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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Style: Black Forest
Black Forest Carved Wood w Original Fabric Side Chairs, Pair
Located in North Miami, FL
These side chairs are magnificent example of Southern Germany/ Austrian carved wood with amazing details including mythological dragons and flora....
Category
Early 20th Century Austrian Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Brocade, Fruitwood
Linden Wood Black Forest Bear Hall Tree, circa 1900 Attributed to Seilar-Brawant
Located in Evergreen, CO
An excellent example of turn of the century Brienz Swiss carving in linden wood. There are many Swiss carvers well known for carving certain subjects and Seilar-Brawant is known for ...
Category
Early 20th Century Swiss Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Mirror, Wood
$12,998 Sale Price
49% Off
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 Furniture
Materials
Walnut
$35,000 / set
Black Forest 1900s Mirror with Carved Vine Motifs and Intersecting Corners
Located in Atlanta, GA
A Black Forest wall mirror from the early 20th century, with carved vine motifs. We currently have three mirrors available, priced and sold $1,350 EACH Created during the early years...
Category
Early 20th Century European Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Mirror, 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 Furniture
Materials
Brass
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 Furniture
Materials
Walnut
Antique Black Forest 19th Century Side / End Table Hunt Carved Oak
Marble Top
Located in Ijzendijke, NL
Exceptional & impressive! This 19th century Black Forest side / end table carved out of solid oak with "Rouge Belges" marble top.
Amazing craftsmanship fully hand carved by a maste...
Category
1870s French Antique Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Marble
Original Antique Print After H. Leutemann, Reynard the Fox
s Trial
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Great image by Heinrich Leutemann
From the Reynard The Fox series
Fine steel engraving
Published by A.H. Payne C.1850
Unframed.
Category
1850s English Antique Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Paper
19th Century Black Forest Carved Humidor
Located in High Point, NC
19th century hand-carved humidor in the form of a dog's head. The dog is very whimsical with a hat, which lifts to reveal a compartment for storage and finished with a cigar and a bo...
Category
19th Century Swiss Antique Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Fruitwood
Original Antique Print After H. Leutemann, Reynard the Fox- The Combat
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Great image by Heinrich Leutemann
From the Reynard The Fox series
Fine steel engraving
Published by A.H. Payne C.1850
Unframed.
Category
1850s English Antique Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Paper
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 Furniture
Materials
Metal
Exquisite 19th century Swiss Black Forest Coat rack carved eagle hallway antique
Located in Ijzendijke, NL
Exquisite & most impressive! This 19th century Swiss Black Forest eagle coat rack from carved wood. Highly detailed model with 4 hooks. The coat rack shows a scene of an eagle holdi...
Category
1880s Swiss Antique Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Wood
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 Furniture
Materials
Wood
Stunning Original Antique Hand Carved Black Forest Wood Jewellery Box
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
We are is delighted to offer for sale this rather lovely antique original circa 1880 black forest wood jewellery box
A very good looking and well made piece, it is hand carved all...
Category
1880s Swiss Antique Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Wood
19th Century French Carved Oak Black Forest Plant Stand Jardinière Flower Box
Located in Ijzendijke, NL
Gorgeous fully hand carved Black Forest 19th century plant stand / jardiniere in hand carved Fruitwood.
The stand body has outstanding carvings with the center a dimensional carved...
Category
1880s French Antique Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Fruitwood
19th Century French Carved Eagle Mirror
Located in Wormelow, Herefordshire
A finely carved wooden eagle holding a mirror in the shape of a crescent moon attributed to French cabinetmaker and wood craftsman, Gabriel Viardot (1830-1906). Dating from the late 19th century, this is a spectacular wall piece for any interior, making an impression in any space. It depicts an eagle in German Black Forest style beautifully captured in beech wood with an expressive and energetic stance, carved with talons, wings and feathers and completed with two glass eyes. While other designs of Viardot’s are of smaller scale, this eagle mirror is of a large, rare size.
Famed Parisian cabinetmaker and craftsman Gabriel Viardot was born in 1830. By age 19, he had worked as a furniture maker for the court of Napoleon III and was the head of a small team of sculptors, opening his own workshop in Paris in 1853. Throughout his career, his work was shown at various exhibitions across the globe for which Viardot was prized with several awards. By the 1880s, the workshop comprised of more than 90 furniture...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Mirror, Wood, Beech
Zabihi Collection Antique Anatolian Turkish Small Tribal Rug
Located in New York, NY
An antique Anatolian Turkish yastik rug
1'10'' x 2'7''
Category
20th Century Asian Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Wool
Fine Black Forest
Goat
Hall Chair
Located in New York, NY
Fine Black Forest 'Goat' Hall Chair, late 19th Century.
Category
Late 19th Century European Antique Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Wood
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 Furniture
Materials
Walnut
Man Hand Carved and Painted Black Forest Mechanical Wooden Bottle Stopper, 1930s
By ANRI
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Vintage Folk Art bottle stopper - I believe these are ANRI, made in Italy or Austria, but I see no markings, so I'll let the collectors out there be the judge. It depicts a lovely Ma...
Category
1930s Austrian Vintage Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Wood
Collection of Black Forrest Mounts Including One Stag, Ten Roe and One Chinois
Located in Buchanan, MI
Collection of Black Forrest mounts including one stag, ten roe and one chinois, ranging in size roe 12" high 7" wide, Stag 24" high, 23" wide. Check in with us as our inventory is c...
Category
19th Century Austrian Antique Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Antler, Walnut
Set of Eight 1920s Black Forest Dining Room Chairs with Hand-Carved Floral Décor
Located in Atlanta, GA
A set of eight Black Forest dining room chairs from the early 20th century, with carved foliage décor and upholstery. Created during the first quarter of the 20th century, this set o...
Category
Early 20th Century Swiss Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Upholstery, Wood
19th Century French Black Forest Carved Walnut Wall Sculpture with Mirror
Located in Dallas, TX
Decorate a wall with this beautiful antique carved mirror. Crafted in France circa 1880 and built of solid walnut wood, this elegant wall sculpture features an intricately carved ped...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Mirror, Walnut
19th Century Swiss Black Forest Carved Walnut Tilt-Top Table with Village Scene
Located in Dallas, TX
Crafted in Switzerland circa 1860, this exquisite Black Forest occasional table features a round, tilt-top surface set over a carved twist stem and a sculptural tripod base ending in...
Category
Mid-19th Century Swiss Antique Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Walnut
Country Style Porcelain Dish with Skier Decor Sofina Boutique Kitzbuehel
Located in Kitzbühel, Tirol
Charming hands-free painted porcelain dish with platinum rim. Hands-free painted in a classic winter decor with a skier, mountains and trees. Completely h...
Category
2010s German Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
Black Forest German Porcelain Vase with Hunting Scene Sofina Boutique Kitzbuehel
Located in Kitzbühel, Tirol
Hand-painted porcelain vase is completely handmade and handpainted in Bavaria Germany. Rimmed with a 24-carat gold line. The decor is hands-free painted all round with a hunting scene. The black forest decor...
Category
2010s German Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
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 Furniture
Materials
Bronze
19th Century French Black Forest Carved Walnut Wall Mirror with Foliage Motifs
Located in Dallas, TX
Carved in France circa 1870, this richly detailed wall mirror is a fine example of Black Forest-style craftsmanship, distinguished by its deeply sculptural forms and organic naturali...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Mirror, Walnut
Pair of 19th C. French Black Forest Carved Walnut Game and Harvest Wall Plaques
Located in Dallas, TX
This distinctive pair of antique Black Forest wall plaques was hand-carved from solid walnut in France circa 1870. Each is mounted on an oval back plate with a stippled and chiseled ...
Category
Mid-19th Century Swiss Antique Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Walnut
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 Furniture
Materials
Other
19th Century Carved Ebonized Black Forest Painting Easel
Located in Milford, NH
A fine example of an ebonized Black Forest hand carved easel with foliate crest and faux bois supports, a hinged rear support leg, and adjustable painting ...
Category
Late 19th Century German Antique Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Wood
Rustic Black Forest Floral Easel
Located in Queens, NY
Rustic Black Forest (19th Cent) walnut floral carved easel stand.
Category
19th Century German Antique Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Walnut
Swiss Brienz Black Forest Hand-Carved Wood Candle Holder
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
Black Forest hand-carved linden-wood hand carved candle holder/candlestick, circa 1900.
Black Forest sculptural art originates from the small mountain town Brienz, Switzerland co...
Category
Early 20th Century Swiss Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Wood
Antique 19th Century Black Forest Bear Adjustable Book Shelf / Book Rack Swiss
Located in Ijzendijke, NL
Exquisite & rare! This 19th century black forest books rack/ book shelf with ''Bears holding baby bears'' bookends hand carved Swiss.
Gorgeous 19th century antique Black Forest bookstand...
Category
Late 19th Century Swiss Antique Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Fruitwood
Large Antique Black Forest Brienz Hand Carved Wood Bear Humidor Sculpture
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
This large antique humidor is unsigned, but presumed to have originated from Austria and date to approximately 1900 and done in the period Black Forest style. This well executed scul...
Category
Early 20th Century Austrian Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Softwood
Rustic Black Forest Humidor Box
Located in Queens, NY
Rustic Black Forest (19thcentury) walnut carved humidor box with faux wood design and smoking motif on top (interior of top has smoking accessories...
Category
19th Century Antique Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Wood, Walnut
Black Forest Handmade Cushion Hunting Scene Sofina Boutique Kitzbühel
Located in Kitzbühel, Tirol
Handmade cushion in brilliant green colors in cotton and linen fabric with a hunting scene in the style of Black Forest. The fringe all around is made by hand in the style of the Aus...
Category
2010s Austrian Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Linen
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 Furniture
Materials
Wood
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 Furniture
Materials
Wood
$28,000 / set
Zabihi Collection Colorful Antique Anatolian Turkish Small Tribal Rug
Located in New York, NY
A colorful early 20th-century antique Anatolian Turkish yastik rug
1'7'' x 2'4''
Category
20th Century Asian Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Wool
Palace Size Antique Senneh Bakhtiari Rug
Located in New York, NY
A magnificent palace size early 20th century Persian Bakhtiari rug from the early 20th century. Large scale all-over design on a dark brown and navy blue ground with lobed diamond sh...
Category
Early 20th Century Persian Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Wool
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 Furniture
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 Furniture
Materials
Wood
Porcelain Bowl with Fox Figure Sofina Boutique Kitzbuehel
Located in Kitzbühel, Tirol
Completely handmade porcelain bowl with a hands-free naturalistic painted fox in brown colors. The fox is sitting in the middle of the bowl for decorating nuts or sweets around the fox figure...
Category
2010s German Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
Black Forest Porcelain Figure Fox Handpainted Sofina Boutique Kitzbuehel
Located in Kitzbühel, Tirol
Completely handmade porcelain figure with a hands-free naturalistic hand-painted fox in brown colors in the style of Black Forest. Handmade in Bavaria/Germany by Sofina Boutique Kitz...
Category
2010s German Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
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 Furniture
Materials
Mercury Glass, Oak
19th Century French Hand Carved Walnut Black Forest Jardiniére or Planter
Located in Birmingham, AL
A 19th century Black Forest jardinière hand carved of solid walnut in the Alsace region of France, circa 1870s. The detailed, intricately carved wood planter features a realistic han...
Category
1870s French Antique Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Walnut
Pair of 19th Century French Walnut Cabaret Figure Lamps on Barrel Bases
Located in Dallas, TX
Bring charm and character to a wine cellar, tasting room, or home bar with this delightful pair of late-19th-century French cabaret-themed lamp bases, carved in France circa 1880. Ea...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Walnut
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 Furniture
Materials
Wood
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 Furniture
Materials
Wood
Antique 19th Century Black Forest Antler Horn Sofa, Swiss/German c.1890
Located in Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent
A very unusual hall sofa or side sofa made in the Black Forest region of south-west Germany bordering Switzerland. The horns are intertwined and finished with carvings of Black Fores...
Category
19th Century German Antique Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Antler, Fabric
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 Furniture
Materials
Walnut
Black Forest Set of Six Glass Tumbler Amber Sofina Boutique Kitzbuehel
Located in Kitzbühel, Tirol
Set of six handblown amber crystal tumblers with hand-edged hunting scene in the style of Black forest. The decor is an antique hunting scene dec...
Category
2010s German Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Crystal
19th Century Black Forest Pierced Oak Carved Tray or Bowl
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
19th century Black Forest pierced oak tray. Has music box inside but it is not working and would need to be serviced.
Category
19th Century Antique Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Walnut
$395 Sale Price
50% Off
Early 20th Century French Carved Black Forest Hunting Barometer and Thermometer
Located in Birmingham, AL
A stunning early 20th century French black forest barometer with thermometer, circa 1900. Found in a hunting lodge in Lyon, this antique weather station...
Category
Early 1900s French Antique Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Walnut
Black Forest Oval Porcelain Plate with Wild Boars Sofina Boutique Kitzbühel
Located in Kitzbühel, Tirol
Completely handmade and hands-free painted large oval porcelain plate for decoration. Two natural moulded porcelain figures wild boars are sittin...
Category
2010s German Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
1920s German Black Forest Planter with Vines and Four Truncated Pots
Located in Atlanta, GA
This early 20th century Black Forest wood planter is composed of a shaped base supporting four boles, a very short one in front, a great one in the center flanked by two shorter tilt...
Category
Early 20th Century German Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Wood
Black Forest Music Box Chair
Located in New Orleans, LA
A music box hidden inside this beautifully carved Swiss chair will activate when the chair is sat upon. A remarkable example of the intricate craftsmanship and artistic innovation ch...
Category
19th Century Swiss Antique Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Walnut
Original Antique Print After H. Leutemann, Reynard the Fox And The Coney
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Great image by Heinrich Leutemann
From the Reynard The Fox series
Fine steel engraving
Published by A.H. Payne C.1850
Unframed.
Category
1850s English Antique Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Paper
Original Antique Print After H. Leutemann, Reynard the Fox-Isegrim And The Crane
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Great image by Heinrich Leutemann
From the Reynard The Fox series
Fine steel engraving
Published by A.H. Payne C.1850
Unframed.
Category
1850s English Antique Black Forest Furniture
Materials
Paper
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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