The Lion of Lucerne and Its Legacy in Swiss Black Forest Carvings
September 9th 2025
The Story of Switzerland’s Famous Lion Monument and Its Influence on Black Forest Carvings
The Lion of Lucerne is one of Switzerland’s most famous monuments and a subject that has inspired generations of artists and carvers, including the celebrated Black Forest tradition. Many finely carved Black Forest lions were modelled on this historic monument, and we are pleased to offer examples of these rare works in our collection.
The Monument and Its Story
Nestled in a rocky grotto in Lucerne, the Lion Monument was unveiled in 1821. Designed by the Danish sculptor Bertel Thorvaldsen and carved by Lukas Ahorn, the ten-metre-long stone lion commemorates the Swiss Guards who died during the French Revolution.
On the 10th of August 1792, revolutionaries stormed the Tuileries Palace in Paris. The Swiss Guards, serving King Louis XVI, fought with extraordinary loyalty but were overwhelmed by sheer numbers. Around 760 were killed in the fighting or massacred after surrender, with many others dying later in prison. Only a small detachment survived, having been stationed elsewhere just days before.
One officer, Karl Pfyffer von Altishofen, happened to be in Lucerne at the time. Years later, he led the fundraising and organisation to create a lasting memorial to his fallen comrades. The result was the Lion of Lucerne, carved directly into a sandstone cliff, its expression mournful and dignified, a symbol of sacrifice and loyalty.
Image of the original carved Lucerne Lion monument in the side of the rock at Lucerne Switzerland
Symbolism and Legacy
The dying lion rests upon a shield bearing the fleur-de-lis of France, alongside another shield with the Swiss cross. Above the monument, an inscription reads Helvetiorum Fidei ac Virtuti “To the loyalty and bravery of the Swiss.”
The monument quickly became one of the most visited sites in Switzerland, attracting over a million visitors each year. American writer Mark Twain famously described it as “the most mournful and moving piece of stone in the world.”
The Lion in Black Forest Carvings
The story of the Lucerne Lion inspired carvers in nearby Brienz, the heart of the Swiss Black Forest tradition. Throughout the 19th century, Black Forest sculptors created wooden interpretations of the lion, often in the form of tobacco jars, decorative figures, and monumental carvings for collectors and travellers undertaking the Grand Tour.
These pieces combined the region’s reputation for detailed animal carving with the symbolic weight of the Lucerne Lion, making them especially desirable among Victorian collectors. Today, Black Forest carvings of the Lucerne Lion are rare and highly sought after.
Swiss Black Forest Carving of the lucerne lion upon a black marble plinth base available in our black forest collection at jacksons antique
A Lasting Symbol
Whether viewed in its original stone form in Lucerne or recreated in wood by Black Forest artisans, the lion remains a powerful emblem of courage, loyalty, and remembrance. For collectors of fine antiques, it represents not only a moving piece of history but also a link between Swiss heritage and the ambition of 19th-century carving.
Owner at Jacksons Antique
I am an antique dealer and owner of Jacksons Antique, specialising in fine antiques with a particular focus on Japanese art and European decorative objects. With over a decade of experience in the antiques trade, I source and curate pieces for collectors across the UK, the United States, and the international market.
Working primarily online alongside select exhibitions, I am part of a newer generation of dealers helping to modernise the way antiques are researched, presented, and acquired. My approach is built on careful attribution, transparent descriptions, and historically grounded research so clients can buy with confidence.
Through Jacksons Antique, I aim to make important historic objects accessible to both established collectors and those developing their collections.
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