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Black Forest Sculptures

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.

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Style: Black Forest
BLACK FOREST 1900 Germany-Swiss Carved Wood Nutcracker Old Gnome Figure
Located in Miami, FL
A folk-art nutcracker carved in oak wood. This is an elusive antique black forest nutcracker created in northern Europe, most probably in Germ...
Category

Early 1900s German Antique Black Forest Sculptures

Materials

Wood

Hand Carved Wood Swiss Black Forest Eagle Sculpture Label P. Maeder, Lucerne
Located in Lisse, NL
Exceptional Swiss Black Forest eagle carving with remarkable presence. This beautifully executed Swiss Black Forest wood carving depicts a majestic eagle captured at the very moment...
Category

Mid-20th Century Swiss Black Forest Sculptures

Materials

Glass, Wood

Large Swiss Black Forest Hand Carved Wall Clock Plaque with Pheasant Sculptures
Located in Lisse, NL
This large Swiss masterpiece wall plaque with clock is in perfect condition. The realistic and detailed carving consists of a pair of pheasant, a bird's nest, fine leafs and branche...
Category

Late 19th Century Swiss Antique Black Forest Sculptures

Materials

Wood

Antique Swiss Casted Bronze Cattle Bell ca. 1900s
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Antique Swiss Casted Bronze Cattle Bell ca. 1900s Item e7313 An antique cast bronze cattle bell, made in Switzerland around 1900. The bell comes with its ...
Category

Early 20th Century Swiss Black Forest Sculptures

Materials

Bronze

Hand-Carved Black Forest Bear with Aluminum Pot
Located in Barntrup, DE
Hand-carved Black Forest style bear with aluminum pot, from ca. the 1920s. This beautiful hand-carved wooden, linden-wood, seated bear is holding an alum...
Category

1920s German Vintage Black Forest Sculptures

Materials

Aluminum

Large Hand Carved Black Forest Standing Stag Deer Sculpture with Huge Antlers
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
This quite large and well executed carving is unsigned by the artist, but presumed to have been done in Eastern Europe in circa 1900 in the period Black Forest style. This large carv...
Category

Early 20th Century German Black Forest Sculptures

Materials

Softwood

Vintage Wooden Walking Bear Handcarved in Brienz ca. 1930s
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Vintage Wooden Walking Bear Handcarved in Brienz ca. 1930s A vintage statue of a Black Forest walking bear. Made of lindenwood, finely handcarved with na...
Category

Early 20th Century Swiss Black Forest Sculptures

Materials

Wood

Rustic Black Forest Walnut Trunk
Located in Queens, NY
Rustic Black Forest walnut floor trunk with a folding rounded top and supported on "X" form side legs with faux wood, straps, and floral carved design.
Category

19th Century Swiss Antique Black Forest Sculptures

Materials

Walnut

Wooden Carved Black Forest Garden Fountain Water Spout 19th century
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Wooden Carved Black Forest Garden Fountain Water Spout 19th century A large Black Forest wooden carved water spout featuring "Ruebezahl", which is the mountain spirit of the giant m...
Category

Late 19th Century German Antique Black Forest Sculptures

Materials

Wood

Rare Oversize Black Forest Swiss Carved Wooden Grazing Cow with Bell on Neck
Located in Atlanta, GA
A rare oversize Black Forest Swiss hand-carved wooden cow from circa 1880. This exquisitely hand-carved wooden cow is a pristine example of Black For...
Category

Late 19th Century Swiss Antique Black Forest Sculptures

Materials

Wood

19th Century Swiss Black Forest Carved Walnut Mantel Clock with Cherubs and Bird
Located in Dallas, TX
Decorate your buffet or mantel with this monumental antique fruitwood clock. Crafted in Switzerland, circa 1860, the masterpiece time keeper features two hand carved seated cherubs holding a grape basket with a duck, frog and reed decor underneath. The center face has blue enamel roman numbers, and the clock mechanism has been cleaned and checked by our clock expert, and is in very good working order. This important clock...
Category

Mid-19th Century Swiss Antique Black Forest Sculptures

Materials

Enamel

Swiss Brienz Black Forest Hand-Carved Wood Grizzly Bear
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
Black Forest hand-carved linden-wood hand-carved grizzly bear with glass eyes and enamel painted mouth with fangs/teeth showing on a thick base, circa 1900. See our other items for m...
Category

Early 20th Century Swiss Black Forest Sculptures

Materials

Wood

Hand Carved Wood Bear Head Nutcracker Brienz Switzerland
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Hand Carved Wood Bear Head Nutcracker Brienz, Switzerland A wooden carved nutcracker with a bear head. It is a fine antique Black Forest woodcarving ...
Category

Early 20th Century Swiss Black Forest Sculptures

Materials

Wood

Antique Black Forest Style Wooden Carved Trinket Box or Bucket Owl, circa 1920
Located in Barntrup, DE
Antique Black Forest style oak wood carved trinket box or bucket in a shape of an owl, from circa 1920. An impressive, large, and beautiful German Black Forest style hand-carved wooden trinket box...
Category

1920s German Vintage Black Forest Sculptures

Materials

Metal

Rare Black Forest Alpine Ibex Wood Box, circa 1890
Located in Austin, TX
Rare and unusual Black Forest box in the shape of wood log with a large wood carved Alpine ibex or bouquetin, circa 1890. The carved bouquetin is 5" height and the box is 8".  
Category

1890s French Antique Black Forest Sculptures

Materials

Wood

A ‘Black Forest’ walnut plaque of the “Lion of Lucerne”
Located in Lymington, Hampshire
A ‘Black Forest’ walnut plaque of the “Lion of Lucerne”, of rectangular form with a recess showing a dying lion resting on two shields, the motto “Helvetiorum Fidei Ac Virtuti dei X ...
Category

Late 19th Century Swiss Antique Black Forest Sculptures

Materials

Walnut

A Lovely Carved Black Forest Bear for Sewing Utensils, Pierre Michel, Brienz
Located in Berghuelen, DE
A Lovely Carved Black Forest Bear for Sewing Utensils, Pierre Michel, Brienz Item e7285 A nicely carved Black Forest bear for sewing utensils. It features a pincushion, needle deposi...
Category

Early 20th Century Swiss Black Forest Sculptures

Materials

Wood

19th Century, Black Forest Carved Oak Newel Post Finial Form of a Dog w/ Shield
Located in Atlanta, GA
A highly expressive and deeply carved Black Forest figural newel post finial, dating to the late 19th century, rendered in dense, dark-stained oak. The sculpture takes the form of a seated dog or wolf with alert upright ears, finely incised facial detailing, and an open mouth showing stylized teeth. The animal sits upright on its haunches, holding in its forepaws a heraldic-style shield with a central boss and four bosses at the quadrants, as well as ring-turned accents simulating bolts or fittings. Its claws are sharply delineated and muscular tension is suggested through the modeling of the forelimbs and chest. The sculpture rests on a squared plinth base, likely modified for later display, though originally designed as a finial for a stair newel post...
Category

19th Century Swiss Antique Black Forest Sculptures

Materials

Oak

19th Century French Dog and Rabbit Gilt Bronze Sculpture Signed P. Lecourtier
By Prosper Lecourtier
Located in Dallas, TX
Decorate a shelf or man's office with this wonderful antique gilt sculpture composition. Created in France, circa 1890, the detailed artwork features a realistic pointer standing on ...
Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Black Forest Sculptures

Materials

Bronze

Early 20th Century carved bear hall stand
Located in Martlesham, GB
A finely carved early 20th Century walnut black forest bear hall stand with a cub playing in the branches above, the bear below with anoth...
Category

1920s Swiss Vintage Black Forest Sculptures

Materials

Walnut

Large Vintage Wooden Strolling Bear Handcarved in Brienz Ca. 1930s
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Large Vintage Wooden Strolling Bear Handcarved in Brienz ca. 1930s A large vintage statue of a walking bear. Made of lindenwood, finely handcarve...
Category

Early 20th Century Swiss Black Forest Sculptures

Materials

Wood

circa 1900 Miniature Model of a Black Forest Bear Bench
Located in Chicago, IL
circa 1900 Miniature Model of Black Forest Bear Bench. "Black Forest" is a term to describe elaborate, realistic wood carvings from an area in ...
Category

Early 20th Century German Black Forest Sculptures

Materials

Walnut

Carved Wood Chamois Family by Ernst Heissl, Ebensee Austria, circa 1900
By Ernst Heissl
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Carved Wood Chamois Family by Ernst Heissl, Ebensee Austria, circa 1900 A handcarved wooden sculpture of a chamois group with buck, chamois and fawn. A v...
Category

Late 19th Century Austrian Antique Black Forest Sculptures

Materials

Wood

Antique Handforged Cattle Bell Made in Switzerland ca. 1900s
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Antique Handforged Cattle Bell Made in Switzerland ca. 1900s Item e7310 An antique handforged cattle bell, made in Switzerland around 1900. The bell comes with its original brown lea...
Category

Early 20th Century Swiss Black Forest Sculptures

Materials

Metal

19th Century Black Forest Bear
Located in London, GB
A 'Black Forest' Bear In naturalistically carved lindenwood, having glass eyes, head tilted aloft, prowls on all fours. From the Brienz Area. Brienz, in the Bernese Oberland, Sw...
Category

Late 19th Century Swiss Antique Black Forest Sculptures

Materials

Wood

Fine Carved Wood Chamois Family by Ernst Heissl, circa 1900
By Ernst Heissl
Located in Berghuelen, DE
A delicately hand-carved wood sculpture of a chamois family. The item is very detailed and a classical natural carving by the Austrian woodcarver Ernst Heissl...
Category

Late 19th Century Austrian Antique Black Forest Sculptures

Materials

Wood

19th Century Black Forest Carved Bear Brush
Located in High Point, NC
Late 19th century hand carved bear brush from Switzerland. The bear is expertly hand carved and has a very whimsical look. Such an adorable souvenir, these were small tokens travel...
Category

Late 19th Century Swiss Antique Black Forest Sculptures

Materials

Fruitwood

Pair of 19th Century Swiss Black Forest Carved Walnut Hunt Trophy Sculptures
Located in Dallas, TX
This remarkable pair of wall trophies was hand carved in Switzerland’s Black Forest region circa 1870. Executed in richly grained walnut, and almost 3 feet tall, each plaque is a tou...
Category

Mid-19th Century Swiss Antique Black Forest Sculptures

Materials

Walnut

Large Carved Wood Chamois Sculpture, Black Forest, circa 1900
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Large Carved Wood Chamois Sculpture, Black Forest, circa 1900 An expressive naturalistic carved large chamois sculpture standing on a rocky base. It is handcarved and stainied linde...
Category

Late 19th Century Austrian Antique Black Forest Sculptures

Materials

Wood

Finely Carved Wood Chamois with Glass Vase, Brienz, circa 1900
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Finely carved wood chamois with glass vase, Brienz, circa 1900. A delicately hand carved wood sculpture of a chamois standing on a rocky base with three stump which features an antique glass vase inset. A very detailed and natural carving excecuted by one of the Swiss woodcarvers from the area of Brienz, circa 1900. The tradition of wood carving...
Category

Late 19th Century Swiss Antique Black Forest Sculptures

Materials

Wood, Blown Glass

19th Century French Black Forest Carved Eagle Sculpture Wall Mirror
Located in Dallas, TX
This unusual antique mirror was crafted in the Alps region of France, circa 1880. The whimsical mirror features a large eagle sculpture with win...
Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Black Forest Sculptures

Materials

Mercury Glass, Oak

Antique Musical circa 1880 Black Forest Hand Carved Fox Whip Hook Glass Eyes
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
We are delighted to offer for sale this exceptionally rare, Musical, original circa 1880 Swiss made Black Forest wood, Fox whip hook with glass eyes These...
Category

1880s Swedish Antique Black Forest Sculptures

Materials

Wood

Finely Carved Wood Thermometer Stand Hunter and Staghound, 1910
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Finely Carved Wood Thermometer Stand Hunter and Staghound, 1910 A Black Forest thermometer with impressive carved hunter and staghound standi...
Category

Early 20th Century Austrian Black Forest Sculptures

Materials

Wood

Finest Quality, Antique Hand Carved Nutwood Swiss Black Forest Cow Sculpture
Located in Lisse, NL
Museum quality and condition Swiss black forest sculpture. For collectors of the rarest and finest Black Forest sculptures: this incredibly detailed, hand-carved cow could only orig...
Category

Late 19th Century Swiss Antique Black Forest Sculptures

Materials

Nutwood

19th Century black forest bear hall stand
Located in Martlesham, GB
A superb quality and finely carved 19th Century black forest linden wood bear hall stand with a cub playing in the branches above, the bear below with glass eyes looking up towards h...
Category

1880s Swiss Antique Black Forest Sculptures

Materials

Walnut

Set of 10 Rustic Black Forest Walnut Side Chairs
Located in Queens, NY
Set of 10 Rustic Black Forest (19th Cent) walnut side chairs with shaped seat and back with filigree carving and animals.
Category

19th Century European Antique Black Forest Sculptures

Materials

Walnut

Antique Hand Carved and Mint Condition Black Forest Gnome Sculpture Nutcracker
Located in Lisse, NL
Top quality carved, early 20th century, wooden Black Forest nut cracker. If you are a collector of only the best quality and condition Black...
Category

Early 20th Century German Black Forest Sculptures

Materials

Wood

A fine pair of 19th century Black Forest Walnut game plaques attributed to Johan
Located in Lymington, Hampshire
A fine pair of 19th century Black Forest Walnut game plaques attributed to Johans Fluck of Brienz One plaque varied with a chamois and a pheasant and the other a stag and pheasant. ...
Category

Late 19th Century Swiss Antique Black Forest Sculptures

Materials

Walnut

Black Forest Wood Carving of an Ibex
Located in Lymington, Hampshire
An imposing ‘Black Forest’ wood carving of an Ibex, standing on a rocky outcrop with realistically carved ribbed antlers and rippling fur.
Category

1880s Swiss Antique Black Forest Sculptures

Materials

Wood

Antique Mantel Clock with Herdsman Family, Goats and Cattle
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Antique Mantel Clock with Herdsman Family, Goats and Cattle A Black Forest wooden carved mantel clock with a lovely herdsman family with their goats and cattles. A masterpiece of woodcarving which brightens up any chimney piece. The clockwork is replaced by battery driven one - working order. Soberly considered mantel clocks are small pendulum clocks with feet...
Category

Late 19th Century German Antique Black Forest Sculptures

Materials

Wood

19th Century Carved Wood 3rd Station of the Cross, Jesus Falls’, Switzerland
Located in Buffalo, NY
19th century carved wood 3rd station of the cross, 'JESUS FALLS’ carved in Switzerland, recently acquired from Holy Angels Church located in Buffalo New Yo...
Category

1880s Swiss Antique Black Forest Sculptures

Materials

Wood

Late 19th Century German Carved Black Forest Wood Trophy Plaque
Located in Middleburg, VA
Late 19th century German carved black Forest wood trophy plaque. This intricately carved piece depicts horns, spear, and hunter's pouch hung on plaque en...
Category

Late 19th Century German Antique Black Forest Sculptures

Materials

Wood

Pair of Vintage German Carved Black Forest Mounted Deer Wall Sculptures
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Set of two similar Black Forest carved and hand-painted 'stag' sculptures with real antlers mounted to decorative 'wreath' plaques for wall hanging (ca. 1930s/40s, Germany). One deer...
Category

1940s German Vintage Black Forest Sculptures

Materials

Antler, Wood, Paint

Austrian Majolica Dressed Bear Candelstick, circa 1890
Located in Austin, TX
Austrian Majolica candelstick with a dressed bear holding a cone pine circa 1890.
Category

1890s Austrian Antique Black Forest Sculptures

Materials

Ceramic

Black Forest Wood Carving of a Mountain Goat
Located in Lymington, Hampshire
A charming small ‘Black Forest’ wood carving of a mountain goat and her kids.    
Category

1890s Swiss Antique Black Forest Sculptures

Materials

Wood

Classic Antique Black Forest Carved Bracket with Stag’s Head
Located in Bridgeport, CT
Antique black forest hand-carved stag’s mounted on the support with an oak leaf surround. With a shaped top shelf with canted corners. Excellent detailing ...
Category

19th Century European Antique Black Forest Sculptures

Materials

Wood

19th century Swiss limewood carving of a man playing an instrument circa 1880
Located in Central England, GB
A Black Forest hand-carved limewood figure portrays a young man from the medieval period dressed in a cloaked tunic and open-toed boots playing a set of traditional Swiss bagpipes ca...
Category

Late 19th Century Swiss Antique Black Forest Sculptures

Materials

Fruitwood

Antique French Wall Shelf Corbel Carved Eagle Black Forest Statue Wood c1880
Located in Shreveport, LA
Antique French Wall Shelf Corbel Carved Eagle Black Forest Statue Wood c1880. Direct from France, a stunning antique French solid wood corbe...
Category

1890s French Antique Black Forest Sculptures

Materials

Wood

Collection of Four Black Forest Chamois Mounts of Carved Wood Plaques Priced per
Located in Buchanan, MI
Collection of four Black forest chamois mounts of carved wood plaques. Priced per mount.
Category

Early 20th Century German Black Forest Sculptures

Materials

Antler, Wood

Large Antique Black Forest Novelty Inkwell, Dog, circa 1890
Located in Bath, GB
A superbly carved figural Black Forest inkwell in the form of a Dog's head, with great detail and retaining two large glass eyes. The hinged lid opens to reveal an inner ink chamber...
Category

1890s Swiss Antique Black Forest Sculptures

A pair of fine Black Forest hand carved linden wood bears, Swiss circa 1900
Located in Central England, GB
This delightful pair of Swiss/ German black forest carved linden wood seated bears is rarely available as an original pair. They are beautifully hand carved and are left and right ha...
Category

Early 20th Century Swiss Black Forest Sculptures

Materials

Wood

19th Century Swiss Black Forest Carving a Dog Family
By Walter Mäder
Located in London, GB
A 'Black Forest' Dog Group The naturalistically carved limewood group shows the bitch couchant and her three playful pups; glass eyes are used in all the figures, in the manner of Walter Mäder...
Category

Late 19th Century Swiss Antique Black Forest Sculptures

Materials

Wood

Hand Carved Wooden Sculpture Lamp Night Watchman with Lantern, Germany
Located in Barntrup, DE
A masterfully hand-carved wooden lamp features a beautiful sculpture of a night watchman with a lantern and halberd. The lantern is made of glass and co...
Category

Mid-20th Century German Black Forest Sculptures

Materials

Copper

Antique Casted Bronze Cow Bell Made in Switzerland, ca. 1930
Located in Berghuelen, DE
A large and heavy casted bronze cow bell manufactured in Switzerland around 1930. The antique bell features high relief motifs of farm animals, human heads and foliages. The bell com...
Category

Early 20th Century Swiss Black Forest Sculptures

Materials

Bronze

Vintage Anri The Wine Taster (Bacchus), ca. 1950
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Vintage Anri The Wine Taster (Bacchus), ca. 1950 This is a finely detailed figurine by Anri, believed to be titled The Wine Taster from the Little Folks of Salvan series. The charac...
Category

1950s German Vintage Black Forest Sculptures

Materials

Wood

Black Forest Swiss 1900s Carved Wooden Fragment with Bear Motif and Gilt Accents
Located in Atlanta, GA
A Black Forest period carved wooden fragment from the early 20th century, with bear motif. hand carved in Switzerland during the turn of the century, this wooden fragment features a ...
Category

Early 20th Century Swiss Black Forest Sculptures

Materials

Wood

Hand Carved Black Forest St. Wooden Floor Lamp of Lantern Holding Tipsy Guard
Located in Lisse, NL
Large and beautifully sculptured, floor lamp. If you are looking for unique and decorative antiques to bring joy and class to your interior then this marvelous, sculptural floor lam...
Category

Early 20th Century German Black Forest Sculptures

Materials

Copper

Rustic Black Forest Walnut Barometer
Located in Queens, NY
Rustic Black Forest (Late 19th Century) walnut wall barometer/thermometer with carved bird, deer and floral carving.
Category

19th Century German Antique Black Forest Sculptures

Materials

Metal

Black Forest Wooden Carved Begging Dog, Brienz, ca. 1900
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Black Forest Wooden Carved Begging Dog, Brienz, ca. 1900 A whimsical Swiss wood carving, a long hair terrier is begging with his masters hat besid...
Category

Early 20th Century Swiss Black Forest Sculptures

Materials

Wood

19th century carved black forest ibex sculpture linden wood
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
Fantastic black forest carving on impressive proportions circa 1890. Features 4 european ibex of varying age and scale standing on carved rocks and foliage.  We have owned many blac...
Category

Late 19th Century German Antique Black Forest Sculptures

Materials

Oak

Black Forest sculptures for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique Black Forest sculptures for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the 21st Century and Contemporary, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage sculptures created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include decorative objects, folk art, more furniture and collectibles and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with wood, glass and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Black Forest sculptures made in a specific country, there are Europe, Switzerland, and Germany pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original sculptures, popular names associated with this style include Black Forest, Black Forrest, A.W. Goebel, and Barney Bellinger. 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 sculptures differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $240 and tops out at $99,104 while the average work can sell for $2,342.

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