Description
An exquisitely hand-carved Black Forest wooden serving tray, circa mid-late 19th Century.
A stunning, open handled tray showing branching exotic fruit – pomegranates, passionfruit, persimmons, and custard apples. The fruit is shown in clusters along with their leaves, immature fruit, and blossoms, hanging from branches that twine to become the side handles and raised rim of the tray. Naturalistically carved with incredible detail. A unique piece of unparalleled artistry.
‘Black Forest’ carvings were originally thought to have been produced in the Bavarian Black Forest, Germany, but were actually made in Switzerland. A local art form that began in the early 1800s grew into a wood carving industry driven by tourism when Brienz, Luzern, Interlaken and other picturesque Swiss resorts became popular with the wealthy Victorians.
Similar examples are shown in, ‘’Swiss Carvings, The Art of the Black Forest’’ by Arenski, Daniels and Daniels, published by The Antique Collectors Club 2004.
24 in. L x 14 in. W x 2 in. H
Incredible antique condition – no losses. Showing lovely aged patina.
