Skip to main content

Black Forest Lounge Chairs

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.

4
to
3
1
4
4
4
8,934
3,041
2,431
537
161
52
45
38
33
31
31
20
18
14
12
6
5
1
3
1
1
Height
to
Width
to
Depth
to
2
1
1
4
3
3
1
1
4
2
1
1
1
Style: Black Forest
Four Antique Bull Horn Chairs ca. 1870
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Four Antique Bull Horn Chairs ca. 1870 A set of four antique bull horn chairs ca. 1870, covered with antique green velvet which has to be renewed (is loo...
Category

Late 19th Century Austrian Antique Black Forest Lounge Chairs

Materials

Wood, Antler

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 Lounge Chairs

Materials

Wood, Antler

Antique Black Forest Armchair or Reading Chair by Horrix with Perfect Upholstery
Located in Lisse, NL
Unique and impressive armchair with green upholstery. This stunning chair is as strong and stabile as the day it was made and the woodwork is in excellent condition also. The solid...
Category

Mid-19th Century Dutch Antique Black Forest Lounge Chairs

Materials

Brass

Pair Of Large American Antler Armchairs, 1920s
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Pair of black forest antler armchairs, 1920s. $250 flat rate front door delivery includes Washington DC metro, Baltimore and Philadelphia.
Category

Early 20th Century German Black Forest Lounge Chairs

Materials

Antler, Wood

Related Items
Set of Four Antique Chairs by Horrix
Located in Dallas, TX
Set of four antique chairs by Horrix are perfect examples of the highest quality furnishings produced by the storied Dutch company. Displaying a Bl...
Category

Early 20th Century Dutch Black Forest Lounge Chairs

Materials

Oak

Set of Four Ward Bennet Ash Frame Chairs Black Leather Upholstery
Located in Ferndale, MI
Set of four ash frame chairs upholstered in black leather. Designed by Ward Bennet for Brickel Associates. Condition is superb.
Category

1970s American Vintage Black Forest Lounge Chairs

Materials

Leather, Ash

Italian Midcentury Set of Four Lounge Chairs by Ross Littell for ICF Milan, 1960
Located in Morazzone, Varese
Groovy set of four lounge chairs designed by Ross Littell and manufactured by ICF De Padova, Milan (approx. 1960s). The lounge chairs are in minimalist style. In beautiful very go...
Category

1960s Italian Vintage Black Forest Lounge Chairs

Materials

Steel, Nickel

Antique British Colonial Cane and Carved Teak Lounge Chair
Located in Las Vegas, NV
Beautiful antique carved teak and cane lounge chair. The beauty is truly in the details of this chair. The carved and turned wood are stunning. It's in excellent condition for its ag...
Category

Early 20th Century Black Forest Lounge Chairs

Materials

Cane, Teak

Pr. Mid-Century Lounge Chairs Attributed to Directional Ca 1950's
Located in New York, NY
Pr. stylish lounge chairs made inn the 1950's, attributed to Directional Furniture Company, in the manner of Paul McCobb. Both chairs are structurally sound and sturdy, they were reu...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Black Forest Lounge Chairs

Materials

Upholstery

Set of Four Art Deco Armchairs, France, 1920s-1930s
Located in Isle Sur La Sorgue, Vaucluse
A lovely and unusual set of four large Art Deco period armchairs, upholstered in beige velvet, with embroidered detailing on the backs. They have deep seats and tall backs. The...
Category

1930s French Vintage Black Forest Lounge Chairs

Antique Lounge Chair Grosfeld House Style
Located in Lake Worth, FL
Offering One of our recent palm beach estate fine furniture acquisitions of an Antique lounge chair in the Grosfeld House Style Coloration:...
Category

Early 20th Century Black Forest Lounge Chairs

Materials

Cotton, Mahogany

Pair of 1970's Rattan Easy Chairs/Lounge Chairs
Located in Brecht, BE
A set of 1970's rattan lounge chairs, in very good vintage condition, ready to use in the house or in your poolhouse.
Category

Mid-20th Century Spanish Black Forest Lounge Chairs

Materials

Rattan

Pair of 1970's Rattan Easy Chairs/Lounge Chairs
Pair of 1970's Rattan Easy Chairs/Lounge Chairs
H 32.29 in W 41.74 in D 39.38 in
Pair of Midcentury Lounge Chairs
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Stylish pair of midcentury lounge chairs. Splayed metal legs support a spacious seating area. Please confirm item location with deale...
Category

Mid-20th Century Black Forest Lounge Chairs

Materials

Metal

Pair of Midcentury Lounge Chairs
Pair of Midcentury Lounge Chairs
H 36 in W 32 in D 32 in
Mid-Century Modern Teak Chair with Ostrich Upholstery
Located in Forney, TX
A fabulous 1960s Mid-Century Modern sculptural armchair in dark teakwood and tan ostrich upholstery. A bit wider and more substantial than typical Scandinavian Modern chairs, having a distinctive sculptural Silhouette that is both comfortable and appealing. Similar styling to works by iconic Danish architect Arne Hovmand Olsen and modernist designer Ib Kofod Larsen, featuring a beautifully molded and angled backrest with pierced open splat, richly figured teak veneered backrest with silver-tone spacers, frame and armrest in solid teak with attractive grain detail, flared and sculpted arms, rising on tapered legs joined by elegant low side runner stretchers. The large seat is upholstered in Fine quality tan ostrich leather upholstery. Overall a superb example, elegant, sophisticated, and comfortable, with high quality materials, craftsmanship, and beautiful details. Dimensions: (approx) 33" High, 23" Wide, 21.5" Deep (at center) Seat height: 17.25" Having the ideal size and proportions for a variety of different uses, including as a lounge chair, office desk chair, placed in the corner of a room as a decorative statement piece, living room accent chair...
Category

Mid-20th Century Black Forest Lounge Chairs

Materials

Ostrich Leather, Teak

Pair of Midcentury Italian Lounge Chairs
Located in Brooklyn, NY
A stunning pair of vintage Italian modern lounge chairs that feature a sculpted teak frame with "Z" shaped sides. The sleek design ...
Category

1970s Italian Vintage Black Forest Lounge Chairs

Materials

Faux Leather, Teak

Pair of Vintage Italian Armchairs
Located in Brooklyn, NY
This pair of midcentury Italian "Z" chairs feature beautiful bentwood arms and tufted upholstery which offers their unique style to any room. Please confirm item location (NY or N...
Category

1960s Italian Vintage Black Forest Lounge Chairs

Materials

Fabric

Pair of Vintage Italian Armchairs
Pair of Vintage Italian Armchairs
H 33 in W 23 in D 24 in
Previously Available Items
19th Century Pair Of Black Forest Antler Horn Hall Chairs, Swiss/German, c.1890
Located in Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent
A very unusual pair of hall chairs or side chairs made in the Black Forest region of south-west Germany bordering Switzerland. The horns are intertwined and finished with carvings of...
Category

19th Century Swiss Antique Black Forest Lounge Chairs

Materials

Fabric, Pine, Antler

19th Century Black Forest Armchair
Located in Dallas, TX
19th century black forest armchair is not only beautiful to behold, it's amazingly comfortable as well! Exquisitely carved framework depicts...
Category

1870s French Antique Black Forest Lounge Chairs

Materials

Fabric, Oak

19th Century Black Forest Armchair
19th Century Black Forest Armchair
H 45.5 in W 27 in D 25 in
Rare Antique Black Forest Nutwood Armchair / Fauteuil by Horrix with Upholstery
Located in Lisse, NL
Unique and impressive relax chair from circa 1870. This unique chair is as stable as the day it was made and the woodwork is in good to excellent condition also. The solid handcraf...
Category

Late 19th Century Dutch Antique Black Forest Lounge Chairs

Materials

Fabric, Nutwood

High Back Sculptural Root Burl Wood Tree Log Free Form Lounge Chair Modern
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Unique high back sculptural tree log free-form lounge chair. Item features a tall substantial form, cut-out designed back, angled arms, stretcher base, and gr...
Category

Late 20th Century Black Forest Lounge Chairs

Materials

Hardwood

Black Forest lounge chairs for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique Black Forest lounge chairs for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the Early 20th Century, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage lounge chairs created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include seating and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with wood, bone and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Black Forest lounge chairs made in a specific country, there are Europe, Austria, and Germany pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original lounge chairs, popular names associated with this style include and Matthijs 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 lounge chairs differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $3,179 and tops out at $7,880 while the average work can sell for $5,121.

Recently Viewed

View All