Black Forest Wall Decorations
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
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 Wall Decorations
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 Wall Decorations
Materials
Antler, Wood
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 Wall Decorations
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 Wall Decorations
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 Wall Decorations
Materials
Antler, Wood
19th Century Hand Carved Bracket Shelf
Located in High Point, NC
19th century hand carved bracket shelf from Holland, made from fruitwood. The shelf is shaped and has a molded edge sitting atop a hand carved man holding a horn. Very detailed carving.
Category
19th Century Dutch Antique Black Forest Wall Decorations
Materials
Fruitwood
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 Wall Decorations
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 Wall Decorations
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 Wall Decorations
Materials
Antler, 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
Late 19th Century German Antique Black Forest Wall Decorations
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 Wall Decorations
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 Wall Decorations
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 Wall Decorations
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 Wall Decorations
Materials
Glass, 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 Wall Decorations
Materials
Glass, Wood
Black Forest 1900s Carved Wooden Plaque with Chamois Motif, Foliage and Mirror
Located in Atlanta, GA
A Black Forest period carved wooden plaque from the early 20th century, with chamois motif, foliage and petite mirror. Hand-Carved in Switzerland during the early years of the 20th century, this wooden Black Forest plaque draws our attention with its chamois head emerging from an oval medallion, surrounded by scrolling leaves wrapped around a branch. The lower section showcases a petite oval mirror...
Category
Early 20th Century Swiss Black Forest Wall Decorations
Materials
Mirror, 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 Wall Decorations
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 Wall Decorations
Materials
Antler, Wood
Antique Framed Oil Painting on Canvas signed A. Heins
Located in Dallas, TX
Antique Framed Oil Painting on Canvas signed A. Heins is a wonderful depiction of a charming cottage in the woods, rendered with a deft brush on a soft, earth toned palette. The col...
Category
Early 20th Century Belgian Black Forest Wall Decorations
Materials
Canvas, Paint
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 Wall Decorations
Materials
Wood
Collection of Five Black Forest Roe Mounts on Carved Wood Plaques Priced per mou
Located in Buchanan, MI
Collection of five Black Forest roe mounts on carved wood plaques. Priced per mount.
Category
19th Century German Antique Black Forest Wall Decorations
Materials
Antler, Wood
Early Deer Antler Mount on Black Forest Carved Wood Plaque
Located in Buchanan, MI
Early Deer Antler Mount On Black Forest Carved Wood Plaque.
Category
Early 20th Century Austrian Black Forest Wall Decorations
Materials
Antler, 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 Wall Decorations
Materials
Ceramic
"Bavarian Sonnenaufgang" by Erwin Kettemann
Located in Wiscasset, ME
Oil on canvas, signed lower right.
Erwin Kettemann (1897–1971) was a landscape painter from Munich. He was a representative of late Impressionism as well as the 19th century “Karlsr...
Category
1930s German Vintage Black Forest Wall Decorations
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 Wall Decorations
Materials
Wood
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 Wall Decorations
Materials
Walnut, Antler
$495 / item
19th Century Pair of Carved Relief Limewood Shadow Boxes
Located in London, GB
A pair of carved limewood shadow boxes
Finely carved in high relief, and depicting two famous scenes of an eagle attacking a man, and a poacher being shot, housed within rectangul...
Category
Early 20th Century Swiss Black Forest Wall Decorations
Materials
Wood
Collection of Four Black Forest Chamois Mounts of Carved Wood Plaques Priced per
Located in Buchanan, MI
Collection of four Black forest chamois mounts of carved wood plaques. Priced per mount.
Category
Early 20th Century German Black Forest Wall Decorations
Materials
Antler, Wood
Black Forest wall decorations for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a broad range of unique Black Forest wall decorations for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the Late 20th Century, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage wall decorations created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include wall decorations, more furniture and collectibles, folk art and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with wood, bone and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Black Forest wall decorations 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 wall decorations, popular names associated with this style include Black Forest, Black Forrest, Hermann Steiner, and Johann Maresch. 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 wall decorations 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 $28,000 while the average work can sell for $980.
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