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Black Forest Home Accents

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
19th Century Carved Oak Black Forest Fire Screen
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
19th century Carved oak black forest fire screen, circa 1880. Beautifully carved example of black forest woodwork. Typical foliage and scrolling carved branches surmounted by a ca...
Category

Late 19th Century German Antique Black Forest Home Accents

Materials

Fabric, Oak

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 Home Accents

Materials

Fruitwood

German Black Forest Carved Boar Bookends
Located in San Mateo, CA
Pair of black forest carved boar bookends. The carving on these has excellent detail and craftsmanship. These were purchased by an army major that was stat...
Category

1940s German Vintage Black Forest Home Accents

Materials

Wood

Hand Carved Wooden Sculpture Bookends Two Reading Men
Located in Barntrup, DE
These beautifully hand carved wooden bookends feature sculptures of two sitting and reading man, an older and younger man that could be a teacher a...
Category

1950s German Vintage Black Forest Home Accents

Materials

Wood

Antique Hand Carved Black Forest Wooden Chest or Trunk Shape Jewelry / Cigar Box
Located in Lisse, NL
Excellent workmanship and very cool looking antique box. This 19th century and all handcrafted box is perfect for decorating the interior of your lodge, but also in a home environme...
Category

19th Century German Antique Black Forest Home Accents

Materials

Brass

Large Antique Black Forest Owl Sculpture Book Rack with Sliding Owl Bookends
Located in Lisse, NL
All hand-carved and adjustable Black Forest books rack. This rare and magnificently carved bookstand dates from circa 1880 and it is in truly excellent condition. The details in the...
Category

Late 19th Century Swiss Antique Black Forest Home Accents

Materials

Glass, Oak

Rustic Black Forest Walnut Cat Bookends
Located in New York, NY
Rustic Black Forest (19th Century) carved walnut adjustable bookends with cat figures.
Category

19th Century Antique Black Forest Home Accents

Materials

Walnut

Carved Black Forest Trunk, France, circa 1890
Located in Atlanta, GA
French Black Forest carved wood trunk with hinged lift top and grapevine motif, circa 1890.
Category

1890s French Antique Black Forest Home Accents

Materials

Wood

19th Century Swiss Black Forest Carved Dowry Chest or Trunk with Needlework
Located in Haarlem, NL
Charming hand carved mid-sized wooden Folk Art dowry chest from the Black Forest area of Switzerland, made circa the turn of the century. It features a beautifully hand carved flor...
Category

Late 19th Century Swiss Antique Black Forest Home Accents

Materials

Fabric, Walnut

Hand Carved Antique Black Forest Trunk / Chest for Keeping Fireplace Wood & Wine
Located in Lisse, NL
Stunning late 19th century trunk with wine theme carvings. If you are looking for rare, stylish and good quality antiques to decorate your home or lodge, but you do want them to have a purpose as well, then this all handcrafted trunk from the late 1800's could be perfect. It was made for keeping wood or peat by the fireplace and it can still do that perfectly, because this quality Black Forest antique is as strong and stabile as the day it was made. However, because of the hand carved decor of grape branches, grape leafs and grape bunches, this good size trunk will also make a highly decorative 'dry bar...
Category

19th Century German Antique Black Forest Home Accents

Materials

Fabric, Wood

Antique Hand Carved & Great Condition Swiss Black Forest Bear Book Rack Bookends
Located in Lisse, NL
Late 19th century Black Forest books rack with folding bear bookends. This handcrafted and very decorative bookstand with sliding and folding bookends is totally original and in per...
Category

Late 19th Century Swiss Antique Black Forest Home Accents

Materials

Wood

Black Forest Walnut Library Ladder
Located in New York, NY
Rustic Black Forest (19th Cent) walnut 3 step library ladder with carved branch design. (late 19th cent.)
Category

19th Century German Antique Black Forest Home Accents

Materials

Walnut

Antique Hand-Carved Black Forest Trunk on Goat Hoofs Amazing Shape & Condition
Located in Lisse, NL
Larger than average and beautiful trunk. It is not often that you find antiques of this age and beauty in such remarkable condition. You would think that in the course of a 125+ yea...
Category

Late 19th Century Swiss Antique Black Forest Home Accents

Materials

Wood, Pine

Rustic Black Forest Walnut Trunk
Located in New York, NY
Rustic Black Forest walnut floor trunk with a folding rounded top and supported on "X" form side legs with faux wood, straps, and floral carved design.
Category

19th Century Swiss Antique Black Forest Home Accents

Materials

Walnut

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Antique German Black Forest Style Carved Owl Sculpture with Glass Eyes, ca. 1920
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Antique Moroccan Coffer, Trunk or Box
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H 16.25 in W 19.82 in D 12 in
Italian Green Marble "Book" Bookends
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Pair French Mixed Metal Ram Bookends/Sculptures
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1960s Vintage Black Forest Home Accents

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Mid-Century Hand Carved Alabaster Owl Sculptures with Glass Eyes Bookends 1950s
Located in Lisse, NL
Beautiful, meaningful, practical and decorative mid-century bookends. Given the fact that owls are the international symbol for wisdom and learning, these are the perfect sculptures...
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19th Century Black Forest Carved Liquor Box
Located in High Point, NC
19th Century Black Forest carved liquor set. The exterior of the box is hand-carved in design as a wood log cabinet, the rectangular Black Forest tantalus is decorated on the top wi...
Category

19th Century Swiss Antique Black Forest Home Accents

Materials

Fruitwood

Previously Available Items
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Located in Dallas, TX
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Cast Iron Standing Bear Bookends
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Cast iron standing bear bookends. Japan, circa 1990.
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Cast Iron Standing Bear Bookends
Cast Iron Standing Bear Bookends
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Black Forest Bronze Bookends
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Set of cast Bronze stylized deer bookends with detailed antlers and coat.
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Black Forest Bronze Bookends
Black Forest Bronze Bookends
H 10 in W 3.5 in D 4 in
Black Forest Book Rack, Bookstand, Carved Squirrel Acorn Leaf Bookends, Antique
Located in Ijzendijke, NL
Antiquelate 19th century black forest books rack/ book shelf with folding squirrels and acorn leaf bookends hand carved Swiss Gorgeous 19th century antique Black Forest bookstand...
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Late 19th Century Swiss Antique Black Forest Home Accents

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Wood

Swiss Black Forest Nutwood Book Stand Fox and Partridge Sculptures / Carvings
Located in Lisse, NL
Rare and all handcrafted antique Black Forest bookstand. If you are a collector of Swiss Black Forest antiques in general and of those with fox...
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Early 20th Century Swiss Black Forest Home Accents

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Brass

Black Forest Turn of the Century Chest with Logs, Foliage and Fabric, circa 1900
Located in Atlanta, GA
A Black Forest chest from the turn of the century, with faux branches, foliage and velvet fabric. Created at the end of the 19th, beginning of the 20th century, this Black Forest che...
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Unique & Hand Carved Antique Black Forest Firescreen w. Knight Helmet Embroidery
Located in Lisse, NL
Beautifully handcrafted antique Black Forest fireplace screen. This beautifully hand carved antique from the late 1800s currently is the only Black Forest firescreen for sale anywhere. It certainly is the only one on 1stdibs and to have been able to purchase it in this wonderful condition more than made our day. What makes this antique truly stand out are the beautifully detailed Black Forest branch and leaf patterns. However, there are three more reasons why this rare antique is exceptional. First of all, it does not have and never had a single woodworm hole and for a Black Forest antique from the 1800s that is really rare. Secondly, there is not one piece of a carved branch or leaf missing. If you look very closely at the back then you can see there have been a few minor restaurations (in the form of a few pieces having been glued back), but other than that the condition is excellent. And thirdly, this fine antique also comes with a hand-embroidered, oval shape coat of arms depicting a knight's helmet and more. This could be the crest of a town, but it could also be of a certain family. We were unable to find out more about it, but it simply looks great and the colors perfectly complement the wonderful patina of this antique screen. For those who did not yet know; this handcrafted and highly decorative screen was placed in front of a fireplace in the summertime so that people would not look into the dark (and sometimes dirty) fireplace itself. Finally, there was some very old fabric behind all three panels, but it was worn and it made it impossible to remove all the old dust that was inside the carvings and on the back. We decided to remove the fabric, but we left the antique 'thumbtacks' in place, in case the new owner wants to replace it (we will send a part of the antique fabric along if you wish). Our sharp price for this antique firescreen...
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19th Century European Antique Black Forest Home Accents

Materials

Wool, Wood

Antique Black Forest Fire Place Screen
Located in Round Top, TX
The unique beauty of a Black Forest antique lays within the distinctive carving style used. In this lovely fireplace screen, notice the intricate ...
Category

Late 19th Century German Antique Black Forest Home Accents

Materials

Wood

Antique Hand Carved Black Forest Wooden Lodge Design, Late 1800s Chest or Trunk
Located in Lisse, NL
Excellent workmanship and very cool looking antique chest. This 19th century and all handcrafted chest is perfect for decorating the interior of your lodge, but also in a home env...
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19th Century German Antique Black Forest Home Accents

Materials

Wood

Bookshelf or Bookends, Black Forest Owls with Leather Covered Books
Located in Casteren, Noord-Brabant
Black Forest bookshelf or bookends. Made from walnut wood carving. The supports have the shape of an owl, including small glass eyes. The owls are designed in great detail with re...
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Early 1900s German Antique Black Forest Home Accents

Materials

Walnut

Swiss Black Forest Nutwood Books Rack or Stand with Carved Eagle Sculptures
Located in Lisse, NL
Incredibly rare and all handcrafted, winged eagle bookends. If you are a collector of rare Swiss Black Forest antiques then you probably know how rare this...
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Early 20th Century Swiss Black Forest Home Accents

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Brass

Antique Black Forest Wood Carved Cat and Dog Bookends, 1900s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Classic early 1900s Black Forest wood carved cat and dog bookends. Nice addition to your room or just for use on your shelf. Found at an estate sale in...
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Early 1900s German Antique Black Forest Home Accents

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Black Forest home accents for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique Black Forest home accents for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the Mid-20th Century, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage home accents created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include more furniture and collectibles, decorative objects, case pieces and storage cabinets and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with wood, walnut and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Black Forest home accents made in a specific country, there are Europe, Germany, and Switzerland 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 home accents differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $464 and tops out at $8,500 while the average work can sell for $1,653.

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