Black Forest Furniture
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.
Early 20th Century German Black Forest Furniture
Glass, Wood
Early 20th Century German Black Forest Furniture
Clay
Early 20th Century German Black Forest Furniture
Wood, Antler
Early 20th Century German Black Forest Furniture
Antler, Wood
Early 20th Century German Black Forest Furniture
Wood, Antler
Early 20th Century Swiss Black Forest Furniture
Wood
1920s German Vintage Black Forest Furniture
Fruitwood
Early 20th Century German Black Forest Furniture
Wood, Antler
Early 1900s Serbian Antique Black Forest Furniture
Brass
Early 20th Century Dutch Black Forest Furniture
Oak
Early 20th Century German Black Forest Furniture
Wool
Early 20th Century European Black Forest Furniture
Mirror, Wood
Early 20th Century German Black Forest Furniture
Wood
Early 1900s Swiss Antique Black Forest Furniture
Wood
Early 20th Century German Black Forest Furniture
Wood
Early 20th Century German Black Forest Furniture
Wood
Early 20th Century German Black Forest Furniture
Wood
Early 20th Century German Black Forest Furniture
Wood
Early 20th Century German Black Forest Furniture
Wood, Antler
Early 20th Century Swiss Black Forest Furniture
Wood
Early 20th Century Swiss Black Forest Furniture
Wood
Early 20th Century Italian Black Forest Furniture
Metal
1920s German Vintage Black Forest Furniture
Fruitwood
Early 1900s German Antique Black Forest Furniture
Velvet, Beads, Oak
Early 20th Century German Black Forest Furniture
Walnut
Early 1900s Swiss Antique Black Forest Furniture
Wood
Early 20th Century German Black Forest Furniture
Horn, Wood
Early 1900s Swiss Antique Black Forest Furniture
Wood
1910s German Vintage Black Forest Furniture
Oak, Lacquer
1910s German Vintage Black Forest Furniture
Fruitwood
1920s German Vintage Black Forest Furniture
Metal
Early 20th Century German Black Forest Furniture
Wood
Early 20th Century Swiss Black Forest Furniture
Wood
Early 20th Century Swiss Black Forest Furniture
Wood
Early 20th Century Swiss Black Forest Furniture
Brass, Bronze
Early 20th Century European Black Forest Furniture
Brass, Iron
Early 1900s Swiss Antique Black Forest Furniture
Antler, Wood
Early 20th Century German Black Forest Furniture
Iron, Bronze
Early 1900s German Antique Black Forest Furniture
Wood
Early 1900s German Antique Black Forest Furniture
Wood
Early 20th Century German Black Forest Furniture
Antler, Wood
1920s German Vintage Black Forest Furniture
Aluminum
Early 20th Century French Black Forest Furniture
Oak, Glass
Early 20th Century German Black Forest Furniture
Walnut
Early 20th Century Unknown Black Forest Furniture
Wood
Early 20th Century Swiss Black Forest Furniture
Wood
Early 20th Century German Black Forest Furniture
Antler
Early 20th Century German Black Forest Furniture
Wood
Early 20th Century Swiss Black Forest Furniture
Wood, Glass, Paint
Early 1900s French Antique Black Forest Furniture
Walnut
Early 20th Century Swiss Black Forest Furniture
Wood
Early 20th Century French Black Forest Furniture
Walnut
Early 20th Century German Black Forest Furniture
Sycamore
Early 20th Century Swiss Black Forest Furniture
Bronze
Early 20th Century Swiss Black Forest Furniture
Wood
Early 20th Century Italian Black Forest Furniture
Wood
Early 20th Century Swiss Black Forest Furniture
Wood
Early 20th Century Swiss Black Forest Furniture
Glass, Wood, Nutwood