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 Victorian Vanity Mirror with Bear, Black Forest ca. 1900
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Antique Victorian Vanity Mirror with Bear, Black Forest ca. 1900
A lovely wooden vanity mirror decorated with an elaborate carved bear...
Category
Early 20th Century Swiss Black Forest Folk Art
Materials
Wood
Folksy Hand Carved Tyrolian Carnival Fasnet Mask
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Folksy Hand Carved Tyrolian Carnival Fasnet Mask
A folksy wooden carved carnival mask from the region of South Tyrol. These masks are used in Austria, South Germany and Italy at the...
Category
Early 20th Century German Black Forest Folk Art
Materials
Wood
Antique Cheese and Butter Knives with Deer Handles, circa 1950s
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Antique Cheese and Butter Knives with Deer Handles, circa 1950s
A rustic serving set consisting of cheese knife and butter knife. The handles are made of genuine deer feet. The blad...
Category
Mid-20th Century German Black Forest Folk Art
Materials
Metal
Rustic Black Forest Root Wood Hunter, circa 1920
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Rustic Black Forest Root Wood Hunter ca. 1920
A rustic wooden hunter statue with deer. It was carved out of a piece of root wood. Germany, Black Forest,...
Category
Early 20th Century German Black Forest Folk Art
Materials
Wood
Large Group of Carved Cattles with Glass Vase Inset, Brienz ca. 1890
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Large Group of Carved Cattles with Glass Vase Inset, Brienz ca. 1890
A rare group of naturalistically carved cattles - bull, female cattle and young cattle standing around a stump. ...
Category
Late 19th Century Swiss Antique Black Forest Folk Art
Materials
Cut Glass, Wood
Antique Set of Rustic Hunters Knives with Chamois Horn Handles
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Antique Set of Rustic hunters knives with Chamois Horn handles
A rare antique set of six knives. The handles are made of genuine chamois horn and feature a decorated silver knob on ...
Category
Late 19th Century German Antique Black Forest Folk Art
Materials
Metal
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...
Category
Late 19th Century German Antique Black Forest Folk Art
Materials
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 for...
Category
Early 20th Century German Black Forest Folk Art
Materials
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. ...
Category
Late 19th Century German Antique Black Forest Folk Art
Materials
Wood
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...
Category
Late 19th Century German Antique Black Forest Folk Art
Materials
Glass, Wood
Victorian Miniature Black forest Antler Casket 1860
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Victorian Miniature Black forest Antler Casket 1860
A marvelous antique rustic casket. It is made of wood, veneered with antler pieces. On top an antler plaque...
Category
Mid-19th Century German Antique Black Forest Folk Art
Materials
Antler, Wood
Antique Bull Horn Hall Stand ca. 1870
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Antique Bull Horn Hall Stand ca .1870
A large bull horn hall stand made of wood, original Austrian cattle horns and a green velvet cover. Manufactured i...
Category
Late 19th Century Austrian Antique Black Forest Folk Art
Materials
Wood, Antler
$2,712 Sale Price
20% Off
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...
Category
Late 19th Century German Antique Black Forest Folk Art
Materials
Glass, Wood
Antique Wooden Carved Horse Paper Weight, circa 1920
Located in Berghuelen, DE
A great wooden carved head of a horse. It is mounted on a wooden base - usable as desk decoration or paper weight. Made in Germany ca. 1920.
Measures:...
Category
Early 20th Century German Black Forest Folk Art
Materials
Walnut
Antique Set of Rustic Hunters Cutlery with Chamois Horn Handles
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Antique set of rustic hunters cutlery with Chamois Horn Handles
A rare antique set of knife and fork. The handles are made of genuine chamois horn. Tines and blade are made of galva...
Category
Late 19th Century German Antique Black Forest Folk Art
Materials
Metal
Wooden Carved Sculpture of a Saint, circa 1850
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Wooden Carved Sculpture of a Saint, circa 1850
A beautifully hand carved and hand painted sculpture of a saint with a palm-branch. It is made most probably in Armenian or Georgian a...
Category
Mid-19th Century Unknown Antique Black Forest Folk Art
Materials
Wood
A Swiss Black Forest gnome matchstick holder/striker made in 1916
Located in Central England, GB
This superb small Black Forest hand-carved lime wood novelty match holder features a standing gnome wearing a tall peaked hat, tunic, and long beard.
This little fellow is standing ...
Category
Early 20th Century Swiss Black Forest Folk Art
Materials
Wood
Rustic Decor Antique Wooden Humidor
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Rustic Decor Antique Wooden Humidor
A very large highly decorative rustic wooden humidor turned out from a solid thunk, tin inset. Executed, ci...
Category
Mid-20th Century Unknown Black Forest Folk Art
Materials
Wood
Large Hand Carved Black Forest Military Soldier
His Horse Under a Shade Tree
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
This well executed carving is unsigned by the artist, but presumed to have been done in Eastern Europe in circa 1940 in the Black Forest style. The carving depicts a military soldier holding a 'Tommy...
Category
Early 20th Century German Black Forest Folk Art
Materials
Softwood
Rustic Black Forest Wall Mirror, Austria circa 1870
Located in Lichtenberg, AT
Extraordinary rustic wall mirror from the 19th century around 1870 in Austria. An unusual piece of a Black Forest mirror that has been elaborately handcarved out of basswood in an ex...
Category
Late 19th Century Antique Black Forest Folk Art
Materials
Mirror, Softwood
Black Forest Wall Light Shades Goat Fur Sofina Boutique Kitzbuehel
Located in Kitzbühel, Tirol
Pair of handmade lampshades with goat fur. Typical light grey fur color with a black line. Inside with gold.
Rimmed by hand with a beige grosgrain. Iron angels...
Category
2010s Austrian Black Forest Folk Art
Materials
Fur
Antique Carved
Painted Troubadour or Minstrel, Nodder Figure with a Violin
Located in Nantucket, MA
19th Century carved and painted wood figure of a troubadour or minstrel wearing a hat and long coat with his trousers tucked into knee-high boots and having a violin under one arm wi...
Category
Late 19th Century European Antique Black Forest Folk Art
Materials
Abalone, Gesso, Pine, Paint
Austrian Antler Brooch with English Gold Medal
Located in Kitzbühel, Tirol
Handmade brooch in the form of an antler in silver gilded. In the middle a Victorian gold medal dated 1895. Austrian hallmark and silver hallmark.
Category
Mid-20th Century Austrian Black Forest Folk Art
Materials
Gold, Silver
Antique Bell Belt with Eight Brass Bells, Tyrol ca. 1900s
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Antique Bell Belt with Eight Brass Bells, Tyrol ca. 1900s
An antique bell belt with eight brass bells from the Tyrolian Alps ca. 1900s. Bell belts are used to locate goats or sheep ...
Category
Early 20th Century Swiss Black Forest Folk Art
Materials
Metal
Great Carved Black Forest Horn Lithophany, Germany ca. 1840
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Great Carved Black Forest Horn Lithophany, Germany ca. 1840
Museal rustic lithophany depicting finely carved chamoise in a mountain landscape. The f...
Category
Mid-19th Century German Antique Black Forest Folk Art
Materials
Wood, Antler
Black Forest Mantle Carving "Antler
s Clash"
By Black Forest
Located in Coeur d
Alene, ID
Swiss Black Forest mantle carving of two fighting stags. Great mangle carving piece. Part of the Brienz Collection but not published.
Period: circa 1920
...
Category
1920s Swiss Vintage Black Forest Folk Art
Materials
Wood
19th Century Black Wrought Iron Alpine Front Door Bell
Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight
19th Century Black Wrought Iron Alpine Front Door Bell
This is a delightful and very unusual item, the brass bell is housed in an attractive wrought Iron frame, it is suspended on ...
Category
19th Century Antique Black Forest Folk Art
Materials
Bronze
Original Antique Grape Vine Carved Black Forest Wood Music Box Needs Service
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
We are delighted to offer for sale this antique original circa 1880 Black Forest Wood music box with grape vine carving to the top
A very good lookin...
Category
1880s Swiss Antique Black Forest Folk Art
Materials
Wood
Black Forest Carved Bear with Pen Inkwell
By Black Forest
Located in Coeur d
Alene, ID
Walking bear pen holder and inkwell. Published in "Black Forest Bears and Swiss Woodcarvings," plate 92a. Book included.
In the 1800’s the wood carving industry of Switzerland started in the town of Brienz. By the end of the 1800’s it had become the driving force for this industry. Swiss wood carvers became world renown and featured at many international exhibitions.
Period: 1900
Origin: Switzerland
Size: 4" H x 7" W
Family Owned & Operated
Cisco’s Gallery deals in the rare, exceptional, and one-of-a-kind pieces that define the history of America and the Old West. Our pieces range from American Indian to Cowboy Western and include original items of everyday life, commerce, art, and warfare that tamed America’s frontier. Our 14,000 square foot gallery opened in 1996 in beautiful Coeur d’Alene, Idaho.
Personal Service
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Black Forest, Brienz Collection, Carvings, Bears, Inkwells, Desk Accessories...
Category
19th Century Swiss Antique Black Forest Folk Art
Materials
Wood
Black Forest Carved Dog Inkwell
By Black Forest
Located in Coeur d
Alene, ID
Swiss carved black Forest shaggy dog inkwell with pen holder. In the 1800’s the wood carving industry of Switzerland started in the town of Brienz. By the ...
Category
19th Century Swiss Antique Black Forest Folk Art
Materials
Wood
Black Forest Carved Bear with Pen Inkwell
By Black Forest
Located in Coeur d
Alene, ID
Swiss bear with log pen rest and inkwell. Published in "Black Forest Bears and Swiss Woodcarvings," plate 93a. Book included.
In the 1800’s the wood carving...
Category
19th Century Swiss Antique Black Forest Folk Art
Materials
Wood
Large 1920s Plaster Figure of the Seated Blacksmith, Le Travail
Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight
Large 1920s plaster figure of the seated blacksmith, Le Travail
A charming piece Folk Art, a painted statue of the famous blacksmith, known as “Le Travai...
Category
Early 20th Century Black Forest Folk Art
Materials
Plaster
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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