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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
Circa 1860-1880 Black Forest Carved Eagle Wall Shelf
Located in Chapel Hill, NC
A boldly carved eagle wall shelf, c.1860-80, Black Forest. Carved from linden wood. Beneath the shelf a spread eagle above a festoon of fruits & leav...
Category

Late 19th Century Swiss Antique Black Forest Furniture

Materials

Wood

19th Century Black Forest Carved Bear Motif Wood Box with Swing-Out Compartment
Located in Cincinnati, OH
This unusual antique Black Forest box features a pair of fully dimensional bears cavorting at the base of a tree stump. The mother and cub hav...
Category

Late 19th Century German Antique Black Forest Furniture

Materials

Glass, Wood

German Carved and Inlaid Server or Sideboard, circa 1850
Located in Evergreen, CO
Crafted with extreme care in Germany during the mid-19th century, this exceptional server or sideboard has a smaller footprint than most, making it an ideal piece for smaller rooms t...
Category

Mid-19th Century German Antique Black Forest Furniture

Materials

Ebony, Maple, Oak, Walnut

Black Forest Turn of the Century Carved Mirror with Grapevine Motifs, circa 1900
Located in Atlanta, GA
A Black Forest mirror from the Turn of the Century with hand-carved grapevine motifs and dark patina, circa 1900. Emanating a symphony of rustic charm and skilled artistry, this Turn...
Category

Early 20th Century European Black Forest Furniture

Materials

Mirror, Wood

Rustic German Oak & Horn Cabinet
Located in Queens, NY
Rustic German (19th Century) oak cabinet with horn trim & carved medallions with flip seat bench base and upper section with 2 large stained glass doors and...
Category

19th Century German Antique Black Forest Furniture

Materials

Oak, Horn, Stained Glass

Late 19th-Early 20th Century Carved and Inlaid Black Forest Table with Stags
Located in Richmond, VA
Great sized late 19th-early 20th century black forest carved and inlaid table with scenes of stags.
Category

Early 20th Century Swiss Black Forest Furniture

Materials

Wood

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

Black Forest Pair of Corner Shelves Original Hand Carved Switzerland Late 1800s
Located in Chicago, IL
Black forest pair of hanging corner shelves, hand carved in Switzerland between 1860 and 1890. The black forest hanging corner shelves are quite unusual with their original intricate carving. Black Forest Furniture...
Category

1880s Swiss Antique Black Forest Furniture

Materials

Wood

Rustic Black Forest Walnut Display Box with Etched Glass and A Carved Fox
Located in Queens, NY
Rustic Black Forest (4th Quarter 19th Century) walnut carved table top display cabinet box with etched glass inset panels and floral carving ...
Category

19th Century Austrian Antique Black Forest Furniture

Materials

Walnut, Glass

Antique 19th Century Swiss Black Forest Stag Coat Rack / Hat Rack Carved Hallway
Located in Ijzendijke, NL
Gorgeous small coat rack / kitchen rack from Switzerland 1890s hand carved Black Forest stag with brass hooks. This will look simply amazing in your kitchen hung full with towels or...
Category

Late 19th Century Swiss Antique Black Forest Furniture

Materials

Brass

Swiss Black Forest Carved Wooden Planter Box/Jardinière, circa 1880
Located in Evergreen, CO
Graceful and elegant, this beautiful wooden planter box features a pierced front carving of a floral basket flanked by scrolled grape vines. The bac...
Category

Late 19th Century Swiss Antique Black Forest Furniture

Materials

Wood

Swiss Black Forest Bear Hand Carved Table Mirror
Located in Newark, England
From our Black Forest collection, we are delighted to introduced this superbly carved Black Forest Bear Table Mirror. The Black Forest Mirror i...
Category

Late 19th Century Swiss Antique Black Forest Furniture

Materials

Wood

Vintage Bakhtiari Persian Rug with Garden Design with Black Forest Style
Located in Dallas, TX
72028 Vintage Bakhtiari Persian Rug with Garden Design with Black Forest Style. A beautiful, unique garden design is on display in this 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

Antique Hand Painted Advertising Poster for a Hemoglobin Fabrication in Munich
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Antique Handpainted Advertising Poster for a Hemoglobin Fabrication in Munich A large antique handpainted advertising poster for a hemoglobin fabrication in the 19th century in Muni...
Category

1890s German Antique Black Forest Furniture

Materials

Wood

Set of Six Porcelain Plates with Hunting Trophies for Claudia
Located in Kitzbühel, Tirol
Set of six porcelain plates. Hands painted with 6 different detailed painted trophies heads. Rimmed with a fine 24-carat gold line and with an additional green one. Handmade in Bava...
Category

2010s German Black Forest Furniture

Materials

Porcelain

Pair of Rustic Black Forest Walnut Bear Side Chairs
Located in Queens, NY
Pair of Rustic Black Forest (19th Cent) walnut side chairs with floral carving and bear figure on back with faux wood carved seat and legs (1 having...
Category

19th Century German Antique Black Forest Furniture

Materials

Walnut

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

Black Forest Vintage Deer Trophy on Carved Plaque 1947
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Black Forest Vintage Deer Trophy on Carved Plaque 1947 A large vintage deer (Capreolus capreolus) trophy on a wooden carved plaque. The plaque fea...
Category

Mid-20th Century German Black Forest Furniture

Materials

Wood, Antler

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

Walnut Black Forest Armchair by Matthijs Horrix for Horrix Den Haag, 1880s
Located in Amsterdam, NL
Magnificent and ultra rare Black Forest armchair. Design by Matthijs Horrix for the famous Dutch cabinet makers Horrix Den Haag. Striking Dutch design from the 1880s. Solid hand-carved walnut base and re-upholstered with a quality white fabric. This wonderful Black Forest armchair by Matthijs Horrix for Horrix Den Haag is in very good original condition with minor wear consistent with age and use, preserving a beautiful patina. The Horrix company was established in Den Haag or The Hague and gained fame during the so-called eclectic period during the 19th Century. Their work was inspired by older styles of furniture but with fashionable features that was then considered new. The company also made Rustic style furniture that was very popular in the Northern Countries and England. These unusual objects entered the interiors of upper class houses especially popular in Biedermeier styles in Germany and Black Forest styles in Switzerland. Horrix enjoyed highly acclaimed success and thanks to their good reputation, they were asked in 1883 to built the Royal throne of King William III...
Category

1880s Dutch Antique Black Forest Furniture

Materials

Fabric, Walnut

19th Century French Black Forest Carved Walnut and Glass Complete Liquor Box
Located in Dallas, TX
Create an elegant bar area with this complete antique "Cave à Liqueur"! Created in France, circa 1870 and shaped as a wood log cabinet, the rectangular Black Forest Tantalus is decor...
Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Black Forest Furniture

Materials

Glass, Walnut

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 Print with Humoristic Scene Featuring Wild Boars and a Painter
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Antique Print with Humoristic Scene featuring Wild Boars and a Painter A colorful antique oil print depicting a humoristic scene in the Black Fore...
Category

Late 19th Century German Antique Black Forest Furniture

Materials

Glass, Wood

Large Oak Wood Desk with Antler Decorations by Rudolf Brix 1900
Located in Berghuelen, DE
A large antique oak wood desk decorated with several antler pieces from the deer and the Virginia deer as well as wild boar tusks. The doors and sides carry animal heads (staghound and fox) made of pottery. A rare rustic furniture manufactured in Austria ca. 1900 by Rudolf Brix...
Category

19th Century Austrian Antique Black Forest Furniture

Materials

Antler, 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

Late 19th century Black Forest Dog Sculpture, 1890s
Located in LEGNY, FR
Very beautiful hand arved wooden statue representing a cocker spaniel with glass eyes. Black Forest, Austrian work dating from the end of the 19th century. Carved from a single piec...
Category

1890s Austrian Antique Black Forest Furniture

Materials

Glass, Wood

Black Forest glass eye Bear 1920s Germany .
Located in Den Haag, NL
Very nice Hand carved Black Forest Wooden Bear ,Glass Eyes ,
Category

1910s German Vintage Black Forest Furniture

Materials

Fruitwood

Large Hall Mirror with Cow Horn Decorations and Console Table, Austria, 1870
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Large hall mirror with cow horn decorations and console table, Austria 1870 A great wall mirror with console table from a noble villa in the Austri...
Category

Late 19th Century German Antique Black Forest Furniture

Materials

Antler, Glass, Wood, Fur

circa 1900 Miniature Model of a Black Forest Bear Bench
Located in Chicago, IL
circa 1900 Miniature Model of Black Forest Bear Bench. "Black Forest" is a term to describe elaborate, realistic wood carvings from an area in ...
Category

Early 20th Century German Black Forest Furniture

Materials

Walnut

Antique Carved Wooden Dry Bar with Stained Glass Top
Located in Dekalb, IL
Rustic bar counter with a stained-glass top panel and gothic-inspired corbels. This piece has compartments in the back for storage. The original finish was covered, prior to coming i...
Category

Early 20th Century Black Forest Furniture

Materials

Wood

Large Black Forest Woodcarving Ibex Sculpture, Austria, circa 1920
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Large Black Forest Woodcarving Ibex Sculpture, Austria, circa 1920 An antique early 20th century wooden carved sculpture of an ibex. Handcarved in lindenwood with naturalistic detai...
Category

Early 20th Century Austrian Black Forest Furniture

Materials

Wood

19th Century Rustic Black Forest Mirror, Hand Carved, Austria, circa 1880
Located in Lichtenberg, AT
Extraordinary rustic Black Forest wall mirror from the late 19th century in Austria. Elaborately handcarved out of fine basswood, this exceptional antique mirror shows an amazing rur...
Category

Late 19th Century Austrian Antique Black Forest Furniture

Materials

Mirror, Softwood

19th Century Black Forest Wall Mirror With Gilt Bars, Austria, ca. 1880
Located in Lichtenberg, AT
Amazing looking, rustic Black Forest mirror from the late 19th century in Austria. Elaborately handcrafted around 1880 this rural wall mirror shows an absolute unique design: a handc...
Category

Late 19th Century Austrian Antique Black Forest Furniture

Materials

Mirror, Softwood

Large Siberian Deer Trophy Mount on Wooden Plaque ca. 1900s
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Large Siberian Deer Trophy Mount on Wooden Plaque ca. 1900s Item e6940 A large antique Siberian deer (Capreolus pygargus) trophy on a wooden turned plaque with black finish. The trop...
Category

Early 20th Century German Black Forest Furniture

Materials

Antler, Wood

Nice Wooden Carved Boxer Tobacco Box, Switzerland Ca. 1900
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Wooden Carved Tobacco Box with Boxer, Switzerland ca. 1900 An early 20th century wooden carved humidor from Switzerland featuring a boxer dog beside a three trunk on witch the top can be flipped back to open the tobacco storage. In front of the trunk is a carved hat which features as matches holder. Handcarved with detailed naturalistic details in the area of Brienz ca. 1900. This Swiss Black Forest carved humidor...
Category

Early 20th Century Swiss Black Forest Furniture

Materials

Wood

German Black Forest Antler Tray with Decanter and Glasses
Located in San Mateo, CA
Unusual decanter set with a tray made of antlers. The set has a cut glass decanter with matching glasses. One glass is missing. Great display piece for a cabinet of curiosities, cabi...
Category

Early 20th Century German Black Forest Furniture

Materials

Antler, Glass

19th Century Black Forest Carved Walnut and Leather Wall Vitrine Cabinet
Located in Dallas, TX
This elegant and heavily carved antique vitrine was crafted in France, circa 1880. The hanging cabinet features hand carved leaf and branch motifs throughout the front. The cabinet d...
Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Black Forest Furniture

Materials

Walnut, Leather

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...
Category

Late 19th Century Unknown Antique Black Forest Furniture

Materials

Wood, Antler

19th Century Black Forest Carved Cordial Set
Located in High Point, NC
Lovely 19th century drink or condiment caddy hand carved in the Black Forest region of Europe. The central stem handle of the caddy is hand carved to look like a branch, and follows...
Category

19th Century Swiss Antique Black Forest Furniture

Materials

Fruitwood

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

Antique Set of Rustic Serving Cutlery with Carved Horn Handles, 19th Century
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Antique set of rustic serving cutlery with carved horn handles 19th century. A rare antique set of knife and fork as serving cutlery. The handles are made of deer horn with handcarv...
Category

Late 19th Century German Antique Black Forest Furniture

Materials

Metal

19th Century French Carved Oak Black Forest Plant Stand Jardinière Flower Box
Located in Ijzendijke, NL
Gorgeous fully hand carved Black Forest 19th century plant stand / jardiniere in hand carved Fruitwood. The stand body has outstanding carvings with the center a dimensional carved...
Category

1880s French Antique Black Forest Furniture

Materials

Fruitwood

Antique Black Forest Hand-Carved Deer or Elk Head Wall Plaque or Sculpture
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
This well executed antique wall sculpture is unsigned, but presumed to have been done in Switzerland in approximately 1890 in the period Black F...
Category

Late 19th Century Swiss Antique Black Forest Furniture

Materials

Softwood

Antique Pair of Black Forest Jardinière’s Hand Carved Switzerland circaLate1800s
Located in Chicago, IL
Black Forest Pair of Jardinière’s hand carved in Switzerland during the late 1800s. The Jardinière’s are complete with their original metal liners and are ready to be planted. Black Forest Furniture first began to appear in the mid-1800s in Brienz, Switzerland and originally only included small Black Forest animal objects made for the tourist trade. In the late 1800s, as tourism traffic increased, so did the number and Size of Black Forest Carvings and soon thereafter was followed by Black Forest Furniture. As luck would have it, Old Plank has recently discovered a treasure Trove of Black Forest Carved...
Category

1880s Swiss Antique Black Forest Furniture

Materials

Tin

Large Group of Carved Cattles with Glass Vase Inset, Brienz ca. 1890
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Large Group of Carved Cattles with Glass Vase Inset, Brienz ca. 1890 A rare group of naturalistically carved cattles - bull, female cattle and young cattle standing around a stump. ...
Category

Late 19th Century Swiss Antique Black Forest Furniture

Materials

Cut Glass, Wood

19th C Black Forest Hand-Carved Swiss Brienz Bear with Brass Holder
Located in Savannah, GA
This whimsical hand carved seated wooden brown bear holds a brass cup suitable for cigarettes, matches or even a small bouquet of flowers. Very detailed carving with tiny teeth and a...
Category

Late 19th Century Swiss Antique Black Forest Furniture

Materials

Wood

19th Century Carved Swiss 'Black Forest' Life-Sized Stag's Head Wall Mount
Located in London, GB
A Rare Life-Sized Black Forest Stag's Head Carved from Lindenwood, the deer head with realistic fur effect, patination, and glass inset eyes in conjunction with the real three-tined...
Category

19th Century Swiss Antique Black Forest Furniture

Materials

Wood

Antique Black forest Cigar box / Humidor 19th Century carved deer Walnut Swiss
Located in Ijzendijke, NL
Rare and impressive, this 19th-century hand-carved Swiss Black Forest cigar box is crafted from rich walnut, offering a stunning patina that has developed over nearly 150 years. The ...
Category

Late 19th Century Swiss Antique Black Forest Furniture

Materials

Wood

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

Antique tobacco box carved wood and bronze
Located in Vienna, AT
Antique rare tobacco box carved from wood with bronze mount naturalistic dog head
Category

1880s Antique Black Forest Furniture

Materials

Wood

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

Early 20th Century German Black Forest Furniture

Materials

Glass, Wood

Finely Carved Wood Thermometer Stand Hunter and Staghound, 1910
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Finely Carved Wood Thermometer Stand Hunter and Staghound, 1910 A Black Forest thermometer with impressive carved hunter and staghound standi...
Category

Early 20th Century Austrian 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

Antique Oil Print with Bear Hunt Scene After Heinrich Buerkel, 19th Century
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Antique Oil Print with Bear Hunt Scene after Heinrich Buerkel 19th cetntury A colorful oil print depicting an alpine bear hunt scenery in the Bava...
Category

Late 19th Century German Antique Black Forest Furniture

Materials

Glass, Wood

Antique Oil Print with Dramatic Tiger Hunting Scene in India, 19th Century
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Antique Oil Print with Dramatic Tiger Hunting Scene in India 19th century A colorful oil print depicting a dramatic tiger hunting scenery in India. ...
Category

Late 19th Century German Antique Black Forest Furniture

Materials

Wood

French 19th century Black Forest st. Walnut mirror
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A unique and most handsome French 19th century Black Forest st. Walnut mirror. This stunning oval Black Forest mirror with its original mirror plate is wonderfully decorated by berri...
Category

19th Century Antique Black Forest Furniture

Materials

Walnut

Hand Blown Wine Goblet Green Crystal Hunting Decor Sofina Boutique Kitzbuehel
Located in Kitzbühel, Tirol
Hand blown wine goblet in green crystal with an antique hunting decor all around. The charming hand-engraved decor shows deers and trees in the style of Black Forest. The pedestal co...
Category

2010s German Black Forest Furniture

Materials

Crystal

19th C Black Forest Dressing Table w/ Drawer and Mirror
Located in Houston, TX
Elevate your decor with a touch of 19th-century beauty! This Carved French Oak Black Forest Tilting Tabletop Dresser is functional as well as elegant....
Category

19th Century French Antique Black Forest Furniture

Materials

Mirror, 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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