Black Forest Paintings

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.

Style: Black Forest

Felix Possart Large Oil on Canvas "A Spring Alpine Journey"

$12,450Sale Price|32% Off

Felix Possart Large Oil on Canvas "A Spring Alpine Journey"

By Felix Possart

Located in Los Angeles, CA

Felix Possart (German, 1837-1928) a large oil on canvas "A Spring Alpine Journey". The elongated painting depicting a mountain scene, possibly set in the Austrian or Swiss Alps, of a young man hiking in the Alps during springtime wearing Lederhosen and carrying a bucket and a water drum...

Category

Late 19th Century German Antique Black Forest Paintings

Materials

Giltwood, Canvas

Black Forest Carved Frame with Painting of the Holy Mother by Xavier Sager

$822

Black Forest Carved Frame with Painting of the Holy Mother by Xavier Sager

Located in Bad Säckingen, DE

A beautiful late 19th to early 20th century devotional painting on wood depicting the Holy Mother by the French artist Xavier Sager. The serene portrait, rendered in warm tones and s...

Category

1910s French Vintage Black Forest Paintings

Materials

Wood, Paint

"Bavarian Sonnenaufgang" by Erwin Kettemann

$3,800

"Bavarian Sonnenaufgang" by Erwin Kettemann

Located in Wiscasset, ME

Oil on canvas, signed lower right. Erwin Kettemann (1897–1971) was a landscape painter from Munich. He was a representative of late Impressionism as well as the 19th century “Karlsr...

Category

1930s German Vintage Black Forest Paintings

Vintage Eduard Enzmann Alpine Church Landscape Oil Painting on Board 20"

$235

Vintage Eduard Enzmann Alpine Church Landscape Oil Painting on Board 20"

Located in Dayton, OH

Early to mid 20th century oil on board landscape painting depicting a church steeple in a little Alpine mountain village. Signed Enzmann in lower right. Beveled wood frame. "Eduard ...

Category

Early 20th Century Black Forest Paintings

Materials

Paint

Vintage Eduard Enzmann Alpine Lake Landscape Oil Painting on Board 19"

$235

Vintage Eduard Enzmann Alpine Lake Landscape Oil Painting on Board 19"

Located in Dayton, OH

Early to mid 20th century oil on board landscape painting depicting an Apline mountain lake viewed from a pine covered hilltop. Signed Enzmann in lower right - attributed to Eduard E...

Category

Mid-20th Century Black Forest Paintings

Materials

Paint

Antique Hand Painted Advertising Poster for a Hemoglobin Fabrication in Munich

$1,325

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 Paintings

Materials

Wood

Antique Framed Oil Painting on Canvas signed A. Heins

$3,980

Antique Framed Oil Painting on Canvas signed A. Heins

Located in Dallas, TX

Antique Framed Oil Painting on Canvas signed A. Heins is a wonderful depiction of a charming cottage in the woods, rendered with a deft brush on a soft, earth toned palette. The col...

Category

Early 20th Century Belgian Black Forest Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Paint

Unknown, Oil on Canvas Painting Angel with Sleeping Child

$2,680

Unknown, Oil on Canvas Painting Angel with Sleeping Child

Located in Berghuelen, DE

Unknown, Oil on Canvas Painting Angel with Sleeping Child A great angelic oil painting depicting an angel sheltering a sleeping child from a snake. Oil...

Category

Early 20th Century German Black Forest Paintings

Materials

Canvas

Mid-19th Century Hand Painted Asian Wallpaper Panels

$7,800 / set

H 66.75 in W 103.5 in D 1.25 in

Mid-19th Century Hand Painted Asian Wallpaper Panels

Located in San Francisco, CA

A set of three mounted hand painted wallpaper panels in simple wood frames. Beautifully and elaborate painted scenes with birds, flowers,...

Category

Mid-19th Century Chinese Antique Black Forest Paintings

Materials

Paper

Oil on Board "Eclipse by Candlelite" by William George Nes

$1,800Sale Price|48% Off

H 26 in W 32 in D 2 in

Oil on Board "Eclipse by Candlelite" by William George Nes

By William George Nes

Located in Ferndale, MI

Oil painting on board "Eclipse by Candlelite" by William George Nes.

Category

1950s American Vintage Black Forest Paintings

Materials

Paint

An 18th Century Italian Hand-Painted Plaque, Decorative Wall Ornament

$3,920

H 18.25 in W 42 in D 1.5 in

An 18th Century Italian Hand-Painted Plaque, Decorative Wall Ornament

Located in Atlanta, GA

An Italian hand-painted wall plaque from the 18th century. This wall decoration from Italy has a half-octagon shape with longer flat section being at bottom-side of plaque. It has been hand-painted in a motif of horns, arrows, angels, and volutes. Primary coloring is gold and green with a black frame. There is a lovely old patina; a nice reflection of its age. This 18th century Italian wall plaque...

Category

18th Century Italian Antique Black Forest Paintings

Materials

Wood

Italian Orientalist Oil on Canvas Painting

$1,200

H 23 in W 20 in D 2 in

Italian Orientalist Oil on Canvas Painting

Located in Cypress, CA

Italian orientalist oil on canvas painting. 20th century. The fine oil painting depicting an orientalist woman dressed in traditional garments w...

Category

20th Century Italian Black Forest Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Wood

19th Century Hand Painted Drawing on Indian Cloth

$2,979

H 9.85 in W 11.82 in D 0.04 in

19th Century Hand Painted Drawing on Indian Cloth

Located in Marbella, ES

19th century hand painted drawing on Indian cloth.

Category

Mid-19th Century Indian Antique Black Forest Paintings

Materials

Paper

1980's Hand Painted Oil on Canvas "Bicycles"

$2,390

H 29.53 in W 25.6 in D 1.19 in

1980's Hand Painted Oil on Canvas "Bicycles"

Located in Marbella, ES

1980's Hand painted oil on canvas "Bicycles".

Category

Late 20th Century European Black Forest Paintings

Materials

Canvas

Chinoiserie Painting in the Style of Tony Duquette with Gilt Wood Frame

$3,200

H 55.75 in W 43.75 in D 1 in

Chinoiserie Painting in the Style of Tony Duquette with Gilt Wood Frame

By Tony Duquette

Located in Los Angeles, CA

A striking Chinoiserie painting depicting Asian women playing music and dancing among pagodas, rendered in vibrant tones of green, burnt orange, brown, and gold. The composition is s...

Category

20th Century Black Forest Paintings

Materials

Gold

French Neoclassical Architectural Landscape, Oil on Canvas

$29,200

H 33.5 in W 28 in D 4 in

French Neoclassical Architectural Landscape, Oil on Canvas

Located in Montreal, Quebec

French neoclassical Architectural landscape, oil on canvas In the manner of the Grand Tour, exceptionnal, glowing painting. Beautiful size, scale and quality of the subject an...

Category

19th Century French Antique Black Forest Paintings

Materials

Wood, Giltwood, Canvas

Vintage Oil on Board Framed Landscape Painting

$1,295

H 13 in W 13 in D 2 in

Vintage Oil on Board Framed Landscape Painting

Located in Seattle, WA

Antique Style Painting Featuring Two People walking Through a Forest Landscape. Splitting and Wear Consistent with Age. French Style Gold Colore...

Category

1970s Vintage Black Forest Paintings

Materials

Wood

Oil Painting on Board, Mountain Landscape Dated 1972

$1,787

H 15.75 in W 14.18 in D 1.58 in

Oil Painting on Board, Mountain Landscape Dated 1972

Located in Casale Monferrato, IT

We are pleased to present this 20th-century oil painting on plywood panel. This splendid mountain landscape is signed on the lower left, but the signature is illegible and the artist...

Category

20th Century Black Forest Paintings

Materials

Plywood

Vintage Landscape Painting, Austrian, Framed Oil On Canvas, Art, Alpine Scene

$1,510

H 22.05 in W 25.99 in D 2.17 in

Vintage Landscape Painting, Austrian, Framed Oil On Canvas, Art, Alpine Scene

Located in Hele, Devon, GB

This is a vintage landscape painting. An Austrian, gilt framed oil on canvas, dating to the late 20th century, circa 1970. Delightfully presented oil painting, with a serene Alpine...

Category

Late 20th Century Austrian Black Forest Paintings

Materials

Paint

Vintage Landscape with Water Oil Painting on Board Framed

$2,800

H 14 in W 16 in D 1.75 in

Vintage Landscape with Water Oil Painting on Board Framed

Located in Haddonfield, NJ

As found in Europe, this very serene landscape of a stream feeding into a lake has been painted in oil. Cotton-like clouds and tall trees surround the wa...

Category

Mid-20th Century European Black Forest Paintings

Materials

Wood, Giltwood, Paint

Previously Available Items

Original European Landscape By Listed Artist Lothar Baumann

Sold

H 3 in W 43.75 in D 31.5 in

Original European Landscape By Listed Artist Lothar Baumann

Located in San Diego, CA

Framed original oil on canvas by listed artist Lothar Baumann, European landscape, Lothar Baumann was born in Bavaria and studied the arts in Munich, Germany. His later works expressed his love for the Bavarian landscapes...

Category

20th Century German Black Forest Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Wood

19th Century Trompe l'Oeil Rabbit and Pheasant Oil Paintings, Framed, a Pair

Sold

H 36 in W 29.5 in D 3 in

19th Century Trompe l'Oeil Rabbit and Pheasant Oil Paintings, Framed, a Pair

Located in Atlanta, GA

These are absolutely incredible museum quality pieces. Large oil on board paintings - signed depicting "the spoils"of the hunt. Presented in spectacular black forest carved frames...

Category

1880s German Antique Black Forest Paintings

Materials

Hardwood, Paint

Late 19th Century Oil Painting Alpine Village Black Forest Carved Frame

Sold

H 1.19 in Dm 12.6 in

Late 19th Century Oil Painting Alpine Village Black Forest Carved Frame

Located in Casteren, Noord-Brabant

A antique painting of an alpine landscape in a wooden Black Forest frame. The painting shows a Swiss village in a valley. It is beautifully painted with soft color use. The frame is ...

Category

1880s German Antique Black Forest Paintings

Materials

Walnut, Paint

"The Alpine River Torrent" by Josef Thoma

Sold

H 35.75 in W 50.25 in D 3 in

"The Alpine River Torrent" by Josef Thoma

Located in Wiscasset, ME

Oil on canvas, signed lower right featuring a swift moving river down the side of a mountainous landscape. Josef Thoma, son of Josef Thoma father (Vien...

Category

19th Century Austrian Antique Black Forest Paintings

Materials

Paint

19th Century Oil Painting of Alps Seealpsee, Switzerland

Sold

H 16.5 in W 20.25 in D 3.25 in

19th Century Oil Painting of Alps Seealpsee, Switzerland

Located in Savannah, GA

This tranquil fine landscape oil painting depicts a quaint lake nestled in the Swiss Alps (Seealpsee). Artist signed but it is not legible. Features inc...

Category

1890s Swiss Antique Black Forest Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Giltwood

19th Century Framed Oil Painting on Canvas by Schneller

Sold

H 31.5 in W 25.5 in D 2.5 in

19th Century Framed Oil Painting on Canvas by Schneller

Located in Dallas, TX

19th Century framed oil painting on canvas by Schneller is believed to be Austrian in origin, and features a humble rural hunter in a rustic dwelling holding a horn. Note the artist'...

Category

1880s German Antique Black Forest Paintings

Materials

Canvas

Franz Xavier Wolfle Oil on Panel 'German 1887-1972'

Sold

H 12.13 in W 10.25 in D 1 in

Franz Xavier Wolfle Oil on Panel 'German 1887-1972'

Located in Ottawa, Ontario

Franz Xavier Wolfle (German, 1887-1972) A Tyrolean gentleman with a feather in his hat signed 'FX.Wölfle.' (upper right) oil on panel Meas...

Category

Early 20th Century German Black Forest Paintings

Materials

Paint

A. Pfisterer, the Fairytale Castle Neuschwanstein, 1896

Sold

H 30.52 in W 36.03 in D 2.76 in

A. Pfisterer, the Fairytale Castle Neuschwanstein, 1896

Located in Berghuelen, DE

A great oil painting depicting castle neuschwanstein. Oil on canvas by A. Pfisterer 1896. Framed with antique richly decorated and gilded frame. Signed on the lower right. Frame with...

Category

Late 19th Century German Antique Black Forest Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Wood

Unknown, Mountain Landscape with Cabin

Sold

H 21.46 in W 25.2 in D 1.58 in

Unknown, Mountain Landscape with Cabin

Located in Berghuelen, DE

A sunrise mountain landscape depicting rocky mountains in the back with cabin in the front. Oil painting on board. Framed with antique decorative lacquered frame. Unsigned, Black For...

Category

Late 19th Century German Antique Black Forest Paintings

18th Century Oil on Canvas Woodland Scene Painting

Sold

H 41 in W 50 in D 1 in

18th Century Oil on Canvas Woodland Scene Painting

Located in Palm Beach, FL

Charming, allegorical 18th century oil on canvas painting, depicting a woman of status and means who probably lives in the castle on the hill. This enchanted woodland scene...

Category

18th Century Italian Antique Black Forest Paintings

Materials

Paint

Folksy Hand-Painted Shooting Target with Village Live Scene

Sold

H 1.19 in Dm 10.04 in

Folksy Hand-Painted Shooting Target with Village Live Scene

Located in Berghuelen, DE

A rare hand-painted antique shooting target depicting a folksy village live scene. Oil on wood, hand-painted in naive painting style, Bavaria, ...

Category

Early 20th Century German Black Forest Paintings

Materials

Wood

Folksy Hand-Painted Shooting Target with Village Live Scene

Sold

H 1.19 in Dm 10.04 in

Folksy Hand-Painted Shooting Target with Village Live Scene

Located in Berghuelen, DE

A rare hand-painted antique shooting target depicting a Folksy village live scene. Oil on wood, hand-painted in naive painting style. Bavaria, ...

Category

Early 20th Century German Black Forest Paintings

Materials

Wood

Black Forest paintings for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique Black Forest paintings for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the Early 20th Century, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage paintings created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include wall decorations, folk art and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with canvas, fabric and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Black Forest paintings made in a specific country, there are Europe, and Germany pieces for sale on 1stDibs. 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 paintings differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $1,325 and tops out at $2,680 while the average work can sell for $2,003.