Black Forest More Furniture and Collectibles
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.
1920s German Vintage Black Forest More Furniture and Collectibles
Glass, Mirror, Walnut
Mid-20th Century German Black Forest More Furniture and Collectibles
Wood, Antler
Mid-19th Century German Antique Black Forest More Furniture and Collectibles
Antler, Wood
2010s Austrian Black Forest More Furniture and Collectibles
Fur
Mid-20th Century German Black Forest More Furniture and Collectibles
Wood, Antler
Late 19th Century Swiss Antique Black Forest More Furniture and Collectibles
Wood
Early 20th Century German Black Forest More Furniture and Collectibles
Wood, Antler
Early 20th Century German Black Forest More Furniture and Collectibles
Wood, Antler
Mid-20th Century Uzbek Black Forest More Furniture and Collectibles
Cotton
Early 20th Century German Black Forest More Furniture and Collectibles
Antler, Wood
Early 20th Century German Black Forest More Furniture and Collectibles
Wood, Antler
Early 20th Century German Black Forest More Furniture and Collectibles
Wool
Late 19th Century German Antique Black Forest More Furniture and Collectibles
Wood
Late 19th Century Austrian Antique Black Forest More Furniture and Collectibles
Wood, Antler
Late 19th Century German Antique Black Forest More Furniture and Collectibles
Wood, Antler
Early 1900s Serbian Antique Black Forest More Furniture and Collectibles
Brass
Early 20th Century German Black Forest More Furniture and Collectibles
Wood
Mid-19th Century German Antique Black Forest More Furniture and Collectibles
Wood, Antler
Late 19th Century German Antique Black Forest More Furniture and Collectibles
Fabric, Oak
Mid-19th Century German Antique Black Forest More Furniture and Collectibles
Wood, Antler
Early 20th Century German Black Forest More Furniture and Collectibles
Wood
Late 20th Century Uzbek Black Forest More Furniture and Collectibles
Cotton
Late 19th Century European Antique Black Forest More Furniture and Collectibles
Brass
20th Century Black Forest More Furniture and Collectibles
Wood
Late 19th Century French Antique Black Forest More Furniture and Collectibles
Oak
Late 19th Century Swiss Antique Black Forest More Furniture and Collectibles
Fruitwood
Late 19th Century Swiss Antique Black Forest More Furniture and Collectibles
Walnut
Late 19th Century German Antique Black Forest More Furniture and Collectibles
Wood
Mid-19th Century German Antique Black Forest More Furniture and Collectibles
Antler, Fur, Wood
1880s German Antique Black Forest More Furniture and Collectibles
Porcelain, Velvet, Oak
Late 19th Century Swiss Antique Black Forest More Furniture and Collectibles
Wood
Late 18th Century German Antique Black Forest More Furniture and Collectibles
Antler
Late 19th Century Swiss Antique Black Forest More Furniture and Collectibles
Walnut
Early 20th Century Swiss Black Forest More Furniture and Collectibles
Wood
20th Century Swiss Black Forest More Furniture and Collectibles
Tin
2010s Austrian Black Forest More Furniture and Collectibles
Fur
19th Century Swiss Antique Black Forest More Furniture and Collectibles
Bone
Early 1900s Swiss Antique Black Forest More Furniture and Collectibles
Wood
2010s Austrian Black Forest More Furniture and Collectibles
Linen
Early 20th Century Austrian Black Forest More Furniture and Collectibles
Walnut
Late 19th Century Swiss Antique Black Forest More Furniture and Collectibles
Wood
19th Century Swiss Antique Black Forest More Furniture and Collectibles
Walnut
Late 19th Century Swiss Antique Black Forest More Furniture and Collectibles
Walnut
Early 1900s French Antique Black Forest More Furniture and Collectibles
Walnut
Late 19th Century Antique Black Forest More Furniture and Collectibles
Iron
Mid-20th Century German Black Forest More Furniture and Collectibles
Bronze
Late 19th Century German Antique Black Forest More Furniture and Collectibles
Wood
Early 20th Century German Black Forest More Furniture and Collectibles
Antler, Wood
Mid-19th Century German Antique Black Forest More Furniture and Collectibles
Wood, Antler
2010s Austrian Black Forest More Furniture and Collectibles
Linen
Early 20th Century European Black Forest More Furniture and Collectibles
Brass, Metal
1920s German Vintage Black Forest More Furniture and Collectibles
Metal
Mid-19th Century Swiss Antique Black Forest More Furniture and Collectibles
Metal
Mid-20th Century European Black Forest More Furniture and Collectibles
Wood
19th Century German Antique Black Forest More Furniture and Collectibles
Oak, Antler
Late 19th Century German Antique Black Forest More Furniture and Collectibles
Wood
Early 20th Century German Black Forest More Furniture and Collectibles
Wood
Late 19th Century German Antique Black Forest More Furniture and Collectibles
Wood, Oak