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
Black Forest German Porcelain Bowl with 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 hand painted in black and sits in the middle of the dish. T...
Category
2010s German Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
Rare Cigar Holder Bavarian 19th Century Terracotta
Located in Hudson, NY
Rare victorian terracotta and pipe clay cigar holder, late nineteenth century. Produced by the J&C China company of Bavaria.
Made for holding cig...
Category
Late 19th Century German Antique Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Terracotta
$1,350 Sale Price
25% Off
Black Forest Cushion Handmade Fringe Hunting Scene Sofina Boutique Kitzbühel
Located in Kitzbühel, Tirol
Handmade cushion in brilliant blue and green colors in cotton and linen fabric with a hunting scene in the style of Black Forest. The fringe all around is made by hand in the style o...
Category
2010s Austrian Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Linen
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
Set of Six Porcelain Dishes with Hunting Trophies Sofina Boutique Kitzbuehel
Located in Kitzbühel, Tirol
Set of six porcelain dishes . Hands-free painted with 6 different detailed painted trophies heads in the style of black forest.
Rimmed with a fine 24-carat gold line. Handmade in Bav...
Category
2010s German Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
19th Century French Black Forest Carved Walnut Jardinière with Zinc Liner
Located in Dallas, TX
This beautiful, walnut, Black Forest jardinière carved as a wooden log was crafted in France, circa 1870. The rectangular fruitwood planter features hand carved floral, tree branches with leaf decor. The antique planter is in excellent condition, and has its original removable zinc liner...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Walnut
Black Forest Carved Dog Inkwell
By Black Forest
Located in Coeur d'Alene, ID
Swiss carved black Forest shaggy dog inkwell with pen holder. In the 1800’s the wood carving industry of Switzerland started in the town of Brienz. By the ...
Category
19th Century Swiss Antique Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Wood
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
19th Century French Black Forest Hand Carved Hunt Scene Wall Decor
Located in Dallas, TX
Decorate a ranch, hunting lodge or simply a man's office with this elegant antique wall decor. Crafted in France circa 1870, the hand carved artwork...
Category
Mid-19th Century French Antique Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Walnut
19th century Carved Walnut Black Forest Bear / Cigar Holder
Located in San Francisco, CA
Late 19th century Continental carved walnut bear / cigar holder. In the style of Black Forest, German, Possibly Russian. The complex form of a classic dancing bear on hind legs. Stan...
Category
Late 19th Century German Antique Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Walnut
$1,925 Sale Price
30% Off
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
19th Century Black Forest Hand-Carved French Liqueur Stand
Located in Dallas, TX
19th Century black forest hand carved liqueur stand with original glass was meant to adorn the library or office, even perhaps the living or drawing room, and provide a top-notch tou...
Category
1880s French Antique Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Crystal
Black Forest Carved Swiss Entry Mirror with Climbing Bears
By Black Forest
Located in Coeur d'Alene, ID
Large Swiss Black Forest carved entry or hall mirror with climbing bears both sides and pine boughs with pine cones at top and bottom. Carved by Swiss mas...
Category
2010s Swiss Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Other
A ‘Black Forest’ walnut plaque of the “Lion of Lucerne”
Located in Lymington, Hampshire
A ‘Black Forest’ walnut plaque of the “Lion of Lucerne”, of rectangular form with a recess showing a dying lion resting on two shields, the motto “Helvetiorum Fidei Ac Virtuti dei X ...
Category
Late 19th Century Swiss Antique Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Walnut
Large 1920s Plaster Figure of the Seated Blacksmith, Le Travail
Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight
Large 1920s plaster figure of the seated blacksmith, Le Travail
A charming piece Folk Art, a painted statue of the famous blacksmith, known as “Le Travai...
Category
Early 20th Century Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Plaster
Baccarat Crystal Epergne, with Black Forest Carved Base Centrepiece
Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight
19th century Baccarat crystal epergne, Black Forest centrepiece
A superb and very unusual combination, a Black Forest pedestal carved with oak leaves, mounted with an etched crystal dish, which in turn has another Black Forest carved mount...
Category
Late 19th Century Antique Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Crystal
$5,159 Sale Price
20% Off
Black Forest Carved Bird Plaque
By Black Forest
Located in Coeur d'Alene, ID
Swiss carved walnut plaque with game bird and two chicks with vine and leaf design. Part of the Brienz Collection but not published.
Period: circ...
Category
1920s Swiss Vintage Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Wood
A C19th Carved Giltwood Wall Bracket
Located in London, GB
A 19th Century Carved Giltwood Wall Bracket
A beautifully decorative wall shelf with larger proportions. The elegantly contoured shelf is supported by the feathered wings of the eag...
Category
Late 19th Century English Antique Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Beech
Black Forest Horn Table and Stools
By Black Forest
Located in Coeur d'Alene, ID
Black Forest horn table with 4 matching stools. Table size. Stools are 13" square x 19"H. The tops are carved antler and brass shell casings. Would f...
Category
Early 1900s Swiss Antique Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Antler, Wood
$12,000 / set
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...
Category
19th Century German Antique Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Velvet, Cut Glass, Wood
19th Century German Black Forest’ Jardinière
By Black Forest
Located in North Miami, FL
19th century German Black Forest’ Jardinière of substantial size constructed in a profoundly dimensional carved wood, rising from round base, with ...
Category
19th Century German Antique Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Wood
$7,600 Sale Price
20% Off
Black Forest Cushion Deer Leather Stitched Sofina Boutique Kitzbuehel
Located in Kitzbühel, Tirol
Deer leather cushion "Kitzbühel" made from dark brown deer leather back side grey wool fabric with a stitched chamois figure in the style of Black Forest.
Filled with real feathers. ...
Category
2010s Austrian Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Leather, Wool
Black Forest Cushion Deer Leather Stitched Sofina Boutique Kitzbuehel
Located in Kitzbühel, Tirol
Deer leather cushion "Kitzbühel" made from dark brown deer leather back side grey wool fabric with a stitched chamois figure in the style of Black Forest.
Filled with real feathers. ...
Category
2010s Austrian Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Wool, Leather
Rare 1880 American Eagle Black Forest Wood Carved Coat Hat & Umbrella Rack Stand
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
We are delighted to this very rare original Black Forest wood hand carved coat hat and umbrella rack finished with large American eagle
A very rare and collectable piece, I’ve onl...
Category
1880s German Antique Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Wood
$6,177 Sale Price
30% Off
Early Deer Antler Mount on Black Forest Carved Wood Plaque
Located in Buchanan, MI
Early Deer Antler Mount On Black Forest Carved Wood Plaque.
Category
Early 20th Century Austrian Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Antler, Wood
Black Forest Cushion Hunting Scene Sofina Boutique Kitzbühel
Located in Kitzbühel, Tirol
Handmade cushion in
blue, red and green colors in cotton and linen fabric with a hunting scene in the style of Black Forest. Backside green velvet. Filled with downs. Perfect to combine with other cushions like fur and wool quicker to create a fantastic mountain or country chic. Completely made in Kitzbuehel Austria. Current production by Sofina Boutique Kitzbühel.
Category
2010s Austrian Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Linen
pair of German 19th century Black Forest st. etched Glass and Walnut vases
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An elegant pair of German 19th century Black Forest st. etched Glass and Walnut vases. Each beautiful vase is raised on a wonderful array of Walnut water flora below a fluted socle s...
Category
19th Century German Antique Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Glass, Walnut
A Black Forest carved wood inkwell with wheat sheafs and poultry
Located in Lymington, Hampshire
A Black Forest carved wood inkwell with wheat sheafs and poultry, made of ebonised fruitwood naturalistically carved with a cockerel and hen perched on a rocky outcrop, bundles of wh...
Category
1890s Swiss Antique Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Wood
Black Forest Crystal Latern Green Hunting Scene Sofina Boutique Kitzbühel
Located in Kitzbühel, Tirol
Handblown crystal vase/lantern in green glass with hunting scene in the style of black forest. The glass is in a first step all around facet...
Category
2010s German Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Crystal
Pair of Swiss 19th Century Carved Wooden Cattle
By Johann Huggler
Located in London, GB
A pair of Black Forest cattle, probably by Johann Huggler
Carved in lindenwood, the naturalistically carved swiss cow and bull stand on elliptical bases.
...
Category
19th Century German Antique Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Wood
$11,541 / set
Pair of Pottery Black Forest Huntsmen Figures A very handsome pair
Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight
Pair of Pottery Black Forest Huntsmen Figures
A very handsome pair of 19th Century Figures, 2 huntsmen with their quarry, one holding up a Hare, the other with a Stag on the ground...
Category
19th Century Antique Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Ceramic
Black Forest Oak Tray with Foliate Carving and Branch Handles, circa 1880
Located in Atlanta, GA
A richly carved Black Forest serving tray in oak, dating to the late 19th century, circa 1880. This hand-carved piece showcases the traditional craftsmanship associated with the Blac...
Category
Late 19th Century European Antique Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Oak
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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