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.
Rustic Black Forest Walnut Center Table
Located in Queens, NY
Rustic Black Forest style (German 19th Century) light walnut rectangular center table with carved leaf & vine design on apron with open cluster legs and tooled brown leather top.
Walnut, Leather
Antique Swiss Black Forest Carved Walnut Table
Located in Forney, TX
A scarce late 19th century Swiss Black Forest hand carved walnut table with nicely aged warm patina. Hand-crafted in Switzerland, circa 1880, the square tabletop features a relief ...
Walnut
$3,062Sale Price|20% Off
Black Forest Center Table by Matthijs Horrix for Horrix Den Haag, 1890s
Located in Amsterdam, NL
Magnificent and ultra rare Black Forest center table. Design by Matthijs Horrix for the famous Dutch cabinet makers Horrix Den Haag. Striking Dutch design from the 1880s. Solid hand-carved walnut base with original hand-carved and inlaid top. This wonderful Black Forest center table 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...
Walnut
19th Century Italian Carved Walnut Table
Located in Houston, TX
19th century Italian carved walnut table. Stunning 19th century Italian carved walnut table or center table. This versatile rustic hand car...
Walnut
$3,900 / item
H 11.42 in Dm 45.28 in
Porto Center Table, by RAIN, Contemporary Center Table, Laminated Oakwood
By RAIN
Located in Sao Paulo, SP
Porto low tables are composed of a circular top that seems to rest on a sturdy oblong base. Lightness and weight overlap creating a harmonic and unconventional monoblock. The unagreement between the geometry of the elements generates irregular pieces capable of evoking movement, as they elude the gaze, changing according to the viewing angle. The tables give continuity to the Porto collection, whose inspiration comes from the weight and scale...
Wood
$14,000
H 29.5 in W 46.25 in D 30.5 in
American Rococo Rosewood & Marble Turtle Top Center Table, Circa 1850
Located in Charleston, SC
American rococo rosewood turtle top center table with carved floral skirt, original marble top, floral carved stretchers and terminating on acanthus carved ...
Marble, Brass
Antique Rustic Black Forest Carved Wood Console Table
Located in Forney, TX
An extraordinarily carved Black Forest console table. 19th century, Continental Europe, most likely German, Swiss or possibly French, exhibition quality exceptionally executed mast...
Wood, Oak
Antique Italian Carved Walnut Wood Table Console Desk
Located in Carimate, Como
A magnificent and impressive Italian antique walnut table with three full width shelves that can be opened from both sides with greatly carved and beveled top and beautiful carved tu...
Wood
French Art Nouveau Two Tiered Painted Top Center Table, Circa 1900
Located in CH
French Art Nouveau Two-Tiered Painted Top Center Table Circa 1900 A finely crafted French Art Nouveau center table featuring two tiers with a delicately painted tabletop. Dating to ...
Wood
$6,500 / set
H 11.42 in Dm 45.28 in
Porto Set Center Table, by Rain, Contemporary Center Table, Laminated Oakwood
By RAIN
Located in Sao Paulo, SP
Set composed of a Porto center table and a porto side table Dimensions: Center table D 115/ H 29 cm - Side table D 70/ H 40 cm Porto low tables a...
Wood
$4,051Sale Price|23% Off
H 29.14 in W 38.59 in D 38.19 in
Antique 18th Century Square Walnut Swiss Renaissance Banker or Merchant Table
Located in Casteren, NL
A beautiful bankers or merchants table that was made in Switzerland around 1750. The table has a square 1.57 inch thick top made in solid walnut. The planks were joined by steel S-sh...
Walnut
$1,695
H 29 in W 39 in D 29 in
Mid Century French Bronzed Iron & Pink Rose Marble-Top Center Console Table
By André Arbus
Located in Port Jervis, NY
Fabulous textured iron table in a oval form created by French artisans. Sculptured, tapered legs and stretchers were constructed from heavy iron s...
Marble, Iron
$16,950Sale Price|50% Off
H 30.75 in W 60 in D 35.25 in
French 19th-20th Century Louis XVI Style Giltwood Carved Center Table Marble
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A fine French 19th-20th century Louis XVI style giltwood carved rectangular center table with marble top. The intricately giltwood carved frame with a pierced floral, acanthus and sc...
Marble
19th century carved walnut occasional table
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
19th century carved walnut occasional table circa 1890. Fine quality rococo revival Swedish made table. Dimensions of this table lends itself to multiple uses, such as a centre, so...
Walnut
Neoclassical Italian Carved Walnut Wood Table Console
Located in Carimate, Como
A beautiful Italian neoclassical walnut console table with serpentine shaped and beveled top, carved turned legs united by the classic shaped stretcher.
Wood
Sold
H 29.75 in W 44.25 in D 51.25 in
Antique Carved French Oak Oval Hunt Table with Boar, Dog, Fox, and Stag, c 1890
Located in Dallas, TX
A beautiful example of Black Forest style carvings, this hunt table is highlighted by a base adorned with four scrolled leaf legs, each topped by a different animal: boar, dog, stag, and fox (as seen in the main photo, clockwise starting at the lower left). The table was hand-carved from oak in France, circa 1890, with an oval top with rich color and graining. A protruding molding adorned with niches infilled with foliage surmounts a shallow apron with thin molding. Interestingly, there are sections of the infilled niches that are covered by additional leaf tips. Each of the four fantastically carved animal legs are separated by a floret with a vertical orientation. The grouping is topped by a large, bulbous leaf cup, while a noix hangs down below, embellished with fluted crenellation. An onion foot was added beneath each animal, raising the table to a height of 29 ¾ inches. The perfect addition to a game room, study, or living room, our oak oval hunt table...
Wood, Oak
French Black Forest Style Carved Oak Center / Dining Table, Dog, Deer, Boar
Located in Kennesaw, GA
This is fabulous! This is a 19th century French carved oak Black Forest style heavily carved table. It could work as either a center table or as a...
Oak
Sold
H 24.75 in W 45.5 in D 41.25 in
Antique French OVAL Coffee Table Pedestal BLACK FOREST Hunt Table Griffons 19thC
Located in Tyler, TX
OUTSTANDING Antique French Oak BLACK FOREST "Hunt" Coffee Table~~OVAL~~c. 1880s This table has "the look"~~~one of our most often requested items~~these tables were most likely comm...
Oak
Sold
H 31 in Dm 36.63 in
Antique Black Forest Game Table, Center Hall Table Dining Table circa late 1800s
Located in BENSENVILLE, IL
Another selection from our vast collection of Black Forest furniture, is a beautiful small dining table or game table. Black Forest furniture is both, a bit rustic blended with a dose of whimsy. Our Black Forest table has as an option, (6) matching chairs that we will be listed separately, so please check for current availability. Black Forest items date from the late 1800s, although most people believe Black Forest originated in Germany or Austria, it was the Swiss who are the ones that invented the style from the City of Brienz. Originally, they carved small animal sculptures driven by the Tourist trade but ultimately started building furniture which has been highly collectible for decades. Somehow, we discovered a Collection of (42) pieces of original Black Forest furniture from a French Chateau, and every Black Forest item was placed in one huge room. The huge collection includes; chandeliers...
Wood
Antique French Black Forest Carved Walnut Oval Hunt Dining Library Table
Located in Dayton, OH
Antique Black Forest walnut dining or center or library table. Features high relief carved edge, floral cut apron and robust carved base.
Walnut
Rare 19th Century Continental Carved Mahogany Centre Table
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
Rare and fantastic profusely carved mahogany table, circa 1870. Simple mahogany top with canted corners but this table is all about the base. Carved devils...
Mahogany