A rare Black Forest seating bench of carved linden wood from Switzerland - the back carved in relief with branches and leaves and five frolicking smaller bears playing musical instruments. The seat a carved wood plank that is supported on each side by two large carved standing bears.

The two charming bears have the carved bench seat in their paws. They are exceptionally well carved and have warm facial expressions with the original glass eyes. The bench is in fine antique condition with a lovely patina all around.

Most of the brown bear benches were famously made at the turn-of-the-century in Brienz, Switzerland. Black Forest carving was also known as carvin de forêt noir, which reflect designs featuring depictions of forests (primarily of bears), trees, branches, and leaves.

Black Forest furniture came to be a worldwide benchmark for modern wood carving, as it was featured most prominently at the Great Exhibition in London in 1851 and Les Expositions Universelles in Paris in 1900.

Dimensions: H 34 in x W 77 in x D 21 in x Seat H 18.5 in