Black Forest Folk Art
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
Antique Set of Rustic Serving Cutlery with Carved Horn Handles, 19th Century
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Antique set of rustic serving cutlery with carved horn handles 19th century.
A rare antique set of knife and fork as serving cutlery. The handles are made of deer horn with handcarv...
Category
Late 19th Century German Antique Black Forest Folk Art
Materials
Metal
Nutwood Edelweis Marquetry Chair Swiss Brienz 1900
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Nutwood Edelweis Marquetry Chair Swiss Brienz 1900
A wonderful inlayed nutwood chair decorated with inlayed and painted sceneries depicting chamois, stag and edelweis flowers. Surro...
Category
Late 19th Century Swiss Antique Black Forest Folk Art
Materials
Nutwood
Relief Woodcarving by Hermann Steiner Meran 19th Century
By Hermann Steiner
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Relief Woodcarving by Hermann Steiner Meran 19th century
The wooden carved relief shows a grandfather with grandson on his lap. The granddaughter is sitting on the chair and hides a...
Category
Late 19th Century Italian Antique Black Forest Folk Art
Materials
Wood
19th Century Walking Stick with a Black Forest Carved top Portrait of a Dog
Located in Casteren, Noord-Brabant
Fantastic antique walking stick, with a beautiful wood carved head of a dog on top. The stick is extra long in size, which indicates that the stick wa...
Category
1890s French Antique Black Forest Folk Art
Materials
Wood
Nutwood Edelweis Marquetry Chair Swiss Brienz 1900
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Nutwood Edelweis Marquetry Chair Swiss Brienz 1900
A wonderful inlayed nutwood chair decorated with inlayed and painted sceneries depicting chamois, goat and edelweis flowers. Surro...
Category
Late 19th Century Swiss Antique Black Forest Folk Art
Materials
Nutwood
$1,940 Sale Price
20% Off
Large Antique Photo Album with Wooden Carved Cover, Brienz ca. 1900
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Large Antique Photo Album with Wooden Carved Cover, Brienz ca. 1900
A lovely antique photo album featuring a lindenwood carved cover depicting a hunte...
Category
Late 19th Century Swiss Antique Black Forest Folk Art
Materials
Wood
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 Folk Art
Materials
Wood
Rare Cabin Decor Antler Humidor, circa 1890-1900
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Rare Cabin Decor Antler Humidor, circa 1890-1900
An antique turned wooden box with lid, venered with several fine antler slices from the deer and decorated with tips of roe deer antlers. (woodcrack at the lid - see pictures). On top of the lid with hollow turned antler box for matches...
Category
Late 19th Century Unknown Antique Black Forest Folk Art
Materials
Wood, Antler
Traditional Handcarved and Painted Tyrolian Carnival Mask
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Traditional handcarved and painted tyrolian carnival mask
An nice antique wooden carved carnival mask which comes from the region of South Tyrol. Made of handcarved and handpainted ...
Category
Early 20th Century German Black Forest Folk Art
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 Folk Art
Materials
Wood
Antique Black Forest Carved Bear Wall Hook Hanger
Located in Forney, TX
A rare and exceptional hand carved German Black Forest wall-mounted hanger. circa 1890
Born in the late 19th / early 20th century, featuring an intricately carved walnut figural bear's head with inset glass eyes, finely detailed gilt brass paws holding a supporting rod, affixed with chain drop hook.
Dimensions: (approx)
10.75" High, 8 1/8" Wide, 5.5" Deep,
A superb example of German folk art, functional and highly decorative, it's ideal for use as an entryway coat...
Category
Late 19th Century German Antique Black Forest Folk Art
Materials
Brass
Vintage Stag Horn Carving Set Solingen, Germany
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Vintage Stag Horn Carving Set Solingen, Germany
A rustic carving set consisting of fork and knife. The handles are made of genuine stag horn and feature ...
Category
Mid-20th Century German Black Forest Folk Art
Materials
Metal
Large Folk Art Wood Carved Deer Head with Real Antlers, Austria 19th Century
Located in Nuernberg, DE
A great looking hand carved original wooden Folk Art deer head wall decoration. A great piece for a suitable ambiance in a trophy room or the office of ...
Category
Mid-19th Century Austrian Antique Black Forest Folk Art
Materials
Wood
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 Folk Art
Materials
Bronze
Black Forest Carved Swiss Entry Mirror with Climbing Bears
By Black Forest
Located in Coeur d
Alene, ID
Large Swiss Black Forest carved entry or hall mirror with climbing bears both sides and pine boughs with pine cones at top and bottom. Carved by Swiss mas...
Category
2010s Swiss Black Forest Folk Art
Materials
Other
Pair Black Forest Carved Hanging Game Plaques
By Black Forest
Located in Coeur d
Alene, ID
Matched pair of Black Forest linden wood hanging game plaques. One with chamois and grouse, the other red stag and fox. Both complete with rifle and game ...
Category
Early 1900s Swiss Antique Black Forest Folk Art
Materials
Wood
$28,000 / set
Black Forest Style Carved Wall Bracket Shelf
Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight
Black Forest style carved wall bracket shelf
This is a delightful item, the bracket has a carved stag’s head decorated with leaves and trees fro...
Category
Early 20th Century Black Forest Folk Art
Materials
Walnut
Antique Circa 1880 Pair of Super Rare Black Forest Hand Carved Dwarf Whip Hooks
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
We are delighted to offer for sale this exceptionally rare pair of stunning, original circa 1880 Swiss made Black Forest wood, whip hooks of two Dwarfs
These are a very very rare...
Category
1880s Swiss Antique Black Forest Folk Art
Materials
Wood
Black Forest Carved Cat Match Holder
By Black Forest
Located in Coeur d
Alene, ID
Swiss carved match holder with a cat with glass eyes seated beside a pitcher. In the 1800’s the wood carving industry of Switzerland started in the...
Category
19th Century Swiss Antique Black Forest Folk Art
Materials
Wood
Antique Swiss Black Forest hand carved walnut study of William Tell and his son
Located in Central England, GB
This superb quality walnut Swiss black forest sculpture depicts the Swiss legend William Tell jubilantly walking home arm in arm with his son with a large...
Category
Early 20th Century Swiss Black Forest Folk Art
Materials
Walnut
Mountain Sheep primitive Black Forest Carved Folk Art Wooden Trophy 19th Century
Located in Nuernberg, DE
A great looking hand carved original wooden Folk Art wall decoration. A great piece for a suitable ambiance in a trophy room or the office of a Hunter or Woodsman. More than likely o...
Category
1860s Austrian Antique Black Forest Folk Art
Materials
Wood
Large Handforged Cattle Bell Made in Switzerland ca. 1900s
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Antique Handforged Cattle Bell Made in Switzerland ca. 1900s
Item e7309
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 Folk Art
Materials
Metal
Large Deer Head primitive Black Forest Hand Carved Folk Art Wooden Trophy
Located in Nuernberg, DE
A great looking hand carved original wooden Folk Art wall decoration. A great piece for a suitable ambiance in a trophy room or the office of a Hunter or Woodsman. More than likely o...
Category
1920s Austrian Vintage Black Forest Folk Art
Materials
Wood
Black Forest Wooden Nutcracker 1950s Germany
Located in Den Haag, NL
Wonderful angry Owl Nutcracker .Glass eyes ,Black Forest . 1950s
Category
1950s German Vintage Black Forest Folk Art
Materials
Fruitwood
19th Century Black Forest Carved Cabinet
By Black Forest
Located in Coeur d
Alene, ID
Swiss carved china cabinet. Front door has bear paying accordion. Mother and father dancing together as cub plays close by. Two bears supporting shelves. Two drawers for flatware. Be...
Category
Early 1900s Swiss Antique Black Forest Folk Art
Materials
Wood
Folk Art 20th Century Carved Wood Man Holding a Beer Stein, Austria 1960s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Pine carving of a beer drinking man, 20th century Austria, he is holding his stein in one hand and straightened his jacket with the other. With a manufact...
Category
1960s Austrian Vintage Black Forest Folk Art
Materials
Wood
Black Forest Carved Bird Plaque
By Black Forest
Located in Coeur d
Alene, ID
Swiss carved walnut plaque with game bird and two chicks with vine and leaf design. Part of the Brienz Collection but not published.
Period: circ...
Category
1920s Swiss Vintage Black Forest Folk Art
Materials
Wood
Antique circa 1880 Super Rare Black Forest Hand Carved and Painted Whip Hook
By Black Forest
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
We are delighted to offer for sale this exceptionally rare, stunning, original circa 1880 Swiss made Black Forest wood, whip hooks which has the original paint
This is a fine exa...
Category
1880s Swiss Antique Black Forest Folk Art
Materials
Wood
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 Folk Art
Materials
Wood
Black Forest Carving "The Hunter" Attributed to Johann Huggler
By Black Forest
Located in Coeur d
Alene, ID
The Hunter attributed to the Huggler's (1834-1912) Of Brienz - a small town in Bernese Oberland, Canton Bern Switzerland. A carving of a huntsman holding a cock pheasant. This appear...
Category
Late 19th Century Swiss Antique Black Forest Folk Art
Materials
Walnut
Unknown, Oil on Canvas Painting Angel with Sleeping Child
Located in Berghuelen, DE
A great angelic oil painting depicting an angel sheltering a sleeping child from a snake. Oil painting on canvas with vigorous pastel colors. Framed wit...
Category
Early 20th Century German Black Forest Folk Art
Materials
Canvas
19th Century Swiss Black Forest Carving of a Stag and Tree Nut Dish
Located in Stamford, CT
Sweet little Black Forest carving of a stag standing near a pine tree next to a brass lined nut or candy dish. Some writing bottom front in white is too worn for me to make out, prob...
Category
Late 19th Century Swiss Antique Black Forest Folk Art
Materials
Walnut
19th Century Black Forest Bear
Located in Forney, TX
A large and most impressive late 19th century Swiss Black Forest style hand carved and painted wooden bear sculpture (also known as a Black Forest bear...
Category
Late 19th Century European Antique Black Forest Folk Art
Materials
Glass, Wood
Antique Swiss Casted Bronze Cattle Bell ca. 1900s
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Antique Swiss Casted Bronze Cattle Bell ca. 1900s
Item e7315
An antique cast bronze cattle bell, made in Switzerland around 1900. The bell comes with its ...
Category
Early 20th Century Swiss Black Forest Folk Art
Materials
Bronze
Wooden Micro Carving Plaque by Johann Rint ca. 1880
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Wooden Micro Carving Plaque by Johann Rint ca. 1880
A small wall plaque with detailed relief carvings worked out of linden wood by Johann Rint ca. 1880....
Category
Late 19th Century Austrian Antique Black Forest Folk Art
Materials
Wood
Finely Carved Statue of a Bull, Black Forest ca. 1900
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Finely carved statue of a bull ca. 1900
The antique Black Forest carving of a bull which is chafing on a tree stump. It was made most pro...
Category
Late 19th Century Swiss Antique Black Forest Folk Art
Materials
Wood
Finely Carved Wood Chamois Brienz, Switzerland, circa 1900
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Finely carved wood chamois Brienz, Switzerland circa 1900.
A delicately handcarved wood sculpture of a chamois standing on a rocky base. A very detailed and natural carving excecuted by one of the Swiss woodcarvers from the area of Brienz, ca. 1900.
The tradition of wood carving, using manual skills to make everyday objects and fine art sculptures, is found throughout Europe. The incentive to create not only useful but also aesthetically beautiful things, distinguishes the craftsman from the artist. In addition to the well-known Swiss wood carving...
Category
Early 20th Century Swiss Black Forest Folk Art
Materials
Wood
Large Wooden Strolling Bear Handcarved in Brienz ca. 1930
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Large Wooden strolling bear handcarved in Brienz ca. 1930
A large antique statue of a walking bear. Made of lindenwood, finely handcarved with na...
Category
Mid-20th Century Swiss Black Forest Folk Art
Materials
Wood
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 Folk Art
Materials
Softwood
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 Folk Art
Materials
Wood
Vintage Wooden Strolling Bear Handcarved in Brienz ca. 1950
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Vintage Wooden Strolling Bear Handcarved in Brienz ca. 1950
A vintage statue of a walking bear. Made of lindenwood, finely handcarved with naturalistic details in Brienz, Switzerlan...
Category
Mid-20th Century Swiss Black Forest Folk Art
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 e7309
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 Folk Art
Materials
Metal
Vintage Stainless Steel and Horn Tableware Set for 6 Germany 1950s
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Antique Stainless Steel and Horn 12 Pieces Tableware Set, Germany 1930s
A rustic tabelware set consisting of six knives and six forks. The handles are made of genuine deer horn. The...
Category
Mid-20th Century German Black Forest Folk Art
Materials
Metal
Antique Wooden Carved Crib Figurine of a Shepherd
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Antique Wooden Carved Crib Figurine of a Shepherd
A large antique wooden carved statue of a shepherd, probably from a Christmas crib. Handcarved in Germany in the second half of the...
Category
Mid-19th Century German Antique Black Forest Folk Art
Materials
Wood
Large Hall Mirror with Cow Horn Decorations and Console Table, Austria, 1870
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Large hall mirror with cow horn decorations and console table, Austria 1870
A great wall mirror with console table from a noble villa in the Austri...
Category
Late 19th Century German Antique Black Forest Folk Art
Materials
Antler, Glass, Wood, Fur
$3,424 Sale Price
20% Off
Antique Wild Boar Piggy Bank Made of Clay
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Antique Wild Boar Piggy Bank Made of Clay
An antique piggy back in the shape of a wild boar. Handmade of clay. It has no opening on the base thus ...
Category
Early 20th Century German Black Forest Folk Art
Materials
Clay
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 Folk Art
Materials
Wood
Black Forest Carved Candle Holder
By Black Forest
Located in Coeur d
Alene, ID
Black Forest candle holder with tree and standing chamois. Part of the Brienz Collection but not published. In the 1800’s the wood carving industry of Swi...
Category
19th Century Swiss Antique Black Forest Folk Art
Materials
Wood
Nice Carved and Painted Tyrolian Carnival Fasnet Mask
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Nice Carved and Painted Tyrolian Carnival Fasnet Mask
A handcarved pine wood, hand painted, antique wooden carved carnival mask from the region of South Tyrol. Excecuted in the firs...
Category
Early 20th Century German Black Forest Folk Art
Materials
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....
Category
Late 19th Century German Antique Black Forest Folk Art
Materials
Glass, Wood
Antique Antler Mirror with Console Table, Austria, ca. 1860
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Antique Antler Mirror with Console Table, Austria, ca. 1860
A large antler mirror with console table, made in Austria ca. 1860. The mirror is de...
Category
19th Century German Antique Black Forest Folk Art
Materials
Antler, Glass, Wood, Stucco
$7,024 Sale Price
20% Off
Large Black Forest Woodcarving Ibex Sculpture, Austria, circa 1920
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Large Black Forest Woodcarving Ibex Sculpture, Austria, circa 1920
An antique early 20th century wooden carved sculpture of an ibex. Handcarved in lindenwood with naturalistic detai...
Category
Early 20th Century Austrian Black Forest Folk Art
Materials
Wood
Antique Head of a Sicilian Puppet, ca. 1900s
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Antique Head of a Sicilian puppet, ca. 1900s
Antique Head of a Sicilian puppet depicting a knight. Made of handcarved and handpainted wood with handfo...
Category
Early 20th Century Italian Black Forest Folk Art
Materials
Metal
Large Black Forest Poacher with Chamois
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Large Black Forest Poacher with Chamois
A very large wooden handcarved poacher statue. The poacher is on his way back from the hunt with a hunted chamois on his back. The hand-made ...
Category
Early 20th Century Swiss Black Forest Folk Art
Materials
Wood
$11,840 Sale Price
20% Off
Fine Carved Statue of a Staghound, circa 1920
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Fine Carved Statue of a Staghound, circa 1920
A wooden carved statue of a staghound. It is carved as half relief out of one piece of nutwood. Made in Brienz, Switzerland circa 1920....
Category
Early 20th Century Swiss Black Forest Folk Art
Materials
Wood
A Wooden Carved Black Forest Bear Desk Set ca. 1920s
Located in Berghuelen, DE
A Wooden Carved Black Forest Bear Desk Set ca. 1920s
Item e7286
A nicely carved Black Forest bear desk set for small utensils. Executed in Brienz, Switzerland around 1920. Very good ...
Category
Early 20th Century Swiss Black Forest Folk Art
Materials
Wood
Great Lodge Style Antler Mantel Clock 1900
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Great Lodge Style Antler Mantel Clock 1900
A rare antique lodge style mantel clock. Oakwood case, richly decorated with antlers from the deer and fallow deer, mountain goat antlers ...
Category
Early 20th Century German Black Forest Folk Art
Materials
Wood, Antler
$2,980 Sale Price
20% Off
Antique Handforged Goat Bell Made in Switzerland ca. 1900s
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Antique Handforged Goat Bell Made in Switzerland ca. 1900s
Item e7308
An antique forged iron goat bell, made in Switzerland around 1900. The bell comes with its original brown leathe...
Category
Early 20th Century Swiss Black Forest Folk Art
Materials
Metal
Set of Three Historical Dragon Head Wood Beams
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Set of Three Historical Dragon Head Wood Beams
This set of three antique massive dragon head wood beams comes from a Bavarian half-timber house in the area ...
Category
Late 19th Century German Antique Black Forest Folk Art
Materials
Wood
$3,160 Sale Price / set
20% Off
Antique Set of Rustic Carter Cutlery with Carved Horn Handles 18th
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Antique Set of Rustic Carter Cutlery with Carved Horn Handles 18th
A rare antique set of knife and fork as serving cutlery. The handles are made of deer horn with handcarved heads o...
Category
Mid-18th Century German Antique Black Forest Folk Art
Materials
Metal
Black Forest folk art for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a broad range of unique Black Forest folk art 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 folk art created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include folk art, decorative objects, wall decorations and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with wood, metal and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Black Forest folk art made in a specific country, there are Europe, and Switzerland pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original folk art, popular names associated with this style include Black Forest, A.W. Goebel, Hermann Steiner, and Sofina Boutique Kitzbühel. 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 folk art differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $900 and tops out at $75,000 while the average work can sell for $6,250.
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