Carved Black Forest Bird
Antique Late 19th Century Swiss Black Forest Decorative Boxes
Wood
Antique 1890s French French Provincial Inkwells
Glass, Hardwood
Early 20th Century German Table Lamps
Wood
Antique 19th Century German More Furniture and Collectibles
Wood
Early 20th Century Table Lamps
Brass
Antique Late 19th Century Swiss Jewelry Boxes
Walnut
Antique 19th Century Swiss Black Forest Jewelry Boxes
Fruitwood
Early 20th Century German Animal Sculptures
Wood
Antique Mid-19th Century French Black Forest Buffets
Rosewood
Antique Mid-19th Century French Black Forest Buffets
Rosewood
Antique Mid-19th Century French Black Forest Animal Sculptures
Spelter
Antique 19th Century French Napoleon III Center Tables
Walnut
Antique Late 19th Century French Black Forest Buffets
Oak
Antique Mid-19th Century French Black Forest Animal Sculptures
Spelter
Early 20th Century German Black Forest Wall-mounted Sculptures
Wood
Early 20th Century German Black Forest Wall Clocks
Oak
Early 20th Century German Black Forest Wall Clocks
Wood
Early 20th Century Austrian Black Forest Sculptures and Carvings
Wood, Paint
Antique 1890s German Black Forest Sculptures and Carvings
Wood
Early 20th Century German Black Forest Decorative Art
Oak
Early 20th Century Austrian Black Forest Sculptures and Carvings
Wood, Paint
Early 20th Century Austrian Black Forest Sculptures and Carvings
Wood, Paint
Early 20th Century German Black Forest Animal Sculptures
Metal
Early 20th Century German Black Forest Wall Clocks
Wood
Antique Late 19th Century Swiss Black Forest Shelves and Wall Cabinets
Wood
20th Century Austrian Black Forest Sculptures and Carvings
Wood, Paint
20th Century Austrian Black Forest Sculptures and Carvings
Wood, Paint
Mid-20th Century Austrian Black Forest Sculptures and Carvings
Wood, Paint
Vintage 1910s Austrian Black Forest Sculptures and Carvings
Wood, Paint
Antique 1870s Austrian Black Forest Sculptures and Carvings
Wood, Paint
Vintage 1920s Austrian Black Forest Sculptures and Carvings
Wood, Paint
1990s Austrian Black Forest Sculptures and Carvings
Wood, Paint
Antique 1870s Austrian Black Forest Sculptures and Carvings
Wood, Paint
Antique 1870s Austrian Black Forest Sculptures and Carvings
Wood, Paint
Vintage 1920s Austrian Black Forest Sculptures and Carvings
Wood, Paint
Antique Late 19th Century Swiss Black Forest Jewelry Boxes
Metal
Antique Late 19th Century Swiss Black Forest Jewelry Boxes
Velvet, Wood
20th Century Austrian Black Forest Sculptures and Carvings
Wood, Paint
Antique Early 1900s Austrian Black Forest Sculptures and Carvings
Wood, Paint
20th Century Austrian Black Forest Sculptures and Carvings
Wood, Paint
20th Century Austrian Black Forest Sculptures and Carvings
Wood, Paint
20th Century Austrian Black Forest Sculptures and Carvings
Wood, Paint
Antique Early 1900s Austrian Black Forest Sculptures and Carvings
Wood, Paint
20th Century Austrian Black Forest Sculptures and Carvings
Wood, Paint
Antique Late 19th Century Swiss Black Forest Centerpieces
Wood
Antique Late 19th Century Swiss Black Forest Jewelry Boxes
Wood
Early 20th Century European Black Forest More Desk Accessories
Walnut
Vintage 1910s Austrian Black Forest Sculptures and Carvings
Wood, Paint
Vintage 1920s Austrian Black Forest Sculptures and Carvings
Wood, Paint
Early 20th Century French Black Forest Scientific Instruments
Glass, Oak
Antique 1890s French Black Forest Planters, Cachepots and Jardinières
Wood
Vintage 1920s Austrian Black Forest Sculptures and Carvings
Wood, Paint
Vintage 1920s Austrian Black Forest Sculptures and Carvings
Wood, Paint
20th Century Austrian Black Forest Sculptures and Carvings
Wood, Paint
Vintage 1910s Austrian Black Forest Sculptures and Carvings
Wood, Paint
Vintage 1920s Austrian Black Forest Sculptures and Carvings
Wood, Paint
20th Century Austrian Black Forest Sculptures and Carvings
Wood, Paint
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Carved Black Forest Bird For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much is a Carved Black Forest Bird?
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.








