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Pair of Carved Black Forest Bear Bookends
Sold by LTANTIQUES.CO.UK
sold SA1184757
Sorry, but this item has been sold.
LTANTIQUES.CO.UK

LTANTIQUES.CO.UK

Sellingantiques Verified Since Jan 2011
Browse dealers 277 items
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Id #SA1184757
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Pair of Carved Black Forest Bear Bookends

1900 - 1920
Sold 29 October 2026 · LTANTIQUES.CO.UK
This “Pair of Carved Black Forest Bear Bookends” found a buyer.

It was listed by LTANTIQUES.CO.UK. Sold pieces stay on Sellingantiques as a record of what has passed through, and the next one is rarely far away.

Description

This delightful pair of Black Forest bookends features two finely carved bears standing upright, each bracing against a wooden panel.

The figures are beautifully detailed, with textured fur, expressive faces, and a warm hand-finished patina that highlights the craftsmanship typical of traditional Black Forest woodcarving.

Each base and backing panel is made of solid wood, providing sturdy support for books. One of the panels is engraved with the name “Urfer,” suggesting the work of a skilled carver.

W 9cm (3.75")

D 11cm (4.5")

H 16cm (6.25")

Date of Manufacture

LTANTIQUES.CO.UK has dated these Black Forest Bear Bookends to the 1920s.

Independent Date Check ID 09293299
Dealer's Item Date1920s
Sellingantiques Date1920s
Sellingantiques agingItem 85-120 years old
Test ResultsPassed dating check
Why Sellingantiques dated this piece to THE 1920s:
Incised URFER mark on the base: Swiss woodcarving workshop of the Brienz tradition.
Hand-carved fur and facial details: skilled hand tool work.
Soft wear to the base edges: decades of normal shelf handling.
Mellow surface colour across the timber: naturally aged finish.

This is an independent date report produced by Sellingantiques using its own proprietary system. The process uses the photographs shown on this page. The system is never told the date the dealer has declared. This report shows that the two dates corroborate.

Physical Dimensions
Height
16cm (6.30")
Width
9cm (3.54")
Depth
11cm (4.33")
Reference Numbers
Sellingantiques Reference
SA1184757
Dealers Internal Reference
AE251210A
Dealers Notes

England delivery is included on items listed over £500.

We can deliver all over the world, please request a quote along with your delivery postcode for an accurate price.

All measurements are taken at the widest points.

Please call 07799880163 or 01634233280 for more information on this item.

We recommend that you arrange an appointment to view the items before you buy them. Appointments to view our stock can be arranged by contacting us via email or you can call 07799880163 or 01634233280 (lines open 9am-10pm, 365 days a year)

Appointments can be made 7 days a week, daytime or evening appointments offered subject to availability.

Please take time to visit our website WWW.LTANTIQUES.CO.UK to view more images and stock

Description
This delightful pair of Black Forest bookends features two finely carved bears standing upright, each bracing against a wooden panel.
“
The figures are beautifully detailed, with textured fur, expressive faces, and a warm hand-finished patina that highlights the craftsmanship typical of traditional Black Forest woodcarving.
LTANTIQUES.CO.UK
fig 1. A pair of hand-carved wooden bookends depicting standing bears with open mouths pushing against vertical wooden supports.
fig 1. Pair of Carved Black Forest Bear Bookends

Each base and backing panel is made of solid wood, providing sturdy support for books. One of the panels is engraved with the name “Urfer,” suggesting the work of a skilled carver.

W 9cm (3.75")

D 11cm (4.5")

H 16cm (6.25")

Date of Manufacture

LTANTIQUES.CO.UK has dated these Black Forest Bear Bookends to the 1920s.

Independent Date Report ID 09293299
Dealer's Item Date1920s
Sellingantiques dating1920s
Sellingantiques agingItem 85-120 years old
Test ResultsPassed dating check
Why Sellingantiques dated this piece to the 1920s:
Incised URFER mark on the base: Swiss woodcarving workshop of the Brienz tradition.
Hand-carved fur and facial details: skilled hand tool work.
Soft wear to the base edges: decades of normal shelf handling.
Mellow surface colour across the timber: naturally aged finish.

This is an independent date report produced by Sellingantiques using its own proprietary system. The process uses the photographs shown on this page. The system is never told the date the dealer has declared. This report shows that the two dates corroborate.

Height
16cm (6.30")
Width
9cm (3.54")
Depth
11cm (4.33")
Reference Numbers
Sellingantiques Ref
SA1184757
Dealers Internal Ref
AE251210A
LTANTIQUES.CO.UK
LTANTIQUES.CO.UK
Sellingantiques verified Since Jan 2011

Specialists in all periods of english furniture

Dealer Profile

You can view the stock and full dealer information on the LTANTIQUES.CO.UK Profile Page

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A pair of hand-carved wooden bookends depicting standing bears with open mouths pushing against vertical wooden supports. SOLD29 OCT 26
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Archive I A pair of hand-carved wooden bookends depicting standing bears with open mouths pushing against vertical wooden supports. SOLD29 OCT 26

Pair of Carved Black Forest Bear Bookends

Archive II A pair of hand-carved wooden bookends depicting standing bears with open mouths pushing against vertical wooden supports. View II
Archive III A pair of hand-carved wooden bookends depicting standing bears with open mouths pushing against vertical wooden supports. View III
Archive IV A pair of hand-carved wooden bookends depicting standing bears with open mouths pushing against vertical wooden supports. View IV
Archive V A pair of hand-carved wooden bookends depicting standing bears with open mouths pushing against vertical wooden supports. View V
Archive VI A pair of hand-carved wooden bookends depicting standing bears with open mouths pushing against vertical wooden supports. View VI
Archive VII A pair of hand-carved wooden bookends depicting standing bears with open mouths pushing against vertical wooden supports. View VII
Archive VIII A pair of hand-carved wooden bookends depicting standing bears with open mouths pushing against vertical wooden supports. View VIII
Archive IX A pair of hand-carved wooden bookends depicting standing bears with open mouths pushing against vertical wooden supports. View IX
Enlarged Archival View
Location
White Hill Road
Detling
Nr Maidstone
Kent
ME14 3HH
United Kingdom
Dealer Profile Page sellingantiques.co.uk/lta
Verified Since Jan 2011
Items For Sale 277
Items Sold 111
LTANTIQUES.CO.UK
LTANTIQUES.CO.UK
Verified Since Jan 2011
View Dealer Info
Location: White Hill Road , Detling , Nr Maidstone, Kent , ME14 3HH, United Kingdom
Verified
Jan 2011
For Sale
277
Sold
111
A pair of hand-carved wooden bookends depicting standing bears with open mouths pushing against vertical wooden supports.
Pair of Carved Black Forest Bear Bookends
Ref: SA1184757
A pair of hand-carved wooden bookends depicting standing bears with open mouths pushing against vertical wooden supports.
Detail View 1
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Archival Detail
Every single antique dealer on our platform is individually approved by our internal team. We verify their professional trade history, ethical standards, and photographic quality to ensure a secure, high-standard buying environment. Upon joining, every dealer agrees to a strict 9-point code of conduct. While issues can occasionally arise, our dealers typically resolve them swiftly and directly with the buyer. In fact, since our founding in 2002, Sellingantiques has only had to step in to help resolve an issue on roughly five occasions—a true testament to the quality of our dealers and their dedication to your happiness.
Our dealers are highly experienced in packing and shipping fragile, high-value antiques. Because you are in direct contact with the dealer, you will be able to easily go through all available shipping and insurance options together to ensure your item arrives safely.
Antiques are the ultimate green purchase. By choosing historical pieces over newly manufactured goods, you completely eliminate the carbon footprint of modern mass production while preserving exceptional, timeless craftsmanship.
Written by Sellingantiques from the dealer’s photographs and listing
  • ObjectBookends
  • Period1900 - 1920
  • StyleBlack Forest
  • MaterialCarved Wood, Linden Wood
  • ColourWarm Brown
  • MotifsStanding bear figures, hand-carved fur detail, bevelled wooden bases
  • SizeH 16 cm (6 in) x W 9 cm (4 in) x D 11 cm (4 in)

This pair of Black Forest bookends dates from 1920 in the traditional Black Forest style. Formed from carved linden wood in a warm brown colour, each piece depicts a standing bear with textured fur and an open mouth bracing against a vertical wooden support resting on a bevelled rectangular base. The wood displays a hand-finished patina, visible grain textures, and natural tonal variations across the surfaces. Each bookend measures 16 cm high, 9 cm wide, and 11 cm deep. Placed upon a bookshelf in a gentleman's library or study, these bookends secure volumes while serving as decorative animal figures. The solid wooden bases and upright panels hold books upright between them, adding carved detail to a desktop or shelving unit.

Black Forest woodcarving originated in the Brienz region of Switzerland during the early nineteenth century. Local artisans established a thriving craft industry producing figurative woodcarvings, predominantly depicting wildlife such as bears, chamois, and eagles, to sell to international tourists visiting the Alps.

Linden wood, also known as lime wood, was the primary timber chosen by Swiss carvers due to its fine grain, soft texture, and suitability for intricate hand tooling. Walnut and pearwood were also occasionally utilised for detailed functional items.

Authentic nineteenth and early twentieth-century pieces display visible chisel marks, natural variations from hand carving, and realistic anatomical details in the animal figures. Genuine examples show age-appropriate surface patination rather than uniform modern machine-moulded finishes.

Place them on a dark wood bookcase, floating shelf, or study desk to add texture and organic figurative form. They pair well alongside leather-bound volumes, brass accessories, and traditional architectural features.

Remove surface dust regularly using a soft, dry brush to reach recessed areas. Apply a small quantity of clear beeswax polish annually to protect the timber and retain the surface lustre, keeping the wood away from direct heat sources and sunlight.
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