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.
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...
Wood, Paint
"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...
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 ...
Paint
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...
Paint
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...
Canvas
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...
Canvas, Paint
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...
Wood
$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...
Giltwood, Canvas
1850 Mexican Colonial Style Oil on Copper Religious Painting
Located in Marbella, ES
Antique 1850 Mexican colonial style oil on copper religious painting.
Copper
$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.
Paint
$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
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...
Gold
$1,162 / set
H 14.25 in W 16.25 in D 14.25 in
Antique Still Life Fruits Oil on Canvas English Oil Painting Giltwood Frame
Located in Dublin, Ireland
An exceptionally fine quality example of an elaborately framed English Still Life of fruits Oil Painting on canvas, in the style of Oliver Clare or Eloise Harriet Stannard, second qu...
Canvas, Giltwood
$330Sale Price|20% Off
H 14.97 in W 12.6 in D 1.58 in
Flowers in Vase Still Life Painting Oil on Canvas Framed Signed
Located in Poperinge, BE
Vintage painting, still life of flowers in a vase, oil on canvas, framed in a cream and gold pine frame, signed Scheers Theo at the bottom right, circa mid-20th century. Nice and co...
Canvas, Wood
$1,327Sale Price|25% Off
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...
Plywood
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...
Wood
$1,950Sale Price|20% Off
H 53 in W 41 in D 2 in
Painting by Hanoi Artist "The Muse", Red and Black, Large Black Frame, C 2007
Located in New York, NY
Decorative large painting by Hanoi artist, "The Muse", circa 2007.
Acrylic
Folk Art Tropical Painting on Canvas
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Charming acrylic painting on canvas of a group of colorful figures in a tropical setting executed in a naive style. Signed Osnel in the lower right and presented in the original wood...
Paint
$4,450 / set
H 25.5 in W 19.5 in D 1 in
Pair of Vera Alabaster 'Russian' Original Folk Art Oil Paintings on Canvas
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
This pair of oil paintings on canvas are done by the well known portrait and landscape Russian artist, Vera Alabaster in circa 1940 in a Folk Art style. The paintings depict a Jamaic...
Canvas
$880
H 35.44 in W 33.86 in D 0.79 in
Large Oil on Canvas Painting, Unknown Artist, 1956, Danish Midcentury
Located in Odense, DK
Presenting an enigmatic oil on canvas painting created by an unknown Danish artist made in 1956. This captivating artwork showcases a woman bathing her feet in a bathroom, and it is ...
Canvas
$2,000
H 30 in W 30 in D 0.001 in
Large Midcentury Oversize Oil on Canvas Painting of Tigers by Peter Colby
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
Oil on canvas painting by artist Peter Colby. Large oversize canvas featuring two lions resting upon a patch of green grass. The background of this piece i...
Canvas, Paint
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...
Canvas, Wood
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...
Hardwood, Paint
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 ...
Walnut, Paint
"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...
Paint
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...
Canvas, Giltwood
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'...
Canvas
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...
Paint
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...
Canvas, Wood
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...
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...
Paint
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, ...
Wood
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, ...
Wood