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.
Exquisite 19th Century antique Swiss fully hand carved Black forest Jewelry box
Located in Ijzendijke, NL
A true masterpiece, this fully hand-carved 19th-century Black Forest jewelry box from Switzerland is a remarkable work of art. Nearly 150 years old, the wood has developed an extraor...
Velvet, Wood
Antique Black Forest Red Deer Trophy on Carved Plaque, Germany 1929
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Antique Black Forest Red Deer Trophy on Carved Plaque, Germany 1929 Item e8314 A roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) antler trophy mounted on a finely carved wooden plaque, dating to the ...
Antler, Wood
Antique Red Deer Trophy on Carved Plaque, Black Forest, Germany ca.1935
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Antique Red Deer Trophy on Carved Plaque, Black Forest, Germany ca.1935 Item e8316 A great antique red deer (Cervus elaphus) trophy antlers mounted on a carved wooden plaque. The dec...
Antler, Wood
Black Forest Carved Wooden Standing Bear with an Engraved Glass Vase or Flute
Located in Lisse, NL
Early 20th century Swiss work of art. This small and hand-carved bear sculpture is a great example of the Black Forest craftsmanship in early 20th century, Switzerland. Anyone who i...
Glass, Wood
Swiss Black Forest Tobacco Jar in the Form of a Blacksmith’s Anvil
By Black Forest
Located in Newark, England
FREE WORLDWIDE SHIPPING Swiss Black Forest tobacco jar carved in the form of a blacksmith’s anvil, dating to circa 1900. This inventive carved object combines functional tobacco sto...
Wood
Large Black Forest Lamp Mountain Goats, circa 1880
Located in Austin, TX
Large black forest lamp with two mountain goats on a rack, circa 1880. Electrified and wired for US, include shade.
Metal
Antique 19th Century Black Forest Bear Adjustable Book Shelf / Book Rack Swiss
Located in Ijzendijke, NL
Exquisite & rare! This 19th century black forest books rack/ book shelf with ''Bears holding baby bears'' bookends hand carved Swiss. Gorgeous 19th century antique Black Forest bookstand...
Fruitwood
Large Black Forest Antique Deer Trophy, Germany 1940s
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Large Black Forest Antique Deer Trophy, Germany 1940s A large uneven 5 pointer deer (Cervus elaphus) trophy mounted on a carved wooden plaque. The trophy was shot in the 1940s. Good...
Antler, Wood
Antique 19th Century Swiss Black Forest Jewelry Box Fruitwood Birds Band Carved
Located in Ijzendijke, NL
Gorgeous & breathtaking! This 19th century black forest jewelry box carved out of fruitwood. Carved by a master carver with at...
Fabric, Fruitwood
$9,416Sale Price|20% Off
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...
Antler, Wood
Black Forest “Cave de Liqueur” This is a wonderful piece of Craftsmanship
Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight
Black Forest “Cave de Liqueur” This is a wonderful piece of Craftsmanship it is a Carved Tantalus or Cave de Liqueur with 4 Decanters and 16 Shot Glasses The cabinet has bevelled ...
Crystal
Set of Three Porcelain Bowls Winter Decor Sofina Boutique Kitzbuehel
Located in Kitzbühel, Tirol
These completely handmade porcelain bowls are painted by hand with a charming hands-free winter decor. Teh decor comes as a set of three decors. One shows...
Porcelain
19th Century Black Forest Rustic Wall Mirror Light Brown, Austria, circa 1890
Located in Lichtenberg, AT
Unusual rustic Black Forest wall mirror out of Austria. From circa 1890 comes this lovely hand carved Black Forest wall mirror with a simple but elegant design, created out of basswo...
Mirror, Softwood
$1,237Sale Price|25% Off
BLACK FOREST 1900 Germany-Swiss Carved Wood Nutcracker Old Gnome Figure
By Black Forest
Located in Miami, FL
A folk-art nutcracker carved in oak wood. This is an elusive antique black forest nutcracker created in northern Europe, most probably in Germ...
Wood
Large Chamois Trophy on Carved Plaque, Austria 1955
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Large Chamois Trophy on Carved Plaque, Austria 1955 An vintage chamois (Rupicapra rupicapra) trophy mounted on a wooden carved plaque which features acorns, oak leaves and a handwri...
Antler, Wood
Rare Antique 4 Tier Black Forest Jewelry Box Fruitwood 19th Century Hand Carved
Located in Ijzendijke, NL
A beautiful, very finely carved antique black forest jewelry box from the late 19th/ early 20th century made in Switzerland. A large and impressive four-tiered piece with 6 swing o...
Fruitwood
Antique Deer Horn Carving Set, Sheffield ca. 1900s
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Antique Deer Horn Carving Set, Sheffield ca. 1900s A rustic carving set consisting of fork and knife. The handles are made of genuine deer horn and feature a silver knob on their en...
Metal
Black Forest Vintage Roe Deer Trophy on Carved Plaque, Germany 1930s
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Black Forest Vintage Roe Deer Trophy on Carved Plaque, Germany 1930s An antique roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) trophy on a brown carved plaque with oak leaves. The trophy was shot a...
Antler, Wood
Lovely Black Forest Carved Whip Holder with Bear ca. 1900s
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Lovely Black Forest Carved Whip Holder with Bear ca. 1900s A very rare hand-carved coat hook or whip holder depicting a bear klimbing on a three. Hand carved in Brienz, Switzerland,...
Wood
Late 19th Century Black Forest Farm House Chair Wood Painted Germany
Located in Kitzbühel, Tirol
Farmhouse chair in the style of Black Forest. Painted in green-blue with a white swan in the medaillon. Original painting, No restaurations. A second matching chair is available.
Wood
Pair of Deer Antlers Trophy On a Wood Board
Located in Boca Raton, FL
Great pair of deer antlers trophy professionally mounted on wood board.
Antler
Black Forest 1900s Hand Carved Wooden Buck Head Mounted on Shield Plate
Located in Atlanta, GA
A Swiss Black Forest hand carved wooden buck head wall sculpture from the turn of the century, with shield plate. Born in the early years of the 20th century...
Wood
Abnorm Siberian Deer Trophy Mount on Wooden Plaque ca. 1900s
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Abnorm Siberian Deer Trophy Mount on Wooden Plaque ca. 1900s Item e6941 A large abnorm Siberian deer (Capreolus pygargus) trophy on a wooden turned plaque with black finish. The trop...
Antler, Wood
Rare Black Forest Alpine Ibex Wood Box, circa 1890
Located in Austin, TX
Rare and unusual Black Forest box in the shape of wood log with a large wood carved Alpine ibex or bouquetin, circa 1890. The carved bouquetin is 5" height and the box is 8".
Wood
Hand Carved Wood Bear Head Nutcracker Brienz Switzerland
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Hand Carved Wood Bear Head Nutcracker Brienz, Switzerland A wooden carved nutcracker with a bear head. It is a fine antique Black Forest woodcarving ...
Wood
$2,768Sale Price|20% Off
Antique Wooden Carved Cupboard with Several Carvings
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Antique Wooden Carved Cupboard with Several Carvings A detailed handcarved wooden buffet or cupboard with several elaborately carved wooden decorations depicting lion, putties, ange...
Wood
Antique Black Forest Bench Hallway Swiss Bear Carved 20th Century Sofa Loveseat
Located in Ijzendijke, NL
Make sure you always come home with a warm welcome with this marvelous Black Forest sofa in your hallway. Carved out of solid wood by a master carver th...
Oak
Black Forest Hand Carved Cut Board Sofina Boutique Kitzbuehel
Located in Kitzbühel, Tirol
Completely hand carved cut board in Black Forest style with two goat heads on top. The cutboards are cut by hand in solid oakwood with our SOFINA brand logo ...
Oak
Large Black Forest Antique Deer Trophy on Wooden Plaque, Germany 1900s
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Large Black Forest Antique Deer Trophy on Wooden Plaque, Germany 1900s A large 6 pointer antique red deer (Cervus elaphus) trophy on a wooden plaque with black finish. The trophy wa...
Antler, Wood
Early 1900s French Black Forest Style Champagne Bucket, Signed Boutillon
Located in Dallas, TX
More information coming soon… Hand-carved in the early 1900s, this Black Forest-style champagne bucket is adorned with meandering grapevines on textured ground set between three ban...
Metal, Copper, Steel
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...
Antler, Glass
$1,520Sale Price / set|41% Off
19th Century Black Forest Carved Walnut Dog and Cat Head Inkwells with Pen Rest
Located in Haarlem, NL
Very cute set of two 19th century Black Forest, Schwarzwald, Forêt Noir carved walnut dog and cat heads with glass eyes and ink well with log pen rest. Intricate carved detail to hair, teeth, eyes and paws. The cat has green glass eyes, has painted stripes and the log is painted darker. The inkwell insert...
Glass, Bone, Walnut
Antique Black Forest 19th Century Jewelry Box Carved Fruitwood Red Velvet Chest
Located in Ijzendijke, NL
Gorgeous & Breathtaking! This small 19th century Black Forest Jewellery Box carved out of fruit wood. Carved by a master carver with attention to detail decorated on the top, front ...
Velvet, Wood
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...
Antler, Wood
Pair of Antique Hand-Carved Black Forest Bear Chairs
Located in Coeur d'Alene, ID
Antique Swiss Black Forest carved bear chairs. Intricately hand-carved with chair backs featuring bear climbing branches of oak leaves with acorns. Carved seats and bear heads on fro...
Wood
Pair of Black Forest 1880s Carved Wooden Chamois Coat or Hat Racks with Foliage
Located in Atlanta, GA
A pair of Black Forest carved wooden chamois heads hat or coat racks from the late 19th century, with foliage accents. Created during the last quarter of the 19th century, each of this pair of racks features a chamois head with glass eyes, emerging from an oval backplate connected to three hoof leg hangers. Boasting a dark brown patina, this pair of Black Forest carved chamois...
Wood
Large Antique Black Forest Brienz Hand Carved Wood Bear Humidor Sculpture
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
This large antique humidor is unsigned, but presumed to have originated from Austria and date to approximately 1900 and done in the period Black Forest style. This well executed scul...
Softwood
Victorian Miniature Black forest Antler Casket 1860
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Victorian Miniature Black forest Antler Casket 1860 A marvelous antique rustic casket. It is made of wood, veneered with antler pieces. On top an antler plaque...
Antler, Wood
Black Forest Wrought Iron Hanging Light Fixture
Located in North Miami, FL
This outstandingly fluid wrought iron light fixture in the Black Forest style has three sockets/bulbs for illumination. Whimsical and important by craftsmanship. An early piece, fu...
Wrought Iron
Antique Swiss Black Forest Carved Dog Head Bronze Hook Hanger Coat Rack, c. 1900
Located in Pearland, TX
A fine antique black forest Swiss hand carved dog head sculpture plaque coat rack with a gilt bronze hook, circa 1900. It's perfect for your rustic lodge decor in an entryway for han...
Bronze
Finely Carved Wood Chamois Brienz, Switzerland, circa 1900
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Finely carved wood chamois Brienz, Switzerland circa 1900. A delicately handcarved wood sculpture of a chamois standing on a rocky base. A very detailed and natural carving excecuted by one of the Swiss woodcarvers from the area of Brienz, ca. 1900. The tradition of wood carving, using manual skills to make everyday objects and fine art sculptures, is found throughout Europe. The incentive to create not only useful but also aesthetically beautiful things, distinguishes the craftsman from the artist. In addition to the well-known Swiss wood carving...
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...
Glass, Wood
Black Forest Hand-Painted Pottery Dish Sofina Boutique Kitzbühel Austria
Located in Kitzbühel, Tirol
Hands-free painted pottery rectangular dish from Austria in Black Forest style. Decorated with a hand-painted tree decor in green all around. Showing trees ...
Pottery
Vintage Anri The Wine Taster (Bacchus), ca. 1950
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Vintage Anri The Wine Taster (Bacchus), ca. 1950 This is a finely detailed figurine by Anri, believed to be titled The Wine Taster from the Little Folks of Salvan series. The charac...
Wood
Antique German Wine Table or Stand with Hand-Carved Saying and Sculptural Legs
Located in Lisse, NL
Rare, meaningful, practical, handcrafted and highly decorative antique table. This one of a kind table will appeal to spiritual people and collectors of stylish, rare and meaningful...
Leather, 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...
Other
Antique Salt and Pepper Bowl with Wooden Carved Bear
Located in Berghuelen, DE
AAntique Salt and Pepper Bowl with Wooden Carved Bear Item e7277 A small salt and pepper bowl made of pressed glass with tiny carved Black Forest ...
Blown Glass, Wood
Large Chamois Trophy on Carved Plaque, Austria 1954
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Large Chamois Trophy on Carved Plaque, Austria 1954 An vintage chamois (Rupicapra rupicapra) trophy mounted on a wooden carved plaque which features acorns, oak leaves and a handwri...
Antler, Wood
Black Forest Style Carved Aneroid Barometer and Thermometer, c. 1890
Located in Atlanta, GA
Black Forest Style Carved Aneroid Barometer and Thermometer, c. 1890 A finely carved Continental wall barometer and thermometer in the Black Forest taste, formed as a vertical weath...
Oak
19th Century German Black Forest Style Ebonized Walnut Thermometer-Barometer
Located in Chicago, IL
This 19th-century hand-carved German ebonized walnut thermometer-barometer is an exquisite instrument designed to measure atmospheric pressure and forecast weather, while also provid...
Walnut
19th Century Black Forest Sideboard Signed By Josef Blank
Located in Charmes, FR
Impressive late 19th century "Black Forest" buffet with ibex, good condition, minimal lacks in the sculptures due to fragility, signed by Josef Blank, active in the Czech Republic at...
Wood
$2,712Sale Price|20% Off
Antique Bull Horn Hall Stand, Wood and Antler, Black Forest, Austria
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Antique Bull Horn Hall Stand ca .1870 A large bull horn hall stand made of wood, original Austrian cattle horns and a green velvet cover. Manufactured i...
Wood, Antler
Small carved wood, depicting an Ionic capital, Italy circa 1850.
Located in Milan, IT
Small shelf in carved hazel wood, depicting an Ionic capital. Italy circa 1850.
Wood
Handcarved Black Forest Style Salad Servers
Located in Malibu, CA
Hand carved vintage Black Forest German / Bavarian folk art wood serving spoon and fork salad serving set. Intricately carved with pierced interlock...
Hardwood
Antique Carved Wooden Tripod Wine Table or Plant Stand with Marquetry Inlaid Top
Located in Lisse, NL
Mid-19th century table with an inlaid top. This hand-carved and handcrafted table can be used for all kinds of purposes. The tripod base is beautifully carved in the shape of Black Forest tree branches and the inlaid marquetry top has star motives...
Wood
Antique Pair of Deer Antlers on Turned Black Wooden Mounts, ca. 1920
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Antique Pair of Deer Antlers on Turned Black Wooden Mounts, ca. 1920 This matching pair of deer antlers roses is mounted on elegantly turned black wooden mounts, showcasing classic ...
Antler, Wood
$2,633
Black Forest mirror
Located in 'S-HERTOGENBOSCH, NL
Black Forest mirror, Austria, 19th. Century. Hand-carved. Decorated with a crown on top and a lot of oak leaves.
Wood
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...
Glass, Wood
Swiss Black Forest Hand-Carved Bear Sliding Bookends
Located in Coeur d'Alene, ID
Swiss Black Forest hand-carved wooden bear bookends. Flat sliding bookends with carved details on bottom and bears on either end. Bears are hinged for easy storage. Well detailed, wo...
Wood
Antique Black Forest Armchair by Matthijs Horrix, Dutch Design, 1880s
Located in Amsterdam, NL
Magnificent and ultra rare Antique Black Forest armchair. Design by Matthijs Horrix for the famous Dutch cabinet makers Horrix Den Haag. Striking Dutch design from the 1880s. Solid h...
Fabric, Walnut