Black Forest Furniture
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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Item Ships From: Germany
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 Furniture
Materials
Wood
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 Furniture
Materials
Wood
Pair of Antique Bull Horn Chairs Austria 1870
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Pair of Antique Bull Horn Chairs Austria 1870
A pair antique bull horn chairs, from a noble villa in Austria. The seats are with antique green velvet ...
Category
Late 19th Century Austrian Antique Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Wood, Antler
$7,880 / set
Antique Bull Horn Hall Stand with Cow Fur ca. 1870
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Antique Bull Horn Hall Stand with Cow Fur ca. 1870
Item e5682
A bull horn hall stand ca. 1870, covered with vintage cattle fur which has to be renewed (...
Category
Late 19th Century Austrian Antique Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Fur, Glass, Wood, Horn
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 Furniture
Materials
Metal
A Wooden Carved Black Forest Bear with Glass Vase ca. 1900s
Located in Berghuelen, DE
A Wooden Carved Black Forest Bear with Glass Vase ca. 1900s
A finely carved standing Black Forest bear holding an Art Nouveau glass vase in his hands. Executed in Brienz, Switzerlan...
Category
Early 20th Century Swiss Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Wood, Blown Glass
Vintage Black Forest Chamois Trophy on Carved Plaque ca. 1950
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Vintage Black Forest Chamois Trophy on Carved Plaque ca. 1950
A large decorative trophy of the chamois (Rupicapra rupicapra), mounted on a carved wooden plaque. The plaque has a gre...
Category
1950s German Vintage Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Antler, Wood
Vintage Black Forest Chamois Trophy on Carved Plaque ca. 1950
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Vintage Black Forest Chamois Trophy on Carved Plaque ca. 1950
A large decorative trophy of the chamois (Rupicapra rupicapra), mounted on a carved wooden plaque. The plaque has a gre...
Category
1950s German Vintage Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Antler, 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 Furniture
Materials
Metal
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 Furniture
Materials
Metal
Large Siberian Deer Trophy Mount on Wooden Plaque ca. 1900s
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Large Siberian Deer Trophy Mount on Wooden Plaque ca. 1900s
Item e6940
A large antique Siberian deer (Capreolus pygargus) trophy on a wooden turned plaque with black finish. The trop...
Category
Early 20th Century German Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Antler, 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 Furniture
Materials
Antler, Glass, Wood, Fur
Pair Renaissance Style Carved Children Chairs, Ca. 1890
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Pair Renaissance Style Carved Children Chairs, Ca. 1890
A pair of wonderful carved nut wood children chairs, backrest carved in Renaissance style with fantastic grimace carvings, Ge...
Category
Late 19th Century German Antique Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Wood
Black Forest Vintage Deer Trophy on Carved Plaque 1947
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Black Forest Vintage Deer Trophy on Carved Plaque 1947
A large vintage deer (Capreolus capreolus) trophy on a wooden carved plaque. The plaque fea...
Category
Mid-20th Century German Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Wood, Antler
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 Furniture
Materials
Cut Glass, Wood
Abnorm Siberian Deer Trophy Mount on Wooden Plaque ca. 1900s
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Abnorm Siberian Deer Trophy Mount on Wooden Plaque ca. 1900s
Item e6941
A large abnorm Siberian deer (Capreolus pygargus) trophy on a wooden turned plaque with black finish. The trop...
Category
Early 20th Century German Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Antler, Wood
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 Furniture
Materials
Clay
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 Furniture
Materials
Glass, Wood
Antique Antler Smoking Desk Set, circa 1900
Located in Berghuelen, DE
The antique antler smoking desk set is made of original antlers from the deer and the stag. It was in Germany, circa 1900.
Measures: Width 16.93" (43cm)
Height 11.42" (29cm)
Antle...
Category
Early 20th Century German Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Antler
Antique Wooden Carved Cupboard with Several Carvings
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Antique Wooden Carved Cupboard with Several Carvings
A detailed handcarved wooden buffet or cupboard with several elaborately carved wooden decorations depicting lion, putties, ange...
Category
Early 20th Century German Black Forest Furniture
Materials
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 Furniture
Materials
Metal
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 Furniture
Materials
Walnut
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 Furniture
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 Furniture
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 Furniture
Materials
Antler, 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 Furniture
Materials
Wood
Antique Hand Painted Advertising Poster for a Hemoglobin Fabrication in Munich
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Antique Handpainted Advertising Poster for a Hemoglobin Fabrication in Munich
A large antique handpainted advertising poster for a hemoglobin fabrication in the 19th century in Muni...
Category
1890s German Antique Black Forest Furniture
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 Furniture
Materials
Glass, Wood
Antique Hand-Carved Tyrolean Farmer Sculpture, ca. 1880
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Antique Hand-Carved Tyrolean Farmer Sculpture, ca. 1880
This finely carved wooden figure depicts a traditional Tyrolean farmer sitting relaxed on a r...
Category
1880s Swiss Antique Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Wood
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 Furniture
Materials
Glass, 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 Furniture
Materials
Wood, Antler
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 Furniture
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 Furniture
Materials
Wood
Black Forest Vintage Red Deer Trophy on Wooden Plaque, Germany 1920s
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Black Forest Vintage Red Deer Trophy on Wooden Plaque, Germany 1920s
A large antique red deer (Cervus elaphus) trophy on a wooden plaque, painted in dark green. It comes from the no...
Category
1920s German Vintage Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Antler, Wood
Black Forest Vintage Roe Deer Trophy on Carved Plaque 1940s
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Black Forest Vintage Roe Deer Trophy on Carved Plaque 1940s
An antique roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) trophy on a wooden carved plaque. The plaque is decorated with carved oak leave...
Category
1940s German Vintage Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Antler, Wood
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 Furniture
Materials
Wood, Antler
Antique Business Card Tray with Deer Antler Decorations, Germany, ca. 1900
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Antique Business card tray with deer horn antler decorations, Germany ca. 1900
A rustic business card tray, made of turned nut wood with deer antle...
Category
Early 20th Century Italian Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Wood
Black Forest furniture for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a broad range of unique Black Forest furniture 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 furniture created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include decorative objects, more furniture and collectibles, wall decorations and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with wood, glass and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Black Forest furniture made in a specific country, there are Europe, Germany, and Switzerland pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original furniture, popular names associated with this style include Sofina Boutique Kitzbühel, Black Forest, Sofina Porzellan, and Horrix. 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 furniture differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $30 and tops out at $150,000 while the average work can sell for $1,550.
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