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
Antique Figural Black Forest Nutcracker c.1900
Located in Bath, GB
A fabulous late Victorian Black Forest Nutcracker beautifully carved with a fabulous rich dark colour and good bright patina.
The Monkey still...
Category
Early 20th Century Swiss Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Glass, Wood
19th Century Black Forest Walnut & Leather Smoking Chair with Cigar Storage
Located in Dallas, TX
Bring charm and conversation to your space with this unique "Chaise de Fumeur" or smoking chair. Crafted in France circa 1880, the antique chair is made of richly patinated walnut an...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Leather, Walnut
Polyphon 71G disc music box with bells
Located in Zonhoven, BE
Beautiful and Rare Polyphon Music Box with Bells – Type 71G
This lovely Polyphon music box, model 71G, plays music using 24.5 cm discs, which are g...
Category
Late 19th Century German Antique Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Brass, Iron
Large Antique Antler Standing Mirror, Germany, ca. 1890
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Large antique antler standing mirror, Germany, ca. 1890
A great antique Black Forest antler standing mirror manufactured in Germany around 1890. An oval wooden frame richly decorate...
Category
19th Century German Antique Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Antler, Glass, Wood
Large Birds Nest Viechtauer Carved Wood Bird Folk Art Black Forest 1900s Austria
Located in Nuernberg, DE
A beautiful Austrian 19th to 20th century, carved wood bird nest, for hanging on a wall as wall decoration. The tradition of these in Austria called "Viechtauer" birds goes back to t...
Category
Early 20th Century Austrian Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Wood, Paint
Black Forest Set of Six Tumbler Green Hunting Decor Sofina Boutique Kitzbuehel
Located in Kitzbühel, Tirol
Set of six handblown tumbler in green crystal with a hand-edged hunting scene in the style of black forest. The decor is an antique hunting scene...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary German Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Crystal
Exquisite 19th century Swiss Black Forest Coat rack carved eagle hallway antique
Located in Ijzendijke, NL
Exquisite & most impressive! This 19th century Swiss Black Forest eagle coat rack from carved wood. Highly detailed model with 4 hooks. The coat rack shows a scene of an eagle holdi...
Category
1880s Swiss Antique Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Wood
19th Century black forest walnut casket
Located in Martlesham, GB
A good quality 19th Century black forest walnut casket, having wonderful crisp carving throughout, the hinged top lifting up to reveal a velvet lined interior, the top having a finel...
Category
1880s Swiss Antique Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Walnut
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.
Measur...
Category
Late 20th Century Uzbek Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Cotton
Collection of Nine Black Forest Antler Mounts on Hand-Carved Wood PlaquesPriced
Located in Buchanan, MI
Collection of nine black forest antler mounts on hand-carved wood plaques. Priced per mount. Excellent condition and color
Category
19th Century Austrian Antique Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Antler, Walnut
Black Forest 19th Century Set of Four Oak Wall Brackets Carved as Hunting Animal
By Black Forest
Located in Firenze, IT
Exquisite Set of Four Antique Black Forest Solid Oak Wood Wall Brackets with Hunting-Themed Carvings
Price: €9000 is per 1 pair
This impressively carved set of four solid oak wall ...
Category
19th Century German Antique Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Iron
Six Pointer Black Forest Roe Deer Trophy on Carved Plaque 1946
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Six Pointer Black Forest Roe Deer Trophy on Carved Plaque 1946
Item e7334
A large six pointer roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) trophy on a wooden carved plaque. The trophy was shot in ...
Category
Mid-20th Century German Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Antler, Wood
Black Forest Crystal Latern Red Hunting Decor Sofina Boutique Kitzbühel
Located in Kitzbühel, Tirol
Hand blown crystal latern in red crystal glass from Bavaria Germany. The decor is hands-free engraved by glass artists all around with a hunting scen...
Category
2010s German Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Crystal
Beautiful French Angel Face Cast-Iron Inkwell France Antique, 1910s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Classic early 1900s French metal inkwell. Nice addition to your room or just for use it on your desk. Made of cast iron and glass. Marked with a number and letters. Found at an estat...
Category
Early 20th Century French Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Wood
$87 Sale Price
74% Off
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 decorating nuts or sweets aroun...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary German Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
19th Century French Carved Eagle Mirror
Located in Wormelow, Herefordshire
A finely carved wooden eagle holding a mirror in the shape of a crescent moon attributed to French cabinetmaker and wood craftsman, Gabriel Viardot (1830-1906). Dating from the late 19th century, this is a spectacular wall piece for any interior, making an impression in any space. It depicts an eagle in German Black Forest style beautifully captured in beech wood with an expressive and energetic stance, carved with talons, wings and feathers and completed with two glass eyes. While other designs of Viardot’s are of smaller scale, this eagle mirror is of a large, rare size.
Famed Parisian cabinetmaker and craftsman Gabriel Viardot was born in 1830. By age 19, he had worked as a furniture maker for the court of Napoleon III and was the head of a small team of sculptors, opening his own workshop in Paris in 1853. Throughout his career, his work was shown at various exhibitions across the globe for which Viardot was prized with several awards. By the 1880s, the workshop comprised of more than 90 furniture...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Mirror, Wood, Beech
Black Forest Vintage Deer Trophy on Carved Plaque 1943
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Black Forest Vintage Deer Trophy on Carved Plaque 1943
A large vintage deer (Capreolus capreolus) trophy on a wooden carved plaque. The plaque fea...
Category
Mid-19th Century German Antique Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Wood, Antler
19th Century Walking Stick with a Black Forest Carved top Portrait of a Dog
Located in Casteren, Noord-Brabant
Fantastic antique walking stick, with a beautiful wood carved head of a dog on top. The stick is extra long in size, which indicates that the stick wa...
Category
1890s French Antique Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Wood
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
Eagle Crescent Mirror 1890 Black Forest Carving
Located in Hastings, GB
Fantastic hand carved Eagle gripping a crescent bevelled mirror, dating to the late 19th century, Swiss Black Forest. The carving still has its’ original glass eye and is in exceptio...
Category
1890s European Antique Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Wood
Wooden Carved Black Forest Garden Fountain Water Spout 19th century
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Wooden Carved Black Forest Garden Fountain Water Spout 19th century
A large Black Forest wooden carved water spout featuring "Ruebezahl", which is the mountain spirit of the giant m...
Category
Late 19th Century German Antique Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Wood
Superb Over 1 Metre Tall Black Forest Bear Stickstand
Located in Forest Row, East Sussex
A superb quality late 19th century Black Forest Bear. Carved linden wood with original glass eyes. Excellent quality and condition with wear consistent with age use.
Dimensions: H ...
Category
1880s Swiss Antique Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Wood
Late 19th Century Decorative Stand - Black Forest
Located in Casteren, Noord-Brabant
A beautiful antique black forest standard, fine carved chestnut wood. The center is covered with green fabric. Small objects can be displayed on this. The standard comes with three c...
Category
1880s German Antique Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Antler, Walnut
Hand Carved Wooden Sculpture Lamp Night Watchman with Lantern, Germany
Located in Barntrup, DE
A masterfully hand-carved wooden lamp features a beautiful sculpture of a night watchman with a lantern and halberd. The lantern is made of glass and co...
Category
Mid-20th Century German Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Copper
19th Century Carved Bear Hall Stand
Located in Shipston-On-Stour, GB
An impressive late 19 century Black Forest carved bear hall stand, of a bear looking up while holding a tree with three branches forming coat/hat hooks, with an inquisitive bear cub ...
Category
1880s Swiss Antique Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Wood
Antique Black Forest Sofa with Pair of Chairs (3) Pieces Photoshopped with Linen
Located in Chicago, IL
Linen version of Old Plank's Black Forest furniture. We look at Black Forest furniture as being both a bit rustic and a little whimsical. Black Forest furniture dates from the late 1...
Category
1890s Swiss Antique Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Upholstery, Wood
Black Forest Set of Six Glass Plates Green Sofina Boutique Kitzbühel
Located in Kitzbühel, Tirol
Set of six plates in green crystal with an antique hunting decor all around. The charming black forest decor is hand.-engraved and shows an antique ...
Category
2010s German Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Glass
Pendant Light with Figure of a Mountain Climber and a Blue Glass Lantern
Located in Barntrup, DE
Wonderful German pendant lamp features a hand-carved figure of a smiling mountain climber in beautifully hand-painted Bavarian traditional clothing in blue, brown, green, white, and ...
Category
1930s German Vintage Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Metal
Pair of 19th Century Black Forest Escabell Chairs
Located in New Orleans, LA
These remarkable chairs are not just a piece of furniture, they are historical artifacts that bring a touch of rustic elegance and timeless beauty to any space.
Crafted from rich, d...
Category
19th Century French Antique Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Wood
19th Century German Black Forest Candlestick
Located in Chicago, IL
A charming 19th century German Black Forest wood candlestick hand carved with ivy growing over rocks.
Category
19th Century German Antique Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Wood
Large Hand Carved Black Forest Standing Stag Deer Sculpture with Huge Antlers
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
This quite large and well executed carving is unsigned by the artist, but presumed to have been done in Eastern Europe in circa 1900 in the period Black Forest style. This large carv...
Category
Early 20th Century German Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Softwood
Antique Photo Print Collage with Hunt Company and Game in the Forest
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Antique Photo Print Collage with Hunt Company and Game in the Forest
An antique collage of several victorian hunters in a forest. Made with a pai...
Category
Early 20th Century German Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Wood
Charming Bavarian Girl and Sunflower, Black Forest Nursery Wall Decoration
Located in Rothley, Leicestershire
Absolutely charming, large wood carving of a young Bavarian girl and sunflower wall decoration
This substantial wall hanging is two feet in length, ...
Category
1950s German Vintage Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Wood
$421 Sale Price
60% Off
Vintage Stainless Steel and Horn Tableware Set for 6 Germany 1950s
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Antique Stainless Steel and Horn 12 Pieces Tableware Set, Germany 1930s
A rustic tabelware set consisting of six knives and six forks. The handles are made of genuine deer horn. The...
Category
Mid-20th Century German Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Metal
Antique Victorian Vanity Mirror with Bear, Black Forest ca. 1900
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Antique Victorian Vanity Mirror with Bear, Black Forest ca. 1900
A lovely wooden vanity mirror decorated with an elaborate carved bear...
Category
Early 20th Century Swiss Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Wood
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
French Carved Fruitwood Black Forest Planter or Jardiniiere, 1880s
Located in Amsterdam, NL
Magnificent and rare Black Forest planter or jardiniiere.
Striking French design from the 1880s.
Original hand-carved fruitwood base on a ornate turned and hand-carved baluster with ...
Category
1880s French Antique Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Fruitwood
$1,564 Sale Price
20% Off
Vintage Black Forest Porcellaine Tobacco Pipe with Capercaillie
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Vintage Black Forest Porcellaine Tobacco Pipe with Capercaillie
A vintage Black Forest porcellaine tobacco pipe with a capercaillie picture on the pipe head. The pipe is executed in...
Category
Mid-20th Century German Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Wood, Porcelain
Black Forest Set of Six Glass Plates Red Sofina Boutique Kitzbühel
Located in Kitzbühel, Tirol
Set of six crystal plates in brillant red color with an country style decor all around. The charming black forest decor is hand.-engraved and shows ...
Category
2010s German Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Glass
19th Century Black Forest Hanging Wall Box
Located in High Point, NC
19th century Black Forest small hanging wall box. The entire piece is hand carved to have the appearance of boards with hand carved appearance of gra...
Category
19th Century Swiss Antique Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Fruitwood
German Black Forest Carved Boar Bookends
Located in San Mateo, CA
Pair of black forest carved boar bookends. The carving on these has excellent detail and craftsmanship. These were purchased by an army major that was stat...
Category
1940s German Vintage Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Wood
19th Century French Black Forest Carved Eagle Sculpture Wall Mirror
Located in Dallas, TX
This unusual antique mirror was crafted in the Alps region of France, circa 1880. The whimsical mirror features a large eagle sculpture with win...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Mercury Glass, Oak
Black Forest Set of Six Crystal Plates Green Sofina Boutique Kitzbühel
Located in Kitzbühel, Tirol
Set of six plates in green crystal with an antique hunting decor all around. The charming black forest decor is hand.-engraved and shows an antique decor of deers, rabbit and trees. The glass plates can be ordered in different colors. All Sofina glass is entirely handmade in Bavaria Germany. The size of the plate is perfect for serving salad, starters or dessert. Looks great on top of an other plate. Not for dishwashing recommended.
About Sofina crystal: Sofina crystal was established in 2013 in Bavaria Germany and stands for traditional craftsmanship in the tradition of the 18th century. All items are hands-free engraved by glass artists who are experienced in the traditional glass craft...
Category
2010s German Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Crystal
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...
Category
2010s German Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Crystal
Black Forest Crystal Latern Green Hunting Decor Sofina Boutique Kitzbühel
Located in Kitzbühel, Tirol
Hand blown crystal latern in green crystal glass from Bavaria Germany. The decor is hands-free engraved by glass artists all around with a hunting scene with trees in the style of Bl...
Category
2010s German Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Crystal
Rustic Black Forest Mirror Hand Carved, Austria, circa 1890
Located in Lichtenberg, AT
Lovely small Black Forest mirror from Austria, circa 1890. Artfully processed out of basswood, this frame shows unusual hand carved leaves designs and was combined with protruding co...
Category
Late 19th Century Austrian Antique Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Mirror, Softwood
Black Forest Sika Deer Trophy on Wooden Plaque - Germany ca. 1950s
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Black Forest Sika Deer Trophy on Wooden Plaque - Germany ca. 1950s
Item e7343
A vintage 6 pointer sika deer (Cervus nippon) trophy from the Black Forest. The trophy was shot around 1...
Category
Mid-20th Century German Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Antler, Wood
Large Black Forest 19th Century Antler Arm Chair and Ottoman
Located in San Francisco, CA
a large and rare set of German Black Forest furniture with chair and ottoman; with oval back above a tight seat all surrounded by a robus...
Category
Late 19th Century Swiss Antique Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Antler
Antique Oil Print with Dramatic Poacher Scene After Josef Ringeisen
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Antique Oil Print with Dramatic Poacher Scene after Josef Ringeisen
A colorful oil print depicting a dramatic poaching scenery in the Bavarian for...
Category
Late 19th Century German Antique Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Glass, Wood
Antique Bell Belt with Eight Brass Bells, Tyrol ca. 1900s
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Antique Bell Belt with Eight Brass Bells, Tyrol ca. 1900s
An antique bell belt with eight brass bells from the Tyrolian Alps ca. 1900s. Bell belts are used to locate goats or sheep ...
Category
Early 20th Century Swiss Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Metal
PAIR OF ANTIQUE GERMAN BLACK FOREST CARVED ANTLER ARMCHAiRS PART OF A SUITE
By Black Forest
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
Royal House Antiques
Royal House Antiques is delighted to offer for sale this very rare pair of original German late 19th century black forest antler armchairs which are part of a s...
Category
Early 1900s European Antique Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Oak
Beautiful Colorful Vintage Inspired 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 weave giving it an old world look and vintage feel.
Measure...
Category
Late 20th Century Uzbek Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Cotton
Antique Wooden Carved Sculpture of a Folksy Countrywoman
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Antique Wooden Carved Sculpture of a Folksy Countrywoman
A large traditional Black Forest style woodcarving of a farmer´s wife. Hand carved in Germany around 1920. A great addition ...
Category
Early 20th Century German Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Wool
Large Antique 19th Century Hand-Carved Black Forest Firescreen with Birds Nest
Located in Lisse, NL
Beautifully crafted screen with the original beveled mirror.
For the collectors of top quality Black Forest home accessories we also have this stunning and one of a kind fire-place screen. The incredibly detailed frame consisting of very realistic branches and leafs is an absolute joy to own and look at. The deeper meaning of this work of Black Forest craftsmanship, we think, can be found in the birds nest in the centre of the top. There the little bird is creating a warm home too for the three offspring she is expecting (hence the three eggs...
Category
Mid-19th Century European Antique Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Mirror, Walnut
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 Rustic Mirror with Gilt Bar, Hand Carved, Austria, circa 1880
Located in Lichtenberg, AT
Extraordinary rustic Black Forest wall mirror from the period in Austria around 1880. Elaborately hand carved out of basswood, this fantastic rural mirror impresses with its artfully...
Category
Late 19th Century Austrian Antique Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Softwood
Antique Black Forest 19th Century Side / End Table Hunt Carved Oak & Marble Top
Located in Ijzendijke, NL
Exceptional & impressive! This 19th century Black Forest side / end table carved out of solid oak with "Rouge Belges" marble top.
Amazing craftsmanship fully hand carved by a maste...
Category
1870s French Antique Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Marble
Black Forest Crystal Latern Hand Blown Hunting Decor Sofina Boutique Kitzbühel
Located in Kitzbühel, Tirol
Hand blown crystal latern in amber glass from Bavaria. The votiv is hand blown and the decor is hands-free engraved by glass artists all around with a hunting scene with trees and de...
Category
2010s German Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Crystal
Large Black Forest Poacher with Chamois
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Large Black Forest Poacher with Chamois
A very large wooden handcarved poacher statue. The poacher is on his way back from the hunt with a hunted chamois on his back. The hand-made ...
Category
Early 20th Century Swiss Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Wood
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...
Category
2010s German Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Crystal
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.