After the Muslim conquest of the Iberian Peninsula in the eighth century, Islamic Spain became a cultural mix of influences that shaped both private homes and religious spaces. Moorish design was the name given to this style, which evolved through the 15th century with vibrant tile work, horseshoe arches and lavish ornamentation, most visible at sites such as Granada’s Alhambra and the Mosque-Cathedral of Córdoba. Moorish furniture was often similarly ornate, and featured pieces inlaid with wood, ivory and bone.
When European designers began studying Moorish art and architecture in the early 19th century, it led to a Moorish Revival. Appropriating the style’s decorative flourishes and architectural elements, it promoted a romantic view of Islamic design. Travelers could bring home a memento of what they witnessed in the Middle East, a trend that aligned with a fad for themed interiors. Men’s smoking rooms arranged with ottomans, divans and settees and inlaid tables were especially popular, as were cafés where coffee was served amid bead curtains and colorful floor mats. (Handwoven rugs are a centerpiece of Moorish interiors.) Octagonal rooms with domed ceilings were created for wealthy homes, frequently with furnishings like pipe stands, filigree plasterwork and arched doorways. The horseshoe arch is an iconic attribute of Moorish architecture that, in addition to Spain, can be found in Sicily, Morocco and elsewhere.
Several late 19th to early 20th-century movements featured Moorish touches. The American and English Aesthetic Movement, for example, borrowed liberally from global decorating styles, as seen in furniture designed by Lockwood de Forest, a New York-born artist who mixed Eastern and Western forms. The visual vocabulary of Art Nouveau also references the elegant use of geometry in Moorish design, with Milanese Art Nouveau furniture designer Carlo Bugatti drawing inspiration from the style. The Arts and Crafts movement, which prized expressive yet simple design, incorporated Moorish influences; hand-painted furniture and tile work created by William De Morgan, a British designer and potter who made furnishings for the likes of Morris & Co., were informed by techniques from Moorish Spain.
Find a collection of Moorish lighting, decorative objects, folk art and more furniture on 1stDibs.
Moroccan Encaustic Cement Tile Border with Moorish Fez Design
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Moroccan handcrafted cement tile with traditional Fez Moorish design. These are authentic Moroccan encaustic tiles hand made by artisans in Fez Morocco. This is the traditional Moroc...
Cement
Moroccan Encaustic Cement Tile in Antique White Color
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Moroccan handcrafted and hand-painted cement tile in antique white color. These are authentic Moroccan encaustic tiles handmade by artisans in Fez ...
Cement
Moroccan Handcrafted Encaustic Cement Tile, Moorish Design, 1980
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Moroccan handcrafted and hand painted cement tile with traditional leaves design. These are authentic Moroccan encaustic tiles hand made by artisans in Fe...
Cement
Moroccan Reclaimed Encaustic Tiles Hand made by Artisans in Fez Morocco
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Moroccan handcrafted reclaimed set of 2 cement tiles with black and white design. These are authentic Moroccan reclaimed encaustic tiles han...
Cement
Moroccan Encaustic Cement Tile Sample with Modern Design
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Moroccan handcrafted and hand painted cement tile with modern black, white and grey design. These are authentic Moroccan encaustic tiles hand made by artisans in Fez Morocco. This ...
Cement
Encaustic Tiles
Located in Dallas, TX
Beautiful tan, blue, and white encaustic tiles with floral borders. We have 105 sq ft of the field (520 pieces) + 77 linear ft of the borders (170 pi...
Cement
Handmade Zelige Tile in Terracota Colour
Located in Marbella, ES
Handmade glazed zelige tile in terracota colour in size 10x10 cm. Price per M2 of 165 Euro, which corresponds to 100 tiles of 10x10 cm.
Terracotta
Encaustic Tiles
Located in Dallas, TX
Blue and grey encaustic tiles with beautiful floral borders. Measures: Borders 2.75" x 5.75".
Cement
Reclaimed Encaustic Tiles with Pattern
Located in Wormelow, Herefordshire
A set of 20 reclaimed / unused encaustic tiles, perfect for a splash-back or hall way. These tiles will cover 0.8 m2 or 8.6 sq ft.
Cement
Encaustic Tiles
Located in Dallas, TX
Beautiful encaustic tiles with borders (Measures: 3" x 6").
Cement
Reclaimed Patterned Encaustic Floor Tiles 3 m2 (32 sq ft)
Located in Wormelow, Herefordshire
A batch of 48 reclaimed encaustic cement floor tiles creating a charming repeating quatrefoil pattern with some colour variations. These tiles will cover 3 m2 or 32 sq ft. As photog...
Cement
Reclaimed Encaustic Floor Tiles
Located in Wormelow, Herefordshire
A batch of 480 reclaimed encaustic cement floor tiles. These tiles will cover 19.2 m2 or 206 sq ft.
Cement
$1,593
H 17.92 in W 14.97 in D 0.48 in
Set of 15 Reclaimed Buff & Brown Encaustic Tiles by Campbell Tile Co
Located in Wormelow, Herefordshire
A set of 15 encaustic tiles with floral design in buff and brown tones by Campbell Tile Co (stamped); one of several sets of matching tiles we are selling in groups of fifteen as pi...
Clay
Antique European Encaustic Cement Tiles. Pre-WWII
Located in Baltimore, MD
Encaustic cement tiles were pioneered by the French in the middle of the 19th century and relied on chemical curing rather than traditional firing. This technique had the advantage ...
Cement
Set of 16 Reclaimed Patterned Encaustic Tiles by Godwin
Located in Wormelow, Herefordshire
A set of sixteen 6-inch reclaimed encaustic tiles with red and black chequerboard pattern interwoven with buff lines by W. Godwin of Lugwardine, Hereford (indistinctly stamped). Dating from the mid 19th century, these antique encaustic tiles are in good condition for their age with small chips and wear from previous use that only adds to their unique beauty. Supplied loose, these patterned tiles can be arranged as desired to create a unique kitchen splashback, feature panel or entranceway floor for a Victorian property. Godwin Tiles William Godwin began manufacturing quarry tiles...
Clay
Encaustic Tiles
Located in Dallas, TX
Beautiful blue and gray encaustic tiles with borders. We have 150 sq ft of the field and 96 linear ft of the borders. We only sell the entire lot.
Cement
Set of 9 Reclaimed Minton & Co Gothic Encaustic Tiles
By Minton
Located in Wormelow, Herefordshire
A set of nine vibrant reclaimed gothic encaustic tiles by Minton & Co (stamped), circa 1840- 1860. Each 6-inch tile is detailed with buff and red terracotta tones to create an ornate...
Clay
Moroccan Reclaimed Encaustic Tiles Hand Made by Artisans in Fez Morocco
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Moroccan handcrafted and hand-painted cement tiles with traditional design. These are authentic Moroccan reclaimed encaustic tiles hand made...
Cement
Moroccan Encaustic Cement Tile Sample Orange
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Moroccan Encaustic Cement Tile Sample Orange. Moroccan handcrafted reclaimed floor cement tile with traditional geometric design. These are authentic Mor...
Cement
Moroccan Encaustic Cement Tile Sample with Floral Design
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Moroccan handcrafted and hand painted cement tile with traditional floral design. These are authentic Moroccan encaustic tiles hand made by artisans in Fez Morocco. This is the tradi...
Cement
Sold
H 0.63 in W 8 in D 8 in
Moroccan Hand-Crafted Encaustic Cement Tiles with Traditional Fez Moorish Design
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Moroccan handcrafted and hand-painted cement tile with traditional Fez Moorish design. Set of six Moroccan hand-painted cement tile with traditional fez design These are authentic Moroccan encaustic tiles hand made by artisans in Fez Morocco. This is the traditional Moroccan star design. These are handmade cement tiles many variation in colors they are not perfect. These tiles can be used indoor or outdoor on the floors or on walls they must be sealed after installation. Colors are blue, green, yellow black and red on white background. The pictures shows the design with 6 tiles...
Cement
Moroccan Encaustic Cement Tiles with Moorish Design
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Set of four Moroccan handcrafted cement tile with traditional Green Moorish design. These are authentic Moroccan encaustic tiles hand made by artisans in Fez Morocco. This is the...
Cement
Moroccan Encaustic Cement Tile Sample with Moorish Design
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Moroccan handcrafted and hand painted cement tile with traditional Green Moorish design. These are authentic Moroccan encaustic tiles hand made by artisans in Fez Morocco. This i...
Cement
Moroccan Encaustic Cement Tiles with Traditional Fez Moorish Design
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Moroccan handcrafted and hand-painted cement tile with traditional Fez Moorish design. Moroccan hand-painted cement tile with traditional fez design These are authentic Moroccan en...
Cement
Sold
H 0.63 in W 8 in D 8 in
Moroccan Hand-Crafted encaustic Cement Tile with Traditional Fez Moorish Design
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Moroccan handcrafted and hand-painted cement tile with traditional Fez Moorish Design. Moroccan encaustic encaustic floor or wall tiles with Traditional Fez Design These are authen...
Cement
Moroccan Cement Tile with Traditional Fez Moorish Design
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Moroccan handcrafted and hand-painted cement tile with traditional Fez Moorish Design. Moroccan Hand-Painted Cement Tile with Traditional Fez Design These are authentic Moroccan en...
Cement
Moroccan Hand-Painted Cement Tile with Traditional Fez Design
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Moroccan handcrafted and hand-painted cement tile with traditional Fez design. These are authentic Moroccan encaustic tiles hand made by artisans in Fez, Morocco. This is the traditi...
Cement
Moroccan Hand-Painted Cement Tile with Traditional Fez Design
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Moroccan handcrafted and hand-painted cement tile with traditional Fez design. These are authentic Moroccan encaustic tiles hand made by artisans in Fez, Morocco. This is the traditi...
Cement
Moroccan Encaustic Cement Tile Border with Fez Moorish Design
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Moroccan handcrafted and hand painted cement tile with traditional Fez Moorish design. These are authentic Moroccan encaustic tiles hand made by artisans in Fez Morocco. This is th...
Cement