Black Forest Carved Shelves
Antique 1890s German Black Forest Shelves
Wood
20th Century Unknown Black Forest Shelves and Wall Cabinets
Wood
Antique Late 19th Century Swiss Black Forest Shelves and Wall Cabinets
Wood
Antique 19th Century Dutch Black Forest Shelves and Wall Cabinets
Fruitwood
Antique Late 19th Century English Black Forest Shelves
Beech
Recent Sales
20th Century German Shelves
Wood
Antique Late 19th Century German Shelves
Wood
Antique 19th Century German Black Forest Shelves
Antique 19th Century Swiss Black Forest Shelves and Wall Cabinets
Fruitwood
Antique 19th Century Swiss Black Forest Shelves and Wall Cabinets
Fruitwood
Antique Late 19th Century Black Forest Shelves and Wall Cabinets
Wood
Antique Late 19th Century European Black Forest Shelves and Wall Cabinets
Walnut
Antique 1890s German Shelves and Wall Cabinets
Wood
Antique 1890s German Black Forest Shelves and Wall Cabinets
Hardwood
Antique 19th Century German Black Forest Shelves and Wall Cabinets
Wood
Early 20th Century German Black Forest Shelves and Wall Cabinets
Wood
Antique Late 19th Century French Black Forest Shelves and Wall Cabinets
Walnut, Leather
Antique 19th Century German Black Forest Shelves and Wall Cabinets
Walnut
Antique Late 19th Century European Black Forest Shelves
Oak
Antique 19th Century French Black Forest Shelves and Wall Cabinets
Oak
Early 20th Century Aesthetic Movement Shelves
Walnut
Antique Late 19th Century German Shelves and Wall Cabinets
Wood
Antique Late 19th Century German Black Forest Shelves and Wall Cabinets
Wood
Antique 19th Century Dutch Black Forest Wall-mounted Sculptures
Oak
Antique Late 19th Century German Black Forest Sculptures and Carvings
Antique Mid-19th Century French Black Forest Wall Brackets
Walnut
Antique 1890s French Renaissance Corner Cupboards
Oak
Antique Late 19th Century Belgian Black Forest Bookcases
Glass, Oak
Antique Early 1900s German Black Forest Shelves and Wall Cabinets
Wood, Paper
Antique Late 19th Century Swiss Black Forest Shelves and Wall Cabinets
Walnut
Antique Late 19th Century Swiss Black Forest Shelves and Wall Cabinets
Walnut
Antique Late 19th Century Swiss Black Forest Shelves and Wall Cabinets
Wood
Antique Early 1900s Swiss Black Forest Shelves and Wall Cabinets
Softwood
Antique 19th Century Swiss Black Forest Shelves
Wood
Antique Late 19th Century Swiss Black Forest Shelves and Wall Cabinets
Wood
Antique 1880s German Black Forest Shelves and Wall Cabinets
Glass, Wood
Antique Late 19th Century German Black Forest Shelves and Wall Cabinets
Mirror, Wood
Early 20th Century German Black Forest Shelves
Softwood
Early 20th Century Swiss Black Forest Shelves and Wall Cabinets
Glass, Wood
Early 20th Century German Rustic Shelves and Wall Cabinets
Wood
Antique Late 19th Century Swiss Black Forest Shelves and Wall Cabinets
Wood
Antique 1870s Swiss Black Forest Shelves and Wall Cabinets
Oak
Antique 1880s German Black Forest Shelves and Wall Cabinets
Wood
Antique 1880s Shelves
Walnut
Antique 19th Century Swiss Black Forest Shelves and Wall Cabinets
Brass
Early 20th Century German Black Forest Shelves and Wall Cabinets
Wood
Antique 19th Century Black Forest Shelves and Wall Cabinets
Antique 19th Century Black Forest Shelves and Wall Cabinets
Antique 19th Century Unknown Shelves and Wall Cabinets
Wood, Antler
Antique 1840s German Black Forest Shelves and Wall Cabinets
Oak
Antique 19th Century Austrian Black Forest Wall Brackets
Wood
Antique 19th Century French Black Forest Buffets
Oak
Antique 1890s German Black Forest More Furniture and Collectibles
Wood
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Antique 1880s Swiss Black Forest Animal Sculptures
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Coral
Antique 19th Century French Louis Philippe Wall Mirrors
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Gold Leaf
Early 20th Century English Art Deco Picture Frames
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Antique 1880s Swiss Animal Sculptures
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Mid-20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Sterling Silver
Antique Mid-19th Century French Rococo Wall Mirrors
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Early 20th Century English Sports Equipment and Memorabilia
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Antique Late 19th Century French Paintings
Canvas, Paint
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Giltwood
Early 20th Century Swiss Wall-mounted Sculptures
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Black Forest Carved Shelves For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much are Black Forest Carved Shelves?
A Close Look at Black-forest Furniture
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.






