
Located in Dekalb, IL
Rustic bar counter with a stained-glass top panel and gothic-inspired corbels.
This piece has compartments in the back for storage. The original finish was covered, prior to coming i...
Category
Early 20th Century Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Wood
Porcelain Bowl with Fox Figure Sofina Boutique Kitzbuehel
Located in Kitzbühel, Tirol
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
Pair Black Forest Carved Hanging Game Plaques
By Black Forest
Located in Coeur d'Alene, ID
Matched pair of Black Forest linden wood hanging game plaques. One with chamois and grouse, the other red stag and fox. Both complete with rifle and game ...
Category
Early 1900s Swiss Antique Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Wood
$28,000 / set
Antique Hand Carved Early 20th Century Black Forest Nutcracker With Book
Located in San Diego, CA
Very rare early 20th century antique Black Forest hand carved wood nutcracker with book. These particular pieces often feature anthropomorphic figures with exaggerated features, and this one is no exception. The figure's mouth opens to crack nuts! Black Forest nutcrackers...
Category
Early 20th Century German Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Wood
19th Century Carved Bear Hall Stand
Located in Shipston-On-Stour, GB
An impressive late 19 century Black Forest carved bear hall stand, of a bear looking up while holding a tree with three branches forming coat/hat hooks, with an inquisitive bear cub ...
Category
1880s Swiss Antique Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Wood
Folk Art 20th Century Carved Wood Man Holding a Beer Stein, Austria 1960s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Pine carving of a beer drinking man, 20th century Austria, he is holding his stein in one hand and straightened his jacket with the other. With a manufact...
Category
1960s Austrian Vintage Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Wood
19th Century Small Carved Walnut Black Forest Perched Eagle Wall Mirror
Located in Norwich, GB
Beautiful 19th century hand-carved walnut Black Forest wall mirror, adorned with grapevines and leaves around a shield, with eagle perched above. Circa 1880.
The original heavily fo...
Category
19th Century European Antique Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Mirror, Walnut
Rare Antique 4 Tier Black Forest Jewelry Box Fruitwood 19th Century Hand Carved
Located in Ijzendijke, NL
A beautiful, very finely carved antique black forest jewelry box from the late 19th/ early 20th century made in Switzerland.
A large and impressive four-tiered piece with 6 swing o...
Category
1880s Swiss Antique Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Fruitwood
Black Forest 1900s Mirror with Carved Vine Motifs and Intersecting Corners
Located in Atlanta, GA
A Black Forest wall mirror from the early 20th century, with carved vine motifs. We currently have three mirrors available, priced and sold $1,350 EACH Created during the early years...
Category
Early 20th Century European Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Mirror, Wood
Antique circa 1880 Super Rare Black Forest Hand Carved and Painted Whip Hook
By Black Forest
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
We are delighted to offer for sale this exceptionally rare, stunning, original circa 1880 Swiss made Black Forest wood, whip hooks which has the original paint
This is a fine exa...
Category
1880s Swiss Antique Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Wood
$2,552 Sale Price
20% Off
Antique Traditional Costume Chain Made from Antlers, 1990s
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Antique Traditional Costume Chain Made from Antlers, 1990s
This unique handcrafted traditional costume chain is made entirely from carved deer antler links, showcasing intricate Alp...
Category
1990s German Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Antler
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
Materials
Antler, Leather, Ivory
$25,250
Late 19th-Early 20th Century Carved and Inlaid Black Forest Table with Stags
Located in Richmond, VA
Great sized late 19th-early 20th century black forest carved and inlaid table with scenes of stags.
Category
Early 20th Century Swiss Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Wood
Wood Carved Roe Deer Head German Black Forest, Antique, 1900s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
A beautiful whimsical early 20th century German Black Forest carved and hand painted head, mounted to a carved back with oak or marble leaves. Nice addition to a hunters loge or any ...
Category
Early 1900s German Antique Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Wood
$180 Sale Price
50% Off
Black Forest Oval Porcelain Plate with Wild Boars Sofina Boutique Kitzbühel
Located in Kitzbühel, Tirol
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
Great Antique Deer Trophy on Wooden Plaque, Germany 1917
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Great Antique Deer Trophy on Wooden Plaque, Germany 1917
An antique 8 pointer deer (Cervus pyragus) trophy mounted on a turned wooden plaque. The trophy was shot in Vogtland, German...
Category
1910s German Vintage Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Antler, Wood
1860s Carved Horn Hunters Pipe in the Style of Lebrecht Wilhelm Schulz
Located in Berghuelen, DE
1860s carved Horn Hunters pipe in the style of Lebrecht Wilhelm Schulz
The rare hunters pipe is made of original horns from the stag and deer and features very elaborate carved hunt...
Category
Mid-19th Century German Antique Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Wood, Antler
Set of Three Natural Antler Tips & Brass Desk Accessories
Located in North Miami, FL
This set of three (3) natural antler tips desk accessories are backed with brass base. Perfect for an executive desk, two paperweights and a letter opener. Rich natural coloring an...
Category
Late 20th Century American Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Brass
19th Century Black Forest Rustic Mirror with Coat of Arms Carving, AT, ca 1880
Located in Lichtenberg, AT
Fantastic looking rustic Black Forest wall mirror from the late 19th century in Austria around 1880. Hand carved out of fine basswood this rural mirror shows an absolute amazing desi...
Category
Late 19th Century Austrian Antique Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Mirror, Softwood
Exquisite Swiss Black Forest ''Eagle'' 19th Century Coat Rack / Hat Rack Walnut
Located in Ijzendijke, NL
Exquisite & most impressive! This 19th century Swiss Black Forest eagle coat rack from carved walnut.
Very large, highly detailed model with 8 hooks for plenty of coats.
The coat...
Category
Late 19th Century Swiss Antique Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Walnut
Antique Black Forest Tobacco Pipe with Chamois Horn around 1900
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Antique Black Forest Tobacco Pipe with Chamois Horn around 1900
This unique antique Bavarian hunter's pipe with fine carved chamois on the carved horn lid, adorned with natural mate...
Category
Early 1900s German Antique Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Metal
Swiss Black Forest Bear Barometer
By Black Forest
Located in Newark, England
FREE WORLDWIDE SHIPPING
From our Swiss Black Forest collection, we are delighted to present this exceptional Swiss Black Forest Bear Barometer, dating to circa 1890. Expertly hand ...
Category
Late 19th Century Swiss Antique Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Glass, Wood
$4,903 / item
Stunning Original Antique Hand Carved Black Forest Wood Jewellery Box
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
We are is delighted to offer for sale this rather lovely antique original circa 1880 black forest wood jewellery box
A very good looking and well made piece, it is hand carved all...
Category
1880s Swiss Antique Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Wood
$1,361 Sale Price
20% Off
Antique Black Forest Roe Deer Trophy on Carved Plaque 1930s
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Antique Black Forest Roe Deer Trophy on Carved Plaque 1930s
A vintage roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) trophy with uneven antlers mounted on a wooden carved plaque. The plaque feature...
Category
1930s German Vintage Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Antler, Wood
19th Century French Black Forest Carved Hunt Trophies Sculptures, Set of 4
Located in Dallas, TX
Decorate a ranch or hunting lodge with this suite of elegant antique Black Forest wall plaques. Carved in France circa 1870, and built of walnut wood, each plaque is octagonal in sha...
Category
Mid-19th Century Swiss Antique Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Walnut
Antique Set of 19th Century Rustic Cutlery with Carved Horn Handles
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Antique Set of 19th Century Rustic Cutlery with Carved Horn Handles
A rare antique cutlery set of knife and fork. The handles are made of deer horn with handcarved heads of a bear a...
Category
Mid-19th Century German Antique Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Metal
Large Exceptional Swiss Black Forest double inkwell desk decoration 19th Century
Located in Ijzendijke, NL
Gorgeous most rare Swiss Black Forest 19th century double Inkwell / desk accessory fully hand carved displaying a bird eating nuts & floral leaves / walnuts.
Carved by a master carve...
Category
Late 19th Century Swiss Antique Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Glass, Wood
Black Forest Porcelain Bowl with Deer Figure Sofina Boutique Kitzbuehel
Located in Kitzbühel, Tirol
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
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
Antique Pair of Deer Antlers on Turned Black Wooden Mounts, ca. 1920
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Antique Pair of Deer Antlers on Turned Black Wooden Mounts, ca. 1920
This matching pair of deer antlers roses is mounted on elegantly turned black wooden mounts, showcasing classic ...
Category
1920s German Vintage Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Antler, Wood
Late 19th Century German Carved Black Forest Wood Trophy Plaque
Located in Middleburg, VA
Late 19th century German carved black Forest wood trophy plaque. This intricately carved piece depicts horns, spear, and hunter's pouch hung on plaque en...
Category
Late 19th Century German Antique Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Wood
19th Century Massive Black Forest Tilt-Top Table, Switzerland, c.1880
Located in Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent
An exceptional Swiss Black Forest walnut marquetry tilt-top table The shield form table top, with a marquetry inlay presenting superb examples of original pen-work, and carved apron ...
Category
19th Century Swiss Antique Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Walnut
Black Forest Carved Jewelry Box, circa 1900
By Black Forest
Located in Coeur d'Alene, ID
Footed oval Black Forest jewelry box with floral finials. Stunning piece.
Origin: Switzerland, circa 1900
Dimensions: 8" x 5" x 5".
Family Owned & Operated
Cisco’s Gallery deals ...
Category
Early 1900s Swiss Antique Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Wood
19th Century French Black Forest Carved Oak Mirror with Floral Crest
Located in Dallas, TX
Enhance your home with this finely carved French Black Forest wall mirror, crafted circa 1880. Originally conceived as a clock housing, the piece has since been refitted with a round...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Mirror, Oak
Set of Six Porcelain Plates with Hunting Trophies for Claudia
Located in Kitzbühel, Tirol
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
Vintage Chamois Trophy on Carved Plaque, Germany 1950s
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Vintage Chamois Trophy on Carved Plaque, Germany 1950s
An vintage chamois (Rupicapra rupicapra) trophy mounted on a wooden carved plaque. The trophy was shot in the 1950s in Germany...
Category
1950s German Vintage Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Antler, Wood
ANTiQUE GERMAN BLACK FOREST CARVED RAMS HEAD ANTLER SUPPER TABLE PART OF A SUITE
By Black Forest
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
Royal House Antiques
Royal House Antiques is delighted to offer for sale this very rare original German late 19th century black forest antler supper cafe side table which is part of...
Category
Early 1900s German Antique Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Wood
$2,996 Sale Price
20% Off
Black Forest Vase Green Crystal with Hunting Decor Sofina Boutique Kitzbuehel
Located in Kitzbühel, Tirol
Handblown crystal vase in green glass with hand-edged hunting scene. The decor is hunting decor with four hand-engraved animals in naturalistic style. Completely handblown and hand-e...
Category
2010s German Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Crystal
An unusual ‘Black Forest’ walnut eagle and chamois hall stand
Located in Lymington, Hampshire
An unusual ‘Black Forest’ walnut eagle and chamois hall stand, modelled as an eagle perched in the bare branches of a tree sizing up a chamois below, with a shaped vine branch for en...
Category
Late 19th Century Swiss Antique Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Walnut
A Black Forest lindenwood mountain dog stick stand
Located in Lymington, Hampshire
A Black Forest lindenwood mountain dog stick stand, in the form of a shaggy dog standing on his hind legs holding a circle of twisted branches in his front paws, the base also of si...
Category
Late 19th Century Swiss Antique Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Wood
Three Piece Black Forrest Center Bowl with Garniture Trumpet Vases
Located in Lambertville, NJ
A three piece Black Forest set consisting of and oval pedestal center bow with two flanking wood and etched glass trumpet garniture. The set is a medium hand carved black forest Germany...
Category
1880s German Antique Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Cut Glass, Walnut
19th Century Swiss 'Black Forest' Carving a Dog Family
By Walter Mäder
Located in London, GB
A 'Black Forest' Dog Group
The naturalistically carved limewood group shows the bitch couchant and her three playful pups; glass eyes are used in all the figures, in the manner of Walter Mäder...
Category
Late 19th Century Swiss Antique Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Wood
Large Black Forest Red Deer Trophy on Carved Plaque - Germany 1937
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Large Black Forest Red Deer Trophy on Carved Plaque - Germany 1937
A large 8-pointer red deer trophy (Cervus elaphus) from the Upper Palatinate in Bavaria, mounted on a brown wooden...
Category
1930s German Vintage Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Antler, Wood
Black Forest Porcelain Bowl Hand Painted Deer Figure Sofina Boutique Kitzbühel
Located in Kitzbühel, Tirol
Completely handmade porcelain bowl with a hands-free painted bambi in the center of the bowl. The charming bambi figure is painted in black and sits in the middle of the dish. The po...
Category
2010s German Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
Black Forest Wood Carving of an Ibex
Located in Lymington, Hampshire
An imposing ‘Black Forest’ wood carving of an Ibex,
standing on a rocky outcrop with realistically carved ribbed antlers and rippling fur.
Category
1880s Swiss Antique Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Wood
19th Century French Carved Oak Black Forest Plant Stand Jardinière Flower Box
Located in Ijzendijke, NL
Gorgeous fully hand carved Black Forest 19th century plant stand / jardiniere in hand carved Fruitwood.
The stand body has outstanding carvings with the center a dimensional carved...
Category
1880s French Antique Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Fruitwood
Hunting Dog Head Black Forest Hand Carved Folk Art Wooden Trophy, 19th Century
Located in Nuernberg, DE
A great looking hand carved original wooden Folk Art Dog head with glass eyes, wall decoration. A great piece for a suitable ambiance in a trophy room or the office of a Hunter or Woodsman. More than likely one of the Folk Art items made between 1860 and the late 1890s. In remarkably good as found condition with only a few small paint lost on the trophy plaque. Found at an estate sale in Wels, Austria. We think this will be a nice addition to your Collection of Black Forest items...
Category
Late 19th Century Austrian Antique Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Wood
19th Century Swiss Carved 'Black Forest' Cattle Group
Located in London, GB
A black forest cattle group
Carved in lindenwood, the naturalistically carved swiss cow, calf and bull stand on an elliptical base of grass and rocky outc...
Category
19th Century Swiss Antique Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Wood
Black Forest Set of Six Beer Glasses Hand Blown Sofina Boutique Kitzbuehel
Located in Kitzbühel, Tirol
Black Forest set of six beer glasses made in Germany called Bierseidl in clear crystal glass. Hand blown in Bavaria and hand-engraved with trees ...
Category
2010s German Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Crystal
Black Forest Porcelain Dish Christmas Garland Sofina Boutique Kitzbuehel
Located in Kitzbühel, Tirol
Hands-free painted porcelain dish with platinum rim. Hands-free painted in a classic black forest christmas decor with green fir and pine cone garland. Completely handmade in Bavaria...
Category
2010s German Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
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.
Recently Viewed
View AllMore Ways To Browse
Book Table Stand
Brands Of Vintage Glass
Brass Heron Sculpture
Bread Cabinet
Bronze Lalanne
Burl Bedside Chests
Burled Walnut Desk
Burnished Bamboo
Butter Table
Cabinet Dowel
Cabinets With Metal Inlay
Cameo Glass Bowl
Campaign Chest 1970
Campaign Chest Camphor
Canopic Jars
Canton Chinese Bowl
Cardinal Sculpture
Carrera Marble Dining Table