Black Forest Carvings
A Swiss Black Forest carved jewelry box.
A Swiss Black Forest carved jewelry box. The door of the jewelry box conceals a set of small ... Find out more
A 19th century Swiss Carved Black Forest Halltree with 3 Bears
One of several examples we ... Find out more
A 19th century Swiss Carved Black Forest Dog Group.
A 19th century Swiss Carved Black Forest Dog ... Find out more
A 19th century Swiss Carved Black Forest Owls and Pussycat Clock
A 19th century Swiss Carved Black Forest Owls and Pussycat ... Find out more
A pair of 19th century Black Forest wall plaques.
A pair of 19th century Black Forest wall plaques in excellent condition. ... Find out more
A very good pair of antique 19th century Swiss wall plaques.
A very good pair of antique 19th century Swiss wall ... Find out more
A very important and rare pair of antique bear armchairs.
A very important and rare pair of bear armchairs, modeled as a male and female bear standing facing each other, circa 1870. Note the excellent coloring to the bear's ... Find out more
An antique carved Linden wood hall stand modeled as a bear cub stood on a naturalistically carved tree stump
A carved Linden wood hall stand modeled as a bear cub stood on a naturalistically carved tree stump the bear cub supporting a tree branch. Carved by Seilar-Brawant of Brienz, Switzerland. Circa 1910. It is interesting to note that this is the only bear cub hall stand we ... Find out more
A 19th century Black Forest life size carving of a golden eagle.
A 19th century Black Forest life size carving of a golden ... Find out more
A Pair of Antique Carved Walnut Continental Candle Stick Holders, circa 1860.
A Pair of Carved Walnut Continental Candle Stick Holders, circa ... Find out more
An Austrian Horn and Antler Inkwell, circa 1870.
An Austrian Horn and Antler Inkwell, circa 1870.
A wonderful gift for a ... Find out more
An Impressive Swiss "Black Forest" antique carved walnut dog and parrot
An Impressive Swiss antique "Black Forest" carved walnut dog and parrot
hallstand, circa 1860. Stamped Bergen ... Find out more
A Swiss "Black Forest" Jewelry Box, circa 1890.
A Swiss "Black Forest" Jewelry Box, circa ... Find out more
An incredibly detailed antique wod carving of a mountain maple dog group, modeled as a tired mother with her three playful pups, circa 1900. By Walter
Mader of Brienz, ... Find out more
A Swiss Antique Black Forest Dog Group, circa 1900.
A Swiss Antique Black Forest Dog Group, circa 1900.
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A Swiss Antique Black Forest Laying Dog, circa 1890.
A Swiss Antique Black Forest Laying Dog, circa ... Find out more
An Exceptional Swiss Antique Black Forest Drinks Bear carved from
An Exceptional Swiss Antique Black Forest Drinks Bear carved from
walnut, circa ... Find out more
A Swiss Antique Black Forest Carved Walnut sculpture of William Tell, signed Huggler.circa 1890.
A Swiss Antique Black Forest Carved Walnut sculpture of William Tell, signed Huggler.circa ... Find out more
A Swiss Antique Black Forest Bear Easel, circa 1870.
A Swiss Antique Black Forest Bear Easel, circa ... Find out more
A Monumental Swiss Black Forest Antique Hallstand, circa 1900.
A Monumental Swiss Black Forest Antique Hallstand, circa ... Find out more
An Antique Swiss Black Forest Bear Umbrella Stand, circa 1890
An Antique Swiss Black Forest Bear Umbrella Stand, circa ... Find out more
An Antique Swiss Black Forest Carved Walnut Eagle Coat Rack, circa 1870.
An Antique Swiss Black Forest Carved Walnut Eagle Coat Rack, circa ... Find out more
An Antique Swiss Black Forest Exhibition Mantel Clock, 1870.
An Antique Swiss Black Forest Exhibition Mantel Clock, ... Find out more
An Antique Swiss Black Forest Walnut Eagle Plaque with a clock mounted in the center, circa 1870.
An Antique Swiss Black Forest Walnut Eagle Plaque with a clock mounted in the center, circa ... Find out more
A Massive Antique Swiss Black Forest Carved Linden Wood Stag Coat
A Massive Antique Swiss Black Forest Carved Linden Wood Stag Coat
Rack, circa 1890.
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A Collection of Antique Swiss Black Forest Carved Whip Hooks.
A Collection of Antique Swiss Black Forest Carved Whip ... Find out more
An Antique Swiss Black Forest Carved Walnut Bull, circa 1890. By
An Antique Swiss Black Forest Carved Walnut Bull, circa 1890. By
Johann ... Find out more
A Set of Three Antique Swiss Black Forest Vanity Mirrors, circa 1900.
A Set of Three Antique Swiss Black Forest Vanity Mirrors, circa ... Find out more
An Antique Swiss Black Forest Carved Linden Wood Chamois Hallstand,
An Antique Swiss Black Forest Carved Linden Wood Chamois Hallstand,
circa ... Find out more
An Antique Swiss Black Forest Dog Tobacco Salesman, circa 1870.
An Antique Swiss Black Forest Dog Tobacco Salesman, circa ... Find out more
Black Forest hunting lodge antiques in our Aspen shop.
Black Forest hunting lodge antiques in our Aspen ... Find out more
A monumental carved stag's head, circa 1870.
A monumental carved stag's head, circa ... Find out more
An overview of antique Black Forest Carvings
For many years "Black Forest" carvings were thought to have been produced in the Bavarian Black Forest of Germany, but it has now been established beyond all doubt that they were the sole province of the Swiss. The wood carving industry of Switzerland originated in the picturesque town of Brienz.From humble beginnings of a cottage industry in the early 1800's it grew by the turn of the 20th century to become the industrial driving force of a whole community.By 1910 there were some 1300 carvers plying their trade in the community of Brienz.
The carving industry was driven by the tourist industry; Brienz, Interlaken and Luzern and other such resorts were in vogue with the wealthy Victorians.
Bears were particularly popular, being the symbol for the city of Berne, but musical boxes , musical chalets, furniture large and small, all figured in Swiss carving. The variety was immense, ranging from the religious, faithful reproductions of Leonardo da Vinci's Last Supper to the amusing and the whimsical.
Far from being 'mere whimsy' however, Swiss Black Forest carvings were exhibited at the London Great Exhibition of 1851, Chicago 1893, Paris 1900 and at many other of the great international exhibitions of the late 19th and early 20th century. Black Forest carvings stood alongside goods from the likes of Tiffany, Galle and Linke at such exhibitions. Today there has been a tremendous revival of interest for them and the best pieces are highly sort after.
Taken from the book "Swiss carvings 1820 - 1940" written by Jay Arenski, Simon Daniels and Michael Daniels.