Black Forest Carved Trophy Head with Antlers on Carved Wood Plaque. 

Size: 20 X 18 X 18 in. 

#7161 . 

“Black Forest” is a term used to describe the highly elaborate and humorously realistic wood carvings that were thought to be made in the Black Forest region of Bavaria, Germany, originating in the 19th Century. The earliest pieces were known as a form of folk art created by farmers in their spare time, as well as by commissioned woodworkers, and were primarily of animals and plants. Typically made from lime, oak, and walnut wood, their popularity exploded in the mid 1800s and soon they were being made almost exclusively by professional woodworking companies in Switzerland, although they perpetuated the name “Black Forest” to maintain their marketability. In the 1980s, new research proved that a majority of surviving carvings were mostly made by the Trauffer family in the town of Brienz. From humble beginnings of a cottage industry in the early 1800s it grew by the turn of the 20th Century to become the major employer of an entire skilled community. At the height of their popularity they were making clocks, bedroom sets, and more in the style. The most common feature was bears that play instruments, smoke pipes, read books or beg as part of the legs, seats and stands that made up the furniture. Pieces were traditionally not signed and presented with elaborate origin stories, which contributed to the folk art allure that attracted buyers from around the continent and Britain. The carvings were exhibited at the London Great Exhibition of 1851, Chicago World’s Fair of 1893, and the Exposition Universelle Paris in 1900, and became a symbol of luxury and wealth. Their popularity also grew in many overseas markets, and in the past century there have been several revivals in the style. Today, Black Forest carvings are highly prized by collectors and are considered important examples of the modern effects of Capitalism and consumerism on the art of woodcarving. Examples of Black Forest carvings can be found in museum collections around the world, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York and the Victoria and Albert Museum in London.