Black Forest Decorative 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.
to
1
96
8
103
1
Height
to
Width
to
1,469
947
346
336
304
242
195
190
115
94
92
68
63
54
45
35
31
28
39
64
1
20
42
2
6
1
4
12
9
17
3
2
72
60
60
27
3
103
59
28
28
9
104
104
104
1
1
Style: Black Forest
Big Black Forest Red Deer Trophy on Turned Plaque - Germany 1930
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Big Black Forest Red Deer Trophy on Turned Plaque - Germany 1930
A big 8 pointer red deer (Cervus elaphus) trophy from Germany, shot arround 1930. The large antlers are mounted on a...
Category
1930s German Vintage Black Forest Decorative Art
Materials
Antler, Wood
Original Antique Print After H. Leutemann, Reynard the Fox-Isegrim And The Bells
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 Decorative Art
Materials
Paper
Original Antique Print After H. Leutemann, Reynard the Fox-Hintze As Messenger
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 Decorative Art
Materials
Paper
Original Antique Print After H. Leutemann, Reynard the Fox And Lampe
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 Decorative Art
Materials
Paper
Original Antique Print After H. Leutemann, Reynard the Fox Shorn
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 Decorative Art
Materials
Paper
Original Antique Print After H. Leutemann, Reynard the Fox-Gieremund In The Well
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 Decorative Art
Materials
Paper
Original Antique Print After H. Leutemann, Reynard the Fox Teaching The Creed
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 Decorative Art
Materials
Paper
Original Antique Print After H. Leutemann, Reynard the Fox
s Confusion
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 Decorative Art
Materials
Paper
Large Black Forest 8 Pointer Red Deer Trophy on Carved Plaque - Germany ca. 1940
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Large Black Forest 8 Pointer Red Deer Trophy on Carved Plaque - Germany ca. 1940s
A large 8-pointer red deer trophy (Cervus elaphus) from South Germany, mounted on a brown wooden pl...
Category
1940s German Vintage Black Forest Decorative Art
Materials
Antler, Wood
Original Antique Print After H. Leutemann, Reynard the Fox-Place of Execution
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 Decorative Art
Materials
Paper
Original Antique Print After H. Leutemann, Reynard the Fox
s Triumph
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 Decorative Art
Materials
Paper
Original Antique Print After H. Leutemann, Reynard the Fox- Bruin In Prison
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 Decorative Art
Materials
Paper
Large Black Forest Red Deer Trophy on Turned Plaque - Germany ca. 1920
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Large Black Forest Red Deer Trophy on Turned Plaque - Germany ca. 1920
A large unequal 6-pointer red deer trophy (Cervus elaphus) from South Germany, mounted on a black turned woode...
Category
1920s German Vintage Black Forest Decorative Art
Materials
Antler, Wood
Vintage Set of Six Chamois Trophies on Wooden Plaques, Germany ca. 1950s
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Vintage Set of Six Chamois Trophies on Wooden Plaques, Germany ca. 1950s
A set of six vintage chamois (Rupicapra rupicapra) trophies mounted on wooden plaques. The trophies were sho...
Category
1950s German Vintage Black Forest Decorative Art
Materials
Antler, Wood
Lovely Antique Roe Deer Trophy on Wooden Plaque, Germany ca.1930s
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Lovely Antique Roe Deer Trophy on Wooden Plaque, Germany ca.1930s
A lovely antique 6 pointer roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) trophy from the Black Forest mounted on a wooden turned p...
Category
1930s German Vintage Black Forest Decorative Art
Materials
Antler, Wood
Set of Six Roe Deer Trophies on Turned Plaques Germany ca. 1900s
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Set of Six Roe Deer Trophies on Turned Plaques Germany ca. 1900s
A set of six antique Black Forest roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) trophies mounted on turned wooden plaques. The trop...
Category
Early 1900s German Antique Black Forest Decorative Art
Materials
Antler, Wood
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 Decorative Art
Materials
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 Decorative Art
Materials
Antler, Wood
Large Black Forest Antique Deer Trophy on Wooden Plaque, Germany 1900s
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Large Black Forest Antique Deer Trophy on Wooden Plaque, Germany 1900s
A large 6 pointer antique red deer (Cervus elaphus) trophy on a wooden plaque with black finish. The trophy wa...
Category
Early 20th Century German Black Forest Decorative Art
Materials
Antler, Wood
Pair of 19th Century Austrian Majolica Pepper Platter Johann Maresh
Located in Austin, TX
Small Pair of 19th Century Austrian Majolica Pepper Platter Johann Maresh.
6.3 by 4.3 inches.
Category
1890s Austrian Antique Black Forest Decorative Art
Materials
Ceramic, Majolica
Black Forest Vintage Roe Deer Trophy on Carved Plaque, Germany 1930s
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Black Forest Vintage Roe Deer Trophy on Carved Plaque, Germany 1930s
An antique roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) trophy on a brown carved plaque with oak leaves. The trophy was shot a...
Category
1930s German Vintage Black Forest Decorative Art
Materials
Antler, Wood
Great Antique Deer Trophy on Wooden Plaque, Germany 1917
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Great Antique Deer Trophy on Wooden Plaque, Germany 1917
An antique 8 pointer deer (Cervus pyragus) trophy mounted on a turned wooden plaque. The trophy was shot in Vogtland, German...
Category
1910s German Vintage Black Forest Decorative Art
Materials
Antler, Wood
Large Black Forest Stag Trophy on Carved Plaque - Germany 1900s
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Large Black Forest Stag Trophy on Carved Plaque - Germany 1900s
A large 6 pointer red deer (Cervus elaphus) trophy from Germany mounted on a dark carved oak wood plaque. The trophy ...
Category
Early 1900s German Antique Black Forest Decorative Art
Materials
Antler, Wood
Antique Black Forest Red Deer Trophy on Carved Plaque - Germany 1930s
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Antique Black Forest Red Deer Trophy on Carved Plaque - Germany 1930s
A large 8 pointer red deer (Cervus elaphus) trophy from Germany mounted on a stained wooden plaque with elabora...
Category
1930s German Vintage Black Forest Decorative Art
Materials
Antler, Wood
Large Black Forest Red Deer Trophy on Carved Plaque - Germany 1937
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Large Black Forest Red Deer Trophy on Carved Plaque - Germany 1937
A large 8-pointer red deer trophy (Cervus elaphus) from the Upper Palatinate in Bavaria, mounted on a brown wooden...
Category
1930s German Vintage Black Forest Decorative Art
Materials
Antler, Wood
Large Chamois Trophy on Turned Plaque, Austria 1950s
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Large Chamois Trophy on Turned Plaque, Austria 1950s
An vintage chamois (Rupicapra rupicapra) trophy mounted on a wooden turned plaque with seperate carved oak leafes mounted on the...
Category
1950s Austrian Vintage Black Forest Decorative Art
Materials
Antler, Wood
Antique Red Deer Trophy on Carved Plaque, Germany 1940s
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Antique Red Deer Trophy on Carved Plaque, Germany 1940s
A vintage abnorm roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) trophy with unequal antlers from the Black Forest mounted on a carved plaque....
Category
1940s German Vintage Black Forest Decorative Art
Materials
Antler, Wood
Large Chamois Trophy on Carved Plaque, Austria 1948
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Large Chamois Trophy on Carved Plaque, Austria 1948
A antique chamois (Rupicapra rupicapra) trophy mounted on a wooden carved plaque which features acorns, oak leaves and a handwrit...
Category
1940s Austrian Vintage Black Forest Decorative Art
Materials
Antler, Wood
Set of Six Vintage Chamois Trophies on Wooden Plaques, Germany ca. 1940s
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Set of Six Vintage Chamois Trophies on Wooden Plaques, Germany ca. 1940s
A set of six vintage chamois (Rupicapra rupicapra) trophies mounted on wooden plaques. The trophies were sho...
Category
1940s German Vintage Black Forest Decorative Art
Materials
Antler, Wood
Large Black Forest Red Deer Trophy on Carved Plaque - Germany 1920
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Large Black Forest Red Deer Trophy on Carved Plaque - Germany 1920
An antique trophy of the unequal 10-pointer red deer (Cervus elaphus) from Salem Castle in southern Germany. Shot ...
Category
1920s German Vintage Black Forest Decorative Art
Materials
Antler, Wood
Large Black Forest Red Deer Trophy on Carved Plaque - Germany ca. 1935
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Large Black Forest Red Deer Trophy on Carved Plaque - Germany ca. 1935
A large unequal 6-pointer red deer trophy (Cervus elaphus) from South Germany, mounted on a brown wooden plate...
Category
1930s German Vintage Black Forest Decorative Art
Materials
Antler, Wood
Set of Six Roe Deer Trophies on Wooden Slices Germany ca. 1930s
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Set of Six Roe Deer Trophies on Wooden Slices Germany ca. 1930s
A set of six antique Black Forest roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) trophies mounted on birch wood slices. The trophies ...
Category
1930s German Vintage Black Forest Decorative Art
Materials
Antler, Wood
Set of Six Vintage Chamois Trophies on Wooden Plaques, Germany ca. 1970s
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Set of Six Vintage Chamois Trophies on Wooden Plaques, Germany ca. 1970s
A set of six vintage chamois (Rupicapra rupicapra) trophies mounted on wooden plaques. The trophies were sho...
Category
1970s German Vintage Black Forest Decorative Art
Materials
Antler, Wood
Set of Six Vintage Chamois Trophies on Wooden Plaques, Germany ca. 1960s
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Set of Six Vintage Chamois Trophies on Wooden Plaques, Germany ca. 1960s
A set of six vintage chamois (Rupicapra rupicapra) trophies mounted on wooden plaques. The trophies were sho...
Category
1960s German Vintage Black Forest Decorative Art
Materials
Antler, Wood
Vintage Set of Six Chamois Trophies on Wooden Plaques, Germany ca. 1950s
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Vintage Set of Six Chamois Trophies on Wooden Plaques, Germany ca. 1950s
A set of six vintage chamois (Rupicapra rupicapra) trophies mounted on wood plaques. The trophies were shot ...
Category
1950s German Vintage Black Forest Decorative Art
Materials
Antler, Wood
Vintage Set of Four Chamois Trophies on Carved Plaques, Germany ca. 1950s
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Vintage Set of Four Chamois Trophies on Carved Plaques, Germany ca. 1950s
A set of four vintage chamois (Rupicapra rupicapra) trophies mounted on carved wooden plaques. The trophies...
Category
1950s German Vintage Black Forest Decorative Art
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 Decorative Art
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 Decorative Art
Materials
Antler, 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 Decorative Art
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 Decorative Art
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 Decorative Art
Materials
Antler, Wood
Pair of Carved Lime Wood Pictures
Located in Lymington, Hampshire
A pair of Swiss carved lime-wood pictures one showing a hunter being attacked by an eagle as he attempts to raid its nest, the other a climber rescuing a g...
Category
1880s Swiss Antique Black Forest Decorative Art
Materials
Wood
Early 20th Century German Hand Painted Ceramic Hunt Scene Wall Platter
Located in Dallas, TX
This large, richly colored ceramic platter was crafted in Germany circa 1920 and captures the rustic charm of a traditional Black Forest hunt scene. Round in shape, the hand-painted ...
Category
Early 20th Century German Black Forest Decorative Art
Materials
Ceramic
Collection Of Twenty Black Forest Roe Mounts
Located in Buchanan, MI
COLLECTION OF TWENTY BLACK FOREST ROE MOUNTS PRICED PER MOUNT
Category
Early 20th Century Austrian Black Forest Decorative Art
Materials
Walnut, Antler
$495 / item
Black Forest decorative art for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a broad range of unique Black Forest decorative art for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the 19th Century, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage decorative art created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include wall decorations, more furniture and collectibles and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with wood, oak and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Black Forest decorative art made in a specific country, there are Europe, Austria, and Germany pieces for sale on 1stDibs. 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 decorative art differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $1,325 and tops out at $4,895 while the average work can sell for $3,475.
More Ways To Browse
Dr No Chairs
Drawers Lions Feet
Drexel Heritage Glass Cabinet
Drexel Modern Line
Duck Audubon
Duckworth Ruth
Dunbar Tambour
Dust Pan
Dutch Tea Cabinet
Dutch Walnut Burl Cabinet
E F Caldwell Clocks
E Fremiet
Edgar Brandt Attributed
Edo Period Cabinet
Egyptian Brass Tray
Elephant Mahout
Emile Nestor Joseph Carlier
Empire Furniture Company Antique