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.
Pair of Carved Lime Wood Pictures
Located in Lymington, Hampshire
A pair of Swiss carved lime-wood pictures one showing a hunter being attacked by an eagle as he attempts to raid its nest, the other a climber rescuing a g...
Wood
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...
Metal
C19th Carved Wood and Velvet Black Forest Inkwell with Dog
Located in London, GB
Wonderful German late 19th century carved wood black Forest inkwell. Beautifully carved with a seated dog on a naturalistic base of ferns and foliage, the cut glass inkwells retaining their original leaf carved stoppers...
Velvet, Cut Glass, Wood
Zabihi Collection Colorful Vintage 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 weaver giving it an old-world look and vintage feel. Measures:...
Cotton
Hand Carved Antique 'Black Forest' Fox Stool
Located in London, GB
A 'Black Forest' fox stool Constructed in a very well patinated and carved lindenwood, the kneeling fox having glass eyes, with monochrome naturalistic highlights; the seat carved to resemble a mushroom. Brienz Area, circa 1900 Brienz, in the Bernese Oberland, Switzerland was remarked upon in Baedeker's Travel Guide, as having a population of 2400, of whom 600 persons were employed as woodcarvers, to supply the tourist trade to Switzerland with mementos of the tour. A museum devoted entirely to the art of wood carving may be visited today. Arenski, Jay, Simon Daniels, and Michael Daniels. Swiss Carvings: The Art of the 'Black Forrest', 1820-1940. Woodbridge: Antique Collectors' Club, 2005, p. 140 (fig. 224). Illustrating a kneeling bear stool...
Glass, Wood
Collection of Five Black Forest Roe Mounts on Carved Wood Plaques Priced per mou
Located in Buchanan, MI
Collection of five Black Forest roe mounts on carved wood plaques. Priced per mount.
Antler, Wood
Zabihi Collection Colorful Antique Turkish Ghiordes 19th Century Rug
Located in New York, NY
A wild and crazy antique Turkish Ghiordes rug with all types of fun and dazzling elements. 12'8'' x 16'10'' Since the beginning of their production in the 18th century, rugs from t...
Wool
19th Century Swiss Black Forest Carving of a Stag and Tree Nut Dish
Located in Stamford, CT
Sweet little Black Forest carving of a stag standing near a pine tree next to a brass lined nut or candy dish. Some writing bottom front in white is too worn for me to make out, prob...
Walnut
Original Antique Print After H. Leutemann, Reynard the Fox's Triumph
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Great image by Heinrich Leutemann From the Reynard The Fox series Fine steel engraving Published by A.H. Payne C.1850 Unframed.
Paper
19th Century Rustic Black Forest Wall Mirror - Hand Carved, Austria, circa 1880
Located in Lichtenberg, AT
Fantastic late 19th century wooden Black Forest wall mirror in our highly demanded rustic mirror collection. Coming out of Austria around 1880, this unique artfully handcarved frame ...
Mirror, Softwood
Original Antique Print After H. Leutemann, Reynard the Fox And Lampe
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Great image by Heinrich Leutemann From the Reynard The Fox series Fine steel engraving Published by A.H. Payne C.1850 Unframed.
Paper
Original Antique Print After H. Leutemann, Reynard the Fox-Isegrim And The Crane
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Great image by Heinrich Leutemann From the Reynard The Fox series Fine steel engraving Published by A.H. Payne C.1850 Unframed.
Paper
German Wood Carved Figural Man Head Cork Bottle Stopper, 1960s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Adorable wood and cork bottle stopper. Germany, 1960s. Ideal decoration bottle stopper. Great idea to surprise your guests or a very interesting gift.
Cork, Wood
Swiss Black Forest Carved Wood Bear Chair, Circa 1890
By Black Forest
Located in London, GB
A characterful Swiss Black Forest carved wood seat, the shaped seat with textured surface, supported at one side by a standing bear carved naturalistically with open mouth and detail...
Wood
Antique Anglo-Indian Vizagapatam Stag Antler Horn Slope Top Writing Desk c 1800s
Located in Highwood, IL
Stag Antler Table Top Desk Secretary or rather as described by a British expert: an Anglo-Indian Stag Antler Writing Slope Table Top Desk, late 19th century from Vizagapatam, which was the headquarters of the Vizagapatam District of Madras during the British period. Stag Antler anything is rare and unusual today, especially when it is completely covered in carved strips of Natural unpolished Antler. Finding Stag Antler Writing Desks are beyond rare and in our 30-years in the Antique business...
Bone, Antler, Leather, Sandalwood
Black Forest Hand-Painted Pottery Dish Green Sofina Boutique Kitzbühel Austria
Located in Kitzbühel, Tirol
Hands-free painted pottery rectangular dish from Austria in Black Forest style. Grren glazed pottery decorated with a hands-painted tree decor in green all around. Showing trees in t...
Pottery
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...
Wood
German Black Forest Wood Carved Figural Gnome Cork Bottle Stopper, 1910s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Adorable wood and cork bottle stopper. Germany, 1910s or older. Ideal decoration bottle stopper. Great idea to surprise your guests or a very interesting gift. Found at an Estate Sal...
Wood, Cork
Moose Trophy from a Noble Estate in Germany Shot in Oeland 1956
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Moose Trophy from a Noble Estate in Germany Shot in Oeland 1956 An impressive moose (Alces alces) trophy from a noble estate, shot in Oeland 1956 by a member of the lordly family of...
Wood, Antler
Early Deer Antler Mount on Black Forest Carved Wood Plaque
Located in Buchanan, MI
Early Deer Antler Mount On Black Forest Carved Wood Plaque.
Antler, Wood
Antique Black Forest Roe Deer Antlers Hunting Trophy Mount
Located in Pearland, TX
A fine antique roe deer antler horns hunting trophy on a carved black forest plaque, circa 1920. The plaque is hand carved with oak leaves, acorns, and branches and was found in an o...
Antler, Horn, Wood
19th Century Rustic Black Forest Wall Mirror - Hand Carved, Austria, circa 1880
Located in Lichtenberg, AT
Lovely rustic hand-carved Black Forest wall mirror from the period around 1870 in Austria. This rural, so-called "black forest" style mirror has elaborately been hand carved out of b...
Mirror, Wood
Antique Black Forest Tobacco Pipe with Chamois Horn and Figurine
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Antique Black Forest Tobacco Pipe with Chamois Horn and Figurine A marvellous antique handcarved tobacco pipe with fine carved chamois on the carved horn lid. The pipe head is made ...
Wood, Antler
Rare Cabin Decor Antler Humidor, circa 1890-1900
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Rare Cabin Decor Antler Humidor, circa 1890-1900 An antique turned wooden box with lid, venered with several fine antler slices from the deer and decorated with tips of roe deer antlers. (woodcrack at the lid - see pictures). On top of the lid with hollow turned antler box for matches...
Wood, Antler
19th Century Rustic Black Forest Mirror, Handcarved, Austria, circa 1880
Located in Lichtenberg, AT
Lovely rustic Black Forest wall mirror from the late 19th century in Austria. Beautifully hand carved out of basswood around 1880, this unusual wall mirror shows a unique "tree branc...
Softwood
Vintage Stainless Steel and Horn Tableware Set for 6 Germany, 1900s
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Vintage Stainless Steel and Horn Tableware Set for 6 Germany, 1900s A rustic tabelware set consisting of six knives and six forks. The handles are made of genuine deer horn and feat...
Metal
Black Forest Wooden Bear Cork Stoppers
Located in Coeur d'Alene, ID
Collection of four miniature Black Forest cork wine stoppers. Hand carved sitting and standing bear motifs attached to wooden bases with cork bottoms. All different colors and styles...
Wood, Cork
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...
Porcelain
Large Deer Head primitive Black Forest Hand Carved Folk Art Wooden Trophy
Located in Nuernberg, DE
A great looking hand carved original wooden Folk Art wall decoration. A great piece for a suitable ambiance in a trophy room or the office of a Hunter or Woodsman. More than likely o...
Wood
Vintage Wild Boar Teeth Trophy on Wooden Plaque, Germany 1950s
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Vintage Wild Boar Teeth Trophy on Wooden Plaque, Germany 1950s Item e6932 A vintage Black Forest wild boar (Sus scrofa) trophy on wooden plaque. The teeth are decorated with two meta...
Antler, 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.
Antler, Wood
19th Century Rustic Black Forest Wall Mirror - Hand Carved, Austria circa 1880
Located in Lichtenberg, AT
Lovely rustic Black Forest wall mirror from the period in Austria around 1880. This rural style wooden mirror has been elaborately handcarved out of basswood and impresses with its a...
Mirror, Softwood
19th Century Black Forest Bear
Located in Forney, TX
A large and most impressive late 19th century Swiss Black Forest style hand carved and painted wooden bear sculpture (also known as a Black Forest bear...
Glass, Wood
A Black Forest Carved Linden Wood Canine Wall Bracket Swiss, Late 19th Century
By Black Forest
Located in London, GB
A particularly charming and substantial Black Forest carved linden wood wall bracket, the shaped shelf supported by an elaborate naturalistic composition of three hounds resting bene...
Wood
$2,609 / set
Set of Four Black Forest Dining Chairs by Horrix
Located in Apeldoorn, NL
Beautiful set of four dining chairs by Horrix, Den Haag, executed in the Black Forest style. The chairs feature finely hand-carved wooden frames with elegant detailing, typical of th...
Walnut
Set of Six Vintage Chamois Trophies on Wooden Plaques, Germany ca. 1980s
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Set of Six Vintage Chamois Trophies on Wooden Plaques, Germany ca. 1980s A set of six vintage chamois (Rupicapra rupicapra) skull trophies from the 1980s, each mounted on a dark, sh...
Antler, Wood
Black Forest Porcelain Bowl with Fox Figure Sofina Boutique Kitzbuehel
Located in Kitzbühel, Tirol
Completely handmade porcelain bowl with a hands-free naturalistic painted fox figure in brown colors. The fox is sitting in the middle of the bowl for decorating nuts or sweets aroun...
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...
Fruitwood
Zabihi Collection Antique Anatolian Turkish Small Tribal Rug
Located in New York, NY
An antique Anatolian Turkish yastik rug 1'10'' x 2'7''
Wool
19th Century Swiss Black Forest Carved Walnut Hunting Plaque with Game Animals
Located in Dallas, TX
This impressive antique Black Forest hunting plaque is distinguished by its exceptional depth of carving and richly detailed narrative com...
Walnut
19th Century Black Forest Rustic Wall Mirror, Austria, circa 1880
Located in Lichtenberg, AT
Fantastic executed, rustic wooden wall mirror out of Austria from the period around 1880. This so-called "Black Forest" mirror has been elaborately hand carved out of basswood and im...
Wood
Large Black Forest Carved Wood Eagle
Located in Cheshire, GB
A striking large-scale Black Forest carved wood eagle, depicted in flight with its wings fully outstretched. The eagle is exceptionally well carved throughout, with individually deta...
Oak
French 19th Century Black Forest Barometer
Located in Stockbridge, GA
French 19th century black forest barometer.
Mahogany
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 ...
Pottery
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...
Antler
$780Sale Price|35% Off
Antique Black Forest Wood Antlers Mirror
Located in Boca Raton, FL
Antique Black Forest wood wall mirror with heavy blown glass, decorated with roe deer antlers and borrows.
Antler, Wood
19th Century Rustic Black Forest Wall Mirror with Black Accents, AT, circa 1890
Located in Lichtenberg, AT
Extraordinary rustic, late 19th century Black Forest wall mirror out of Austria. Artfully handcarved around 1890, this unusal stained Black Forest wall mirror impresses with a simple...
Mirror, Softwood
Black Forest Carved Walnut Cabinet
Located in Queens, NY
Rustic Black Forest (19th Century) carved walnut cabinet on stand with birds and floral filigree apron.
Walnut
19th Century Rustic Black Forest Wall Mirror, Hand Carved, Austria, circa 1880
Located in Lichtenberg, AT
Uncommon rustic black forest wall mirror from Austria, around 1880. This antique wall mirror impresses with an unusual hand carved design, elaborately made out of basswood. A very da...
Mirror, Softwood
German Black Forest Wood Carved Figural Man Head Cork Bottle Stopper, 1930s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Adorable wood and cork bottle stopper. Germany, 1930s. Ideal decoration bottle stopper. Great idea to surprise your guests or a very interesting gift.
Wood, Cork
Black Forest Swiss Hand-Carved Wooden Chamois Deer
Located in Coeur d'Alene, ID
Swiss Black Forest hand-carved chamois deer wood carving. Portrays chamois stag walking up rocks and looking to his left. Exceptionally carved and proportioned, with accurate colorin...
Wood
Antique Black Forest Chamois Antler Trophy on Wood Carved Plaque, German, 1900s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
A beautiful antique Black Forest Chamois antler trophy on hand carved, Black Forest wooden plaque. A nice addition to your hunters loge or just to display it in your house.
Antler, Wood
Hand Carved Wood Black Forest Bear Hard Liqueur Stand, Czechoslovakia, 1985
Located in Nuernberg, DE
A 20th century Black Forest wood carved bear. Nice addition to your room or just for use it on your desk. Made of hand carved wood and has original Becherovka Schnaps Glasses. Signed...
Glass, Wood
$224Sale Price|20% Off
Antique Black Forest Wall Bracket Carved Wood
Located in Boca Raton, FL
Black Forest Carved wood wall bracket.
Wood, Tzalam wood, Santos Rosewood
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...
Porcelain
$199Sale Price|20% Off
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''
Wool
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...
Mirror, Softwood
Black Forest Set of Six Beer Glasses Skier Decor Sofina Boutique Kitzbuehel
Located in Kitzbühel, Tirol
Set of six beer glass called Bierseidl in clear crystal glass. Hand blown in Bavaria and hand-engraved with trees and a skier boy in the style of Black Forest. For 0.7 liter beer. Ca...
Crystal
$199 / item
Vintage Roe Deer Trophy on Wood Boatd
Located in Boca Raton, FL
Vintage roe deer trophy mounted on wood board.
Antler
Late 19th Century Black Forest Carved Inkwell and Pen Rest with Bear
Located in Barntrup, DE
Black Forest carved inkwell and pen rest with a bear, late 19th century. This antique, dark brown, linden wood inkwell is masterfully carved and features a detailed figure of a bear ...
Glass, Wood