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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Style: Black Forest
Early 1900s Hand Carved and Colored Wooden Mountaineer Sculpture / Statue
Located in Lisse, NL
Unique and finely carved sculpture for the black forest and mountaineer enthousiasts.
If you are or if you have a friend who is a mountaineering enthousiast then this hand carved mo...
Category
Early 20th Century Italian Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Wood
Country Style Hand-Painted Pottery Dish Sofina Boutique Kitzbühel Austria
Located in Kitzbühel, Tirol
Hands-free painted pottery rectangular dish in sage green from Austria in country style. Decorated with a hands-free painted pomegrante and a garland in white all around. Showing trees in the bottom and a handpainted green garland...
Category
2010s Austrian Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Ceramic
Wood Black Forest Brienz Carved Walnut Inkwell German Antique, 1890s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Classic early 1890s Black Forest Brienz wood carved inkwell in form of a walnut on a leaf. Nice addition to your room or just for use it on your desk. Made of hand carved wood and gl...
Category
1890s German Antique Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Metal
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
Cut Glass, Wood
Black Forest Pottery Dish Hand-Painted Sofina Boutique Kitzbühel Austria
Located in Kitzbühel, Tirol
Large hands-free painted pottery dish in black forest style. Decorated with handpainted trees in green in the and a hands-free painted garlande .
Produced and handsfree painted in A...
Category
2010s Austrian Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Ceramic
Large Vintage Wooden Strolling Bear Handcarved in Brienz Ca. 1930s
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Large Vintage Wooden Strolling Bear Handcarved in Brienz ca. 1930s
A large vintage statue of a walking bear. Made of lindenwood, finely handcarve...
Category
Early 20th Century Swiss Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Wood
Black Forest Porcelain Bowl with Wild Boar Figure Sofina Boutique Kitzbuehel
Located in Kitzbühel, Tirol
Completely handmade porcelain bowl with a hands-free natrualistic painted wild boar figure in grey colors. The fox is sitting in the middle of the bowl for decorating nuts or sweets ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary German Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
19th century Swiss limewood carving of a man playing an instrument circa 1880
Located in Central England, GB
A Black Forest hand-carved limewood figure portrays a young man from the medieval period dressed in a cloaked tunic and open-toed boots playing a set of traditional Swiss bagpipes ca...
Category
Late 19th Century Swiss Antique Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Fruitwood
Hand Carved Dark Brown Wooden Figural Nutcracker of a Man, Germany, 1930s
Located in Barntrup, DE
This hand-carved, unusual nutcracker is in the figural form of an older man with a hat, sitting and holding an umbrella.
Dimensions: Height 21.5 cm / 8.46 in, width 4.5 cm / 1.77 in,...
Category
1930s German Vintage Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Wood
Set of Four Antique Chairs by Horrix
Located in Dallas, TX
Set of four antique chairs by Horrix are perfect examples of the highest quality furnishings produced by the storied Dutch company. Displaying a Bl...
Category
Early 20th Century Dutch Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Oak
Set of Six Black Forest Hand Painted Dinner Plates Sofina Boutique Kitzbühel
Located in Kitzbühel, Tirol
Set of six completely handmade and hand painted underglaze porzelain dishes. The decor shows a black forest hands-free painted oak leaf with a green handsfree line and platinum rimme...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary German Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
Black Forest Hand-Painted Pottery Mug Sofina Boutique Kitzbühel Austria
Located in Kitzbühel, Tirol
Hands-free painted pottery mug from Austria in Black Forest style. Decorated with a hand-painted decor in green all around. Showing trees in the front and a handpainted fox in green ...
Category
2010s Austrian Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Pottery
Black Forest Set of 6 Hand-Painted Tumbler Sofina Boutique Kitzbühel
Located in Kitzbühel, Tirol
Set of six hand blown tumbler hands-free painted in Black Forest style. Each glass is handsfree painted with different rims and trees in red. Can b...
Category
2010s German Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Crystal
19th Century Italian Carved Monkey Butler
Located in Bradenton, FL
A finely carved wooden monkey butler figure on stand, glass eyes, open mouth with teeth, made to hold a tray in its outstretched arms / hands, Italian ea...
Category
19th Century Italian Antique Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Wood
Large Deer Trophy from a Noble Estate, Uneven 14 Ends
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Large Deer Trophy from a Noble Estate, Uneven 14 Ends
A very large uneven 14 pointer Black Forest deer (Cervus elaphus) trophy from the palace of Salem in South Germany. Shot by a m...
Category
Late 20th Century German Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Wood, Antler
Vintage Deer Trophy Spain Toledao 1983 uneven Twelve Ends
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Vintage Deer Trophy Spain Toledao 1983 uneven Twelve Ends
A great uneven 12 pointer Black Forest deer (Cervus elaphus) trophy from the palace of Salem in South Germany. It was shot ...
Category
Late 20th Century German Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Wood, Antler
Black Forest Hand-Painted Pottery Dish Sofina Boutique Kitzbühel Austria
Located in Kitzbühel, Tirol
Hands-free painted pottery rectangular dish from Austria in Black Forest style. Decorated with a hand-painted tree decor in green all around. Showing trees ...
Category
2010s Austrian Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Pottery
Black Forest Hand-Painted Pottery Dish Sofina Boutique Kitzbühel Austria
Located in Kitzbühel, Tirol
Hands-free painted round pottery dish from Austria in Black Forest style. Decorated with a hand-painted tree decor in green all around. Showing trees in the bottom and a handpainted green garland...
Category
2010s Austrian Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Pottery
Black Forest Porcelain Bowl with Bambi Figure Sofina Boutique Kitzbuehel
Located in Kitzbühel, Tirol
Completely handmade porcelain bowl with a hands-free naturalistic painted bambi figure in brown. The bambi is sitting in the middle of the bowl for decorating nuts or sweets around. ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary German Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
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
Leather, Wood
Black Forest Crystal Latern Hand-Crafted Hunting Decor Sofina Boutique Kitzbühel
Located in Kitzbühel, Tirol
Hand blown crystal vase/latern in dark green glass with hunting scene all around in the style of black forest. The glass is in a first step ...
Category
2010s German Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Crystal
Black Forest Vase Crystal with Hunting Decor Green Sofina Boutique Kitzbuehel
Located in Kitzbühel, Tirol
hand blown crystal vase in green glass with a hunting scene. The decor is a hunting decor with 4 hands-free engraved animals in natrualistic style. Completely hand blown and hand-eng...
Category
2010s German Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Crystal
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
Black Forest Porcelain Bowl with Fox Handpainted Sofina Boutique Kitzbuehel
Located in Kitzbühel, Tirol
Completely handmade porcelain bowl with a hands-free natrualistic painted fox figure in brown colors. The fox is sitting in the middle of the bowl for decorating nuts or sweets aroun...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary German Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
19th Century German Black Forest Style Ebonized Walnut Thermometer-Barometer
Located in Chicago, IL
This 19th-century hand-carved German ebonized walnut thermometer-barometer is an exquisite instrument designed to measure atmospheric pressure and forecast weather, while also provid...
Category
19th Century German 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
Rustic Photo Frame Black Forest Hand Carved, Austria, circa 1880
Located in Lichtenberg, AT
Lovely, unusual Black Forest photo frame from Austria, circa 1880. Artfully hand carved out of basswood, this frame shows a gorgeous design combined with ...
Category
Late 19th Century Austrian Antique Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Softwood
Mini Vintage Anatolian Turkish Colorful Rug
Located in New York, NY
A vintage Anatolian Turkish Mini size colorful rug from the 3rd quarter of the 20th century
1'2'' x 2'9''
Category
20th Century Asian Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Wool
Black Forest Porcelain Bowl with Bambi Figure Sofina Boutique Kitzbuehel
Located in Kitzbühel, Tirol
Completely handmade porcelain bowl in the style of black forest with a hands-free naturalistic painted bambi figure in brown. The bambi is sitting in the middle of the bowl for decor...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary German Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
Set of Three Porcelain Bowls Winter Decor Sofina Boutique Kitzbuehel
Located in Kitzbühel, Tirol
These completely handmade porcelain bowls are painted by hand with a charming hands-free winter decor. Teh decor comes as a set of three decors. One shows...
Category
2010s German Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
Rustic Black Forest Wall Mirror, Austria circa 1870
Located in Lichtenberg, AT
Extraordinary rustic wall mirror from the 19th century around 1870 in Austria. An unusual piece of a Black Forest mirror that has been elaborately handcarved out of basswood in an ex...
Category
Late 19th Century Antique Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Mirror, Softwood
Green Vintage Anatolian Turkish Rug
Located in New York, NY
A vintage Anatolian Turkish Yastik rug mat featuring a pea green field
1'11'' x 4'3''
Category
20th Century Asian Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Wool
White Tailed Deer Trophy Mount on Wooden Plaque ca. 1900s
Located in Berghuelen, DE
White Tailed Deer Trophy Mount on Wooden Plaque ca. 1900s
A large antique white tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) trophy on a wooden plaque with black finish. The trophy was shot...
Category
Early 20th Century German Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Antler, 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
Black Forest Vase Crystal with Hunting Decor Green Sofina Boutique Kitzbuehel
Located in Kitzbühel, Tirol
Handblown crystal vase in green glass with a hunting scene. The decor is a hunting decor with 4 hands-free engraved animals in natrualistic style. Completely handblown and hand-engra...
Category
2010s German Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Crystal
"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
Rustic Black Forest Mirror with Acorn/ Oak Leaves Carvings, Austria, circa 1870
Located in Lichtenberg, AT
Exceptional black forest mirror from the late 19th century in Austria around 1870. This phenomenal, elaborately hand carved rustic wall mirror impresses with its simple but artfully ...
Category
Late 19th Century Austrian Antique Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Mirror, Softwood
Set of Six Black Forest Hand Painted Soup Plates Sofina Boutique Kitzbühel
Located in Kitzbühel, Tirol
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
Antique Black Forest Carved Bear Form Table Top "Butler" Display
Located in Atlanta, GA
Exquisite Antique Black Forest Carved Bear Form Table Top "Butler" Display
A captivating blend of artistry and functionality, this ...
Category
20th Century German Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Glass, Wood
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
large scale 19th century carved walnut Black Forest dog tobacco box, circa 1860
Located in Central England, GB
This brilliant hand carved walnut tobacco or pipe smokers stand is the best I have ever seen. It dates to circa 1860 and was made in the Black Forest region of Switzerland which is r...
Category
19th Century Swiss Antique Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Walnut
Black Forest Rustic Side Table with Handcarved Vine Theme, Austria, ca. 1880
Located in Lichtenberg, AT
Exceptional 19th century rustic black forest side table, elaborately hand carved around 1880 in Austria. A one of a kind crafted Black Forest table with fantastic vine-theme carvings...
Category
Late 19th Century Austrian Antique Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Beech, Softwood
Traditional Handcarved and Painted Tyrolian Carnival Mask
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Traditional handcarved and painted tyrolian carnival mask
An nice antique wooden carved carnival mask which comes from the region of South Tyrol. Made of handcarved and handpainted ...
Category
Early 20th Century German Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Wood
Set of Six Black Forest Hand Painted Breakfast Plates Sofina Boutique Kitzbühel
Located in Kitzbühel, Tirol
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
Antique Carved Wooden Tripod Wine Table or Plant Stand with Marquetry Inlaid Top
Located in Lisse, NL
Mid-19th century table with an inlaid top.
This hand-carved and handcrafted table can be used for all kinds of purposes. The tripod base is beautifully carved in the shape of Black Forest tree branches and the inlaid marquetry top has star motives...
Category
Mid-19th Century Dutch Antique Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Wood
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
Vintage Black Forest Bear Pen Rest, German, Bronze, Marble, Decor, Desk Stand
Located in Hele, Devon, GB
This is a vintage Black Forest bear pen rest. A German, bronze and marble decorative desk Stand, dating to the late 20th century, circa 1970.
Highly distinctive desk Stand with charm...
Category
Late 20th Century German Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Marble, Bronze
Black Forest Wall Mirror Basswood Hand Carved, Austria, circa 1890
Located in Lichtenberg, AT
Very decorative rural Black Forest wall mirror from the late 19th century from circa 1890 in Austria. The beautiful hand carved frame impresses with an unusual "Black Forest" tree trunk design and shows slightly protruding corners. Stained in a very dark brown almost black tone, this unusual late 19th century wooden mirror...
Category
Late 19th Century Austrian Antique Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Mirror, Softwood
Pair of Antique Bull Horn Chairs Austria 1870
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Pair of Antique Bull Horn Chairs Austria 1870
A pair antique bull horn chairs, from a noble villa in Austria. The seats are with antique green velvet ...
Category
Late 19th Century Austrian Antique Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Wood, Antler
Antique Hand Carved Black Forest Rustic Cottage Jewelry or Trinket Box
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
This antique hand carved Black Forest jewelry or trinket box is unsigned but presumed to have been made in either Germany or Switzerland in circa 1920 in the signature Black Forest s...
Category
Early 20th Century German Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Softwood
Early 20th Century German Hand Painted Ceramic Hunt Scene Wall Platter
Located in Dallas, TX
This large, richly colored ceramic platter was crafted in Germany circa 1920 and captures the rustic charm of a traditional Black Forest hunt scene. Round in shape, the hand-painted ...
Category
Early 20th Century German Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Ceramic
Black Forest Wall Mirror Hand Carved, Austria, circa 1900
Located in Lichtenberg, AT
From circa 1900, the turn of the century in Austria comes this beautiful wooden Black Forest wall mirror. A simple but elegant design was created out of hand carved basswood, showing...
Category
Early 20th Century Austrian Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Mirror, Softwood
Vintage Wooden Strolling Bear Handcarved in Brienz ca. 1950
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Vintage Wooden Strolling Bear Handcarved in Brienz ca. 1950
A vintage statue of a walking bear. Made of lindenwood, finely handcarved with naturalistic details in Brienz, Switzerlan...
Category
Mid-20th Century Swiss Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Wood
Rustic Black Forest Humidor Box
Located in Queens, NY
Rustic Black Forest (19thcentury) walnut carved humidor box with faux wood design and smoking motif on top (interior of top has smoking accessories...
Category
19th Century Antique Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Wood, Walnut
Black Forrest Carved Black Walnut Toothless Man Motif Hanging Match Holder
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Black Forrest Carved Black Walnut Toothless Man Motif Hanging Match Holder
Swiss, Later 19th Century
A whimsical and intricately hand-carved piece from the Black Forest region, this hanging match holder features a realistically carved black walnut portrait of a smiling toothless man, or possibly a Satyr. Dating back to the later 19th century, this piece showcases the craftsmanship and charm of the era.
The carved wood head portrait measures 3 inches wide, 3 inches high, and 2 inches deep, capturing the expressive details of the toothless man's face. Mounted on a beveled shield backplate, this match holder exudes a sense of whimsy and character. The brass ring holder adds a practical element, allowing for easy access to the matches.
This match holder is designed to hold numerous standard 1.5-inch long matches...
Category
Late 19th Century Swiss 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
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
Antique Swiss Black Forest Carved Wood Bear Head Lidded Tobacco Box
Located in San Francisco, CA
Of large scale, the well-delineated and intricately carved head of a dog with hat motif lid; the expressive face with glass eyes and large snout; most likely from the Black forest ar...
Category
Late 19th Century Swiss 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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