Featured in our forthcoming Spring Fine Art auction on March 12th is a rare 'Black Forest' carved and stained wood hall chair in the form of a bear, circa 1900, attributed to Rudolf Linder of Brienz, Switzerland.
Modelled as a life-size bear sitting on a log, Black Forest wooden bears were once a staple of the tourist trade in Switzerland. Normally these are small desk top trinkets, making this chair a rare item which is sure to cause excitement amongst bidders when it is offered for sale
The story behind its arrival at auction is every bit as remarkable as the object itself.
In 2025 Clevedon Salerooms Senior Valuer and BBC Antiques Roadshow expert Chris Yeo had valued another carved wooden Black Forest bear on the popular TV programme. Watching at home was a lady who saw clear similarities with one she had inherited from her great grandfather, the difference being that hers was in the unusual form of a chair. Having grown up with the chair, she had no idea of its value and it had spent the last forty years standing in a corner of her hallway. Amazed to see a similar bear on Antiques Roadshow, she contacted Chris at Clevedon Salerooms and arranged to put the chair up for auction. It was then collected by Saleroom Director, Mark Huddleston, who wrestled, but eventually succeeded, in getting the bear to fit in the back of his car, no mean feat considering it is made of solid wood and weighs almost as much as a real bear.
Chris Yeo, Senior Valuer at Clevedon Salerooms and BBC Antiques Roadshow expert, said:
“Black Forest bears are always popular at auction but to find one in the form of a chair is very unusual, particularly such a fine example as this. We’re expecting significant interest from private and trade buyers internationally”
The bear will be offered as Lot 526 with a guide price of £3,000 to £5,000 (plus 26.40% buyer's premium).