CIRCA 1870

Rustic and whimsical in nature, the late 19th/early 20th century genre commonly known as 'Black Forest' is generally identified by it's naturalistic incorporation of carved bears and other forest creatures, including deer and birds. Although romantically labelled as Bavarian, research suggests that these items actually have their origin in and around Bern, Switzerland. This simplistic style started as a hobby for the Swiss Trauffer family of cabinetmakers and wood-carvers when F. Peter Trauffer began selling his finished pieces door to door. He soon realized their full potential as souvenirs for summer tourists, a tradition which continued for generations. In 1900, the Trauffer family published a catalogue revealing a broad range of carved domestic products including everything from garden statuary and hall stands to nutcrackers and music boxes. With it's mammoth proportions, this mirror is a rare example of the genre produced at the height of the exhibition era in order to showcase the talents and creativity of the artisan.