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How to Collect Black Forest Carvings

Black Forest carvings, which include elaborately crafted bears, human figurines and furniture, do not actually come from the Black Forest region of Germany, but rather from the Bernese Oberland region of Switzerland. These carvings date back to the 19th century and were thought to have originated in Germany when they first began to appear in the United States. Black Forest carvings are widely considered to be the work of one family, the Trauffers, who did not sign their work but employed a style that collectors and historians can use for identification.

Instructions

    • 1

      Look in antique shops. Try shops that specialize in European and fine wood furniture and collectibles. Black Forest carvings were made out of the trunks of linden or walnut trees and served functional purposes. Carvings doubled as decanters, cups or clocks. If antique dealers in your area do not stock Black Forest carvings, ask them for assistance with an antique search on items available from other stores in your country. Most antique shops allow other stores to ship and sell their wares and provide access to their online databases of products.

    • 2

      Purchase the carvings from an online dealer. Several online dealers specialize in Black Forest carvings and provide a selection of items complete with photos and information regarding the state of the carvings. Vendors do not always list prices for Black Forest carvings, which many antique lovers collect, so be prepared to pay top dollar. Contact the online store directly and inquire about prices, shipping costs and guarantees of authenticity before making an online purchase.

    • 3

      Buy Black Forest carvings on Ebay. Other collectors and private antique dealers often list collectibles such as Black Forest carvings on the online auction site Ebay (www.ebay.com). Prices might be slightly lower than other online sellers, but the need to verify authenticity remains an important consideration. Look for eBay sellers with solid positive feedback scores and verify that your purchase is covered by the Ebay Buyer Protection coverage, especially if purchasing expensive items.


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