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
72
698
291
885
114
7
200,005
113,804
43,270
33,337
16,306
12,201
10,767
10,738
9,959
9,009
7,297
6,779
6,443
6,395
6,164
5,804
4,905
3,781
4
485
396
121
240
128
13
38
10
25
34
16
24
9
3
2
797
164
157
149
135
941
401
247
159
77
1,006
1,006
1,006
105
33
8
3
3
Style: Black Forest
Late 19th Century Black Forest Farm House Chair Wood Painted Germany
Located in Kitzbühel, Tirol
Farmhouse chair in the style of Black Forest. Painted in green-blue with a white swan in the medaillon.
Original painting, No restaurations.
A second matching chair is available.
Category
Late 19th Century German Antique Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Wood
Vintage Black Forest Roe Deer Trophy on Carved Plaque 1950s
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Vintage Black Forest Roe Deer Trophy on Carved Plaque 1950s
A vintage roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) trophy mounted on a wooden carved plaque. The plaque features oak leaf and acorn...
Category
1950s German Vintage Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Antler, Wood
Large Carved Wood Chamois Sculpture, Black Forest, circa 1900
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Large Carved Wood Chamois Sculpture, Black Forest, circa 1900
An expressive naturalistic carved large chamois sculpture standing on a rocky base. It is handcarved and stainied linde...
Category
Late 19th Century Austrian Antique Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Wood
Black Forest German Porcelain Vase with Hunting Scene Sofina Boutique Kitzbuehel
Located in Kitzbühel, Tirol
Hand-painted porcelain vase is completely handmade and handpainted in Bavaria Germany. Rimmed with a 24-carat gold line. The decor is hands-free painted all round with a hunting scene. The black forest decor...
Category
2010s German Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
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
$120 Sale Price
50% Off
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
Antique Bull Horn Hall Stand ca. 1870
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Antique Bull Horn Hall Stand ca .1870
A large bull horn hall stand made of wood, original Austrian cattle horns and a green velvet cover. Manufactured i...
Category
Late 19th Century Austrian Antique Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Wood, Antler
Rustic Black Forest Root Wood Hunter, circa 1920
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Rustic Black Forest Root Wood Hunter ca. 1920
A rustic wooden hunter statue with deer. It was carved out of a piece of root wood. Germany, Black Forest,...
Category
Early 20th Century German Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Wood
Black Forest Rustic Wall Mirror with Coat of Arms Carving, Austria, circa 1870
Located in Lichtenberg, AT
Fantastic looking rustic Black Forest wall mirror from the late 19th century in Austria around 1870. 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
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
Black Forest Bambi Figure Porcelain 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
Black Forest Antler-Mounted Oak Spirits Cabinet, circa 1900
Located in Atlanta, GA
A richly textured and visually commanding Black Forest spirits cabinet, crafted in Germany around 1900. This compact yet sculptural piece is clad in a carved faux bois surface and dr...
Category
Early 20th Century German Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Bone, Antler, Oak
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
Antique Tramp Art Cabinet, ca. 1900
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Antique Tramp Art Cabinet ca. 1900
The wooden tramp art cabinet is decorated with rich notch carvings. The inside is coated with green paper. It was...
Category
Late 19th Century German Antique Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Wood
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
$7,880 / set
Black Forest 1900s Hand Carved Wooden Buck Head Mounted on Shield Plate
Located in Atlanta, GA
A Swiss Black Forest hand carved wooden buck head wall sculpture from the turn of the century, with shield plate. Born in the early years of the 20th century...
Category
Early 20th Century Swiss Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Wood
Folksy Hand Carved Tyrolian Carnival Fasnet Mask
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Folksy Hand Carved Tyrolian Carnival Fasnet Mask
A folksy wooden carved carnival mask from the region of South Tyrol. These masks are used in Austria, South Germany and Italy at the...
Category
Early 20th Century German Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Wood
Black Forest Crystal Laterne Green Hunting Scene Sofina Boutique Kitzbuehel
Located in Kitzbühel, Tirol
Handblown crystal vase/latern in green with hand-etched Black Forest decor with deers and trees all around.
Completely handmade in Bavaria/Germany....
Category
2010s German Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Crystal
Four Antique Bull Horn Chairs ca. 1870
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Four Antique Bull Horn Chairs ca. 1870
A set of four antique bull horn chairs ca. 1870, covered with antique green velvet which has to be renewed (is loo...
Category
Late 19th Century Austrian Antique Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Wood, Antler
$7,880 / set
Swiss Casted Bronze Cattle Bell ca. 1900s
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Swiss Casted Bronze Cattle Bell ca. 1900s
Item e7311
An antique cast bronze cattle bell, made in Switzerland around 1900. The bell comes with its original brown leather strap with bu...
Category
Early 20th Century Swiss Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Bronze
1900 Swiss Black Forest Carved Basswood Begging Dog Cigar and Matchbox Holder
Located in Haarlem, NL
Swiss Brienz black forest hand carved linden wood begging poodle with brass matchbox holder and four brass cigar holders.
Black Forest wood carved art ...
Category
Late 19th Century Swiss Antique Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Brass
$1,400 Sale Price
20% Off
Rustic Wall Mirror Black Forest Hand Carved, Austria, circa 1880
Located in Lichtenberg, AT
Rustic Black Forest wall mirror from the late 19th century in Austria. Beautifully hand carved out of basswood circa 1880, this unusual wall mirror...
Category
Late 19th Century Austrian Antique Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Softwood
Pair of 18th C. French Carved Oak Hunting Plaques with Wrought Iron Handles
Located in Dallas, TX
Add historical charm and sculptural interest to your interior with this impressive pair of hand-carved French wall plaques, crafted in oak circa 1780. Each plaque takes the form of a...
Category
Late 18th Century French Antique Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Wrought Iron
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
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
$1,760 Sale Price
20% Off
19th Century Black Forest Rustic Wall Mirror Light Brown, Austria, circa 1890
Located in Lichtenberg, AT
Unusual rustic Black Forest wall mirror out of Austria. From circa 1890 comes this lovely hand carved Black Forest wall mirror with a simple but elegant design, created out of basswo...
Category
Late 19th Century Austrian Antique Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Mirror, Softwood
Chinese Sheperd Mule Pictorial Rug
Located in New York, NY
One of a kind Late 20th century Chinese rug with a shepherd riding on a mule.
Measures: 3'1'' x 6'1''.
Category
Late 20th Century Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Wool
Rustic Black Forest Bear Walnut Table Desk
Located in Queens, NY
Rustic Black Forest (19th Century) bear carved walnut table desk with leaf and floral carving and single drawer.
Category
19th Century Austrian Antique Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Walnut
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
Black Forest Porcelain Bowl with Bambi Figure Sofina Boutique Kitzbuehel
Located in Kitzbühel, Tirol
Completely handmade porcelain bowl with a hands-free natrualistic 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
Black Forest Porcelain Bowl with Fox Figure 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 decor...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary German Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
Black Forest Porcelain Bowl with Fox Figure 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 decor...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary German Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
Rustic Black Forest Wall Mirror Bass Wood, Austria, circa 1880
Located in Lichtenberg, AT
Large rustic designed Black Forest wall mirror from Austria, circa 1880. This antique wall mirror impresses with a simple but elegant "tree trunk" design, elaborately hand carved out...
Category
Early 20th Century Austrian Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Mirror, Softwood
19th Century German Black Forest Chip-Carved Suite Desk with Drawer and Chair
Located in Vero Beach, FL
19th century German black forest chip-carved suite desk with drawer and chair.
Impressive and extremely rare Black Forest desk and chair. The rectangul...
Category
19th Century German Antique Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Pine
Black Forest Rustic Wall Mirror, Doubleframe Handcarved, 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 Austrian Antique Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Mirror, Softwood
Finely Carved Wood Chamois Brienz, Switzerland, circa 1900
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Finely carved wood chamois Brienz, Switzerland circa 1900.
A delicately handcarved wood sculpture of a chamois standing on a rocky base. A very detailed and natural carving excecuted by one of the Swiss woodcarvers from the area of Brienz, ca. 1900.
The tradition of wood carving, using manual skills to make everyday objects and fine art sculptures, is found throughout Europe. The incentive to create not only useful but also aesthetically beautiful things, distinguishes the craftsman from the artist. In addition to the well-known Swiss wood carving...
Category
Early 20th Century Swiss Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Wood
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
19th Century Black Forest Cigar Holder of a Bear Holding a Barrel
Located in San Francisco, CA
the hand-carved standing bear with forward gaze and glass eyes holding a barrel for matches in front of a larger barrel for cigar storage; all over an oval carved base fitted with a ...
Category
Late 19th Century Swiss Antique Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Walnut
19th Century Black Forest Carved Box
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
19th century Black Forest carved box.
Category
Late 19th Century Antique Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Wood
$550 Sale Price
44% Off
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
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
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
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
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
Rustic Black Forest Mirror with Gilt Inner Bar, Austria, circa 1880
Located in Lichtenberg, AT
Charming rustic black Forest wall mirror from the period in Austria around 1880. Artfully hand carved out of basswood, this exceptional rural mirror impresses with its gorgeous carve...
Category
Late 19th Century Austrian Antique Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Softwood
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
$199 Sale Price
20% Off
Black Forest 1890s Carved Wooden Umbrella Stand Depicting a Bear Climbing a Tree
Located in Atlanta, GA
A large Black Forest carved wooden umbrella stand from the late 19th century, depicting a bear climbing a tree branch. Created during the last de...
Category
Late 19th Century European Antique Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Wood
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
Mirror, Softwood
Black Forest Wooden Nutcracker 1950s Germany
Located in Den Haag, NL
Wonderful angry Owl Nutcracker .Glass eyes ,Black Forest . 1950s
Category
1950s German Vintage Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Fruitwood
Carved Wood Chamois Family by Ernst Heissl, Ebensee Austria, circa 1900
By Ernst Heissl
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Carved Wood Chamois Family by Ernst Heissl, Ebensee Austria, circa 1900
A handcarved wooden sculpture of a chamois group with buck, chamois and fawn. A v...
Category
Late 19th Century Austrian Antique Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Wood
Set of Six Antique Bohemian Glasses
Located in London, GB
Set of six antique Bohemian glasses
Bohemian, Late 19th Century
Height 10cm, diameter 4.5cm
This beautifully crafted set of Bohemian glass dat...
Category
Late 19th Century Czech Antique Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Glass
$1,313 / set
Antique Black Forest Carved Wooden Pug Inkwell, 19th Century Dog Carving
Located in Bristol, GB
Antique Carving in the Form of a Dog
Raised up on his hind legs, the head with original glass eyes tilts back to reveal the original glass inkwell ins...
Category
19th Century German Antique Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Metal
Black Forest Wall Mirror Hand Carved, Austria, circa 1880
Located in Lichtenberg, AT
Mid-sized rustic Black Forest wall mirror from Austria, circa 1880. Beautifully hand carved out of basswood this late 19th century wall mirror shows a tree branch styled frame combin...
Category
Late 19th Century Austrian Antique Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Softwood
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
"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
A Wooden Carved Black Forest Bear with Glass Vase ca. 1920
Located in Berghuelen, DE
A Wooden Carved Black Forest Bear with Glass Vase ca. 1920
Item e7274
A nicely carved Black Forest bear holding a glass vase in its hands. Executed in Brienz, Switzerland around 1920...
Category
Early 20th Century Swiss Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Blown Glass, Wood
19th Century Black Forest Bear Clothes Brush
Located in High Point, NC
19th century hand carved Black Forest clothes brush in the form of a bear. The bear is recumbent, and his face is so sweet - he will look good anywhere you decide to place him in yo...
Category
19th Century Swiss Antique Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Fruitwood
Carved Black Forest Style Cane Stand with Bear Figure
Located in Bridgeport, CT
A very solid black forest style bear carving serving as a cane and umbrella stand. A standing bear figure holding the open oval support for umbrellas and ...
Category
20th Century Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Wood
Black Forest Walnut Bird Mantel Clock
Located in Queens, 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
19thc French Antique Carved Wood Black Forest King and Queen Wall Sconces
Located in Opa Locka, FL
Pair 19thc French Carved Wood Black Forest type "King and Queen" Wall Sconces. Neoclassical style. This pair is magnificent!
Category
1890s French Antique Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Wood
$2,388 Sale Price / set
20% Off
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.