Black Forest Carvings
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 19th century Swiss carved Black Forest side chair
A 19th century Swiss carved Black Forest side ... Find out more
A 19th century Swiss carved Black Forest side chair
A 19th century Swiss carved Black Forest side ... 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 have ever seen. You can tell it's a bear cub by the rounded ears and the smaller juvenile features. Pictured in Swiss Carvings - the art of the black forest ... Find out more
A Black Forest Carving of a bird
A Black Forest Carving of a bird, the bird is life size, possibly a Blue ... 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
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 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 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 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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Antique Swiss Black Forest Carved Whip Hooks.
Antique Swiss Black Forest Carved Whip Hooks. ... 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 Black Forest side table in the form of a smokers table
A Black Forest side table in the form of a smokers ... Find out more
A Black Forest carving in the form of a plaque.
A Black Forest carving in the form of a plaque showing The Lion of ... Find out more
A Black Forest carving of a flying bear, possibly for use as a light fixture
A Black Forest carving of a flying bear, possibly for use as a light fixture.
The bear is dressed as possibly a Swiss Army ... Find out more
A Magnificent Black Forest Carved Walnut Wild Boar, circa 1890
A Magnificent Black Forest Carved Walnut Wild Boar, circa 1890. Signed Peter Buri of Brienz ... Find out more
A Black Forest Carved Walnut Cow Group, circa 1900. Signed Albert Huggler.
A Black Forest Carved Walnut Cow Group, circa 1900. Signed Albert ... Find out more
A Black Forest Dog and Cat Hall Stand, circa 1870.
A Black Forest Dog and Cat Hall Stand, circa ... Find out more
A Black Forest Life-sized Bear Chair, circa 1880.
A Black Forest Life-sized Bear Chair, circa ... Find out more
A Black Forest Life-sized Bear Chair, circa 1880.
A Black Forest Life-sized Bear Chair, circa ... Find out more
A Black Forest Fox Dressed as a Farmer Wheeling a Barrow, circa 1890.
A Black Forest Fox Dressed as a Farmer Wheeling a Barrow, circa ... Find out more
A Black Forest Life-sized wood carving of a Fox, circa 1870.
A Black Forest Life-sized wood carving of a Fox, circa ... Find out more
A Black Forest Bear Head Tobacco Jar, circa 1900.
A Black Forest Bear Head Tobacco Jar, circa ... Find out more
The Three Ages of Man. Johann Huggler's Ultimate Masterpiece
Johann Huggler 1834-1912. The Three Ages of Man. Johann Huggler's Ultimate Masterpiece.
Not for sale part of our Private Collection
Height: ... Find out more
Black Forest Rabbit Whip Hook.
Black Forest Whip Hook carved in the form of a rabbit huntsman with his rifle slung over his shoulder, circa 1890.
Price: ... 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.