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.
Original Antique Print After H. Leutemann, Reynard the Fox And Henning
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Great image by Heinrich Leutemann From the Reynard The Fox series Fine steel engraving Published by A.H. Payne C.1850 Unframed.
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Original Antique Print After H. Leutemann, Reynard the Fox And Bellin
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Great image by Heinrich Leutemann From the Reynard The Fox series Fine steel engraving Published by A.H. Payne C.1850 Unframed.
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Original Antique Print After H. Leutemann, Reynard the Fox-Isegrim And The Bells
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Great image by Heinrich Leutemann From the Reynard The Fox series Fine steel engraving Published by A.H. Payne C.1850 Unframed.
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Original Antique Print After H. Leutemann, Reynard the Fox Shorn
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Great image by Heinrich Leutemann From the Reynard The Fox series Fine steel engraving Published by A.H. Payne C.1850 Unframed.
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Original Antique Print After H. Leutemann, Reynard the Fox- Bellin's Benediction
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Great image by Heinrich Leutemann From the Reynard The Fox series Fine steel engraving Published by A.H. Payne C.1850 Unframed.
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Original Antique Print After H. Leutemann, Reynard the Fox-Gieremund In The Well
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Great image by Heinrich Leutemann From the Reynard The Fox series Fine steel engraving Published by A.H. Payne C.1850 Unframed.
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Original Antique Print After H. Leutemann, Reynard the Fox Teaching The Creed
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Great image by Heinrich Leutemann From the Reynard The Fox series Fine steel engraving Published by A.H. Payne C.1850 Unframed.
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Original Antique Print After H. Leutemann, Reynard the Fox Relating Adventures
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Great image by Heinrich Leutemann From the Reynard The Fox series Fine steel engraving Published by A.H. Payne C.1850 Unframed.
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Original Antique Print After H. Leutemann, Reynard the Fox-Isegrim And Monkeys
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Great image by Heinrich Leutemann From the Reynard The Fox series Fine steel engraving Published by A.H. Payne C.1850 Unframed.
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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
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
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 alps....
Glass, Wood
Original Antique Print After H. Leutemann, Reynard the Fox And The Coney
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Great image by Heinrich Leutemann From the Reynard The Fox series Fine steel engraving Published by A.H. Payne C.1850 Unframed.
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Original Antique Print After H. Leutemann, Reynard the Fox- The Envious Horse
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Great image by Heinrich Leutemann From the Reynard The Fox series Fine steel engraving Published by A.H. Payne C.1850 Unframed.
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Original Antique Print After H. Leutemann, Reynard the Fox's Trial
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Great image by Heinrich Leutemann From the Reynard The Fox series Fine steel engraving Published by A.H. Payne C.1850 Unframed.
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Original Antique Print After H. Leutemann, Reynard the Fox- Bruin As Messenger
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Great image by Heinrich Leutemann From the Reynard The Fox series Fine steel engraving Published by A.H. Payne C.1850 Unframed.
Paper
Original Antique Print After H. Leutemann, Reynard the Fox's Treasure
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Great image by Heinrich Leutemann From the Reynard The Fox series Fine steel engraving Published by A.H. Payne C.1850 Unframed.
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Original Antique Print After H. Leutemann, Reynard the Fox's Triumph
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Great image by Heinrich Leutemann From the Reynard The Fox series Fine steel engraving Published by A.H. Payne C.1850 Unframed.
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Original Antique Print After H. Leutemann, Reynard the Fox And Lampe
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Great image by Heinrich Leutemann From the Reynard The Fox series Fine steel engraving Published by A.H. Payne C.1850 Unframed.
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Original Antique Print After H. Leutemann, Reynard the Fox-Isegrim And The Crane
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Great image by Heinrich Leutemann From the Reynard The Fox series Fine steel engraving Published by A.H. Payne C.1850 Unframed.
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Original Antique Print After H. Leutemann, Reynard the Fox-Hintze As Messenger
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Great image by Heinrich Leutemann From the Reynard The Fox series Fine steel engraving Published by A.H. Payne C.1850 Unframed.
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Original Antique Print After H. Leutemann, Reynard the Fox- King Stork And Frogs
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Great image by Heinrich Leutemann From the Reynard The Fox series Fine steel engraving Published by A.H. Payne C.1850 Unframed.
Paper
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...
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. ...
Wood
Original Antique Print After H. Leutemann, Reynard the Fox-Place of Execution
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Great image by Heinrich Leutemann From the Reynard The Fox series Fine steel engraving Published by A.H. Payne C.1850 Unframed.
Paper
Original Antique Print After H. Leutemann, Reynard the Fox- The Combat
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Great image by Heinrich Leutemann From the Reynard The Fox series Fine steel engraving Published by A.H. Payne C.1850 Unframed.
Paper
Original Antique Print After H. Leutemann, Reynard the Fox- The Mare And Wolf
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Great image by Heinrich Leutemann From the Reynard The Fox series Fine steel engraving Published by A.H. Payne C.1850 Unframed.
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$304Sale Price|20% Off
H 8 in W 10.44 in D 0.02 in
Original Antique Print of the Lion Hunt Made After the Painting by P.P. Rubens
Located in Langweer, NL
Antique print titled 'The Lion Hunt - Die Löwenjagd'. Steel engraving by Carse, engraved after a painting by P.P. Rubens. Published circa 1850. The Lion ...
Paper
$208
H 15.28 in W 12.33 in D 0.02 in
Antique Print of 'The Judgment of Paris' Made After F. Boucher '1902'
Located in Langweer, NL
Antique print titled 'The Judgment of Paris'. Original antique print on chine collé made after a painting by F. Boucher. This print originate...
Paper
$208
H 15.28 in W 12.33 in D 0.02 in
Original Antique Print of 'Joan of Arc in Prison' made after P. Delaroche (1902)
Located in Langweer, NL
Rare print titled 'Joan of Arc in Prison'. Original antique print on chine collé made after a painting by P. Delaroche. This print originates from volume 3 of the series 'The Wallace...
Paper
$208
H 15.28 in W 12.33 in D 0.02 in
Antique Print of 'The Broken Mirror' made after J.B. Greuze (1902)
Located in Langweer, NL
Antique print titled 'The Broken Mirror'. Original antique print on chine collé made after a painting by J.B. Greuze. This print originates from volume 3 of the series 'The Wallace C...
Paper
Original Antique Print of Fox Hunting in England, 1817
Located in Langweer, NL
Antique engraving of fox hunting by Alken, Henry Thomas, 1784-1851 (Engraver). Originates from 'Sporting sketches: consisting of subjects relating to sport...
Paper
Antique Print of 'The Music Party' Made after A. Watteau '1902'
Located in Langweer, NL
Antique print titled 'The Music Party'. Original antique print on chine collé made after a painting by A. Watteau. This print originates from volume 3 of the series 'The Wallace Coll...
Paper
$142Sale Price|20% Off
H 14.97 in W 11.03 in D 0.02 in
Original Antique Bird Print of the Northern Phalarope, 1929
Located in Langweer, NL
Antique bird print titled 'Lobipes Lobatus'. Old bird print depicting the Northern Phalarope. This print originates from 'Svenska Foglar Efter Naturen Och Pa Stenritade' by Magnus vo...
Paper
$142Sale Price|20% Off
H 14.97 in W 11.03 in D 0.02 in
Original Antique Bird Print of the Eurasian Coot, 1929
Located in Langweer, NL
Antique bird print titled 'Fulica Atra'. Old bird print depicting the Eurasian Coot. This print originates from 'Svenska Foglar Efter Naturen Och Pa Stenritade' by Magnus von Wright.
Paper
$66Sale Price|20% Off
H 10.04 in W 6.7 in D 0 in
Original Antique Print of the Grey Partridge, Red Partridge and the Quail, 1841
Located in Langweer, NL
Antique print titled 'Le Perdrix Grise - La Perdrix Rouge - La Caille'. Original antique print of the grey partridge, red partridge and the quail. This print originates from volume 5...
Paper
$133Sale Price|20% Off
H 9.61 in W 7.68 in D 0.02 in
Original Antique Print with Three Monkeys Including the Indri
Located in Langweer, NL
Original antique print of monkeys titled 'The Moluck, The Entellus of Bengal, The Indri'. This print originates from 'Bilderbuch fur Kinder' by F.J. Bertuch. Friedrich Johann Bertuch...
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$232
H 15.95 in W 21.46 in D 0.02 in
Antique Print of Wells Cathedral from the Illustrated London News, 1879
Located in Langweer, NL
Antique print titled 'The Royal Archeological Institute at Wells'. Original antique print of Wells Cathedral. The Cathedral Church of Saint Andrew, commonly known as Wells Cathedral, is an Anglican cathedral in Wells, Somerset. The cathedral, dedicated to St Andrew the Apostle, is the seat of the Bishop of Bath and Wells. It is the mother church of the diocese and contains the bishop's throne (cathedra). It was built between 1175 and 1490, replacing an earlier church built on the same site in 705. It is moderately sized among the medieval cathedrals of England, between those of massive proportion such as Lincoln and York and the smaller cathedrals in Oxford and Carlisle. With its broad west front and large central tower, it is the dominant feature of its small cathedral city and a landmark in the Somerset countryside. This print originates from the Illustrated London News...
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$228Sale Price|20% Off
H 9.45 in W 7.68 in D 0 in
Original Hand-Colored Antique Print of a Fox and Hyena species
Located in Langweer, NL
Original antique print of a fox (Kreuzfuchs) and hyena (Die gefleckte Hyäne'. This print originates from 'Bilderbuch fur Kinder' by F.J. Bertuch. Friedrich Johann Bertuch (1747-1822)...
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H 10 in W 7.5 in D 0.07 in
Original Antique Print After H. Leutemann, Reynard the Fox- Bruin As King
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Great image by Heinrich Leutemann From the Reynard The Fox series Fine steel engraving Published by A.H. Payne C.1850 Unframed.
Paper
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H 10 in W 7.5 in D 0.07 in
Original Antique Print After H. Leutemann, Reynard the Fox's Confusion
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Great image by Heinrich Leutemann From the Reynard The Fox series Fine steel engraving Published by A.H. Payne C.1850 Unframed.
Paper
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H 7.5 in W 10 in D 0.07 in
Original Antique Print After H. Leutemann, Reynard the Fox- Bruin In Prison
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Great image by Heinrich Leutemann From the Reynard The Fox series Fine steel engraving Published by A.H. Payne C.1850 Unframed.
Paper
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H 7.5 in W 10 in D 0.07 in
Original Antique Print After H. Leutemann, Reynard the Fox And The Priest
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Great image by Heinrich Leutemann From the Reynard The Fox series Fine steel engraving Published by A.H. Payne C.1850 Unframed.
Paper
Sold
H 7.5 in W 10 in D 0.07 in
Original Antique Print After H. Leutemann, Reynard the Fox- Road To Execution
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Great image by Heinrich Leutemann From the Reynard The Fox series Fine steel engraving Published by A.H. Payne C.1850 Unframed.
Paper
Sold
H 13.75 in W 10.75 in D 0.5 in
Vintage Nuremburg Germany Hangman's Bridge Canal Cityscape Etching 14"
Located in Dayton, OH
Mid to early 20th century hand colored etching depicting a view of the Hangmans Bridge over the canal through Nuremburg, Germany. Pencil signed along lower edge. Beveled silver gilt ...
Paper
Antique Print "the Hunters Tomp", Germany Late 19th Century
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Antique Print "The Hunters Tomp", Germany late 19th century A colorful antique print depicting a group of animals like stag, wild boar, hare, staghound and deer visiting the tomp of...
Glass, Wood
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H 13.39 in W 16.93 in D 0.79 in
Antique Print "the Funneral of the Hunter", Germany Late 19th Century
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Antique Print "The Funneral of the Hunter", Germany late 19th century A colorful antique print depicting the funneral of the hunter. A group of animals like stag, wild boar, hare, s...
Wood, Glass
Sold
H 26.78 in W 20.08 in D 0.6 in
18th Century Black Forest Copperplate Johann Elias Ridinger with Hunting Scene
Located in Kitzbühel, Tirol
Large original copperplate by Johann Elias Ridinger (1698-1767) with a typical hunting scene in the forest and the typical foot prints underneath. Unusual big size of the copper plat...
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Black Forest Antler Picture Frame with Humorous Print by Geilfus
Located in Berghuelen, DE
an antique black forest antler picture frame. carved wood frame decorated with antlers from the deer, and turned horn roses. vintage print by heinz geilfus (1890 - 1956), german chas...
Wood, Horn