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.
Vintage Moroccan Red and Gold Embossed Leather Padfolio
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Vintage Moroccan Red and Gold Embossed Leather Padfolio. Vintage Red Rust Orange Leather 22k Gold Embossed Hand Painted Moroccan Book Cover Portfolio. This is a vintage handcrafted h...
Leather
Polished Brass Islamic Moorish Style Desk Inkwells Set
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Early 20th century desk set, rare and great quality Mamluk Cairoware style, silver and copper inlaid brush and inkwell holder and ink blotter rocker, features a wood base with ornate...
Brass
Elegant Red Leather Desk Set by Le Tanneur, France, 1950s
By Le Tanneur
Located in Paris, FR
Midcentury French modern full leather desk set by Le Tanneur composed by: Calendar L 18.5cm x L 11cm depth 5cm Pencil case L 23cm x L 8cm depth 2....
Stainless Steel
$450
H 0.25 in W 6 in D 1 in
Vintage 1980s Gucci Leather & Gold GG Letter Opener and Bookmark Combination
By Gucci
Located in St. Louis, MO
An authentic, rare vintage 1980s dual-function desk accessory by Gucci, serving as both a leather letter opener and a page bookmark. Crafted from rich, smooth brown Italian calfskin ...
Metal, Gold Plate
$275 / set
H 6.75 in W 10.75 in D 1.25 in
Vintage Solingen German Desk Scissors & Letter Opener Set with Red Leather Case
Located in San Diego, CA
A finely crafted vintage desk set from Solingen, Germany, comprising a pair of precision steel scissors and a matching letter opener, housed in its original red leather sleeve. Known...
Gold Plate, Stainless Steel
$1,186 / set
H 7.01 in W 2.37 in D 1.07 in
Cartier 18ct Gold Plated & Red Lacquered Ballpoint With Red Cartier Box
By Cartier
Located in Reading, Berkshire
Cartier 18ct Gold Plated & Red Lacquered Ballpoint With Red Cartier Box Stunning Example of a Must De Cartier ballpoint pen, featuring the classic trinity rings and an enamel id...
Gold Plate
$175Sale Price|30% Off
H 8.67 in W 0.67 in D 0.67 in
Letter opener in the shape of a knife with an embossed silver handle and large m
Located in Porto, PT
Description: Letter opener in the shape of a knife with an embossed silver handle and masks. Metal: Silver. Origin: European. Brand: Unknown. Weight: 39.42 grams. Dimensions: 22...
Metal
$1,237Sale Price|25% Off
H 4.75 in W 6.01 in D 6.01 in
AUSTRIAN 1920 Art-Deco Desk Inkwell In Cut Polished Glass And .800 Sterling
Located in Miami, FL
A Viennese Austrian art deco desk inkwell. This is a beautiful desk inkwell created in Vienna Austria during the art deco period, between the 1918 and 1922. This Viennese inkwell wa...
Crystal, Silver, Sterling Silver
$450
H 9.13 in W 5.88 in D 1.88 in
Vintage 1980s Gucci Saddle Leather Note Pad with Gold / Silver Double GG Logo
By Gucci
Located in St. Louis, MO
Vintage 1980s Gucci brown saddle leather & stitch note pad with brass / silver double GG logo. Missing original notepad, you can buy a better replac...
Metal
$1,008Sale Price|48% Off
H 1.5 in W 9.25 in D 9.25 in
19th century brass decorated Middle Eastern Inkwell Qalamdan
Located in Toronto, Ontario
A 19th century brass decorated Middle Eastern Qalamdan. The Qalamdan is in solid brass, decorated on all sides with middle eastern calligraphy. Comprising an inkwell and a pen compar...
Brass
Mother of Pearl English Desk Inkwell
Located in Buenos Aires, Olivos
Very elegant mother of pearl English desk inkwell. In very good conditions. Perfect for a lady's desk. It´s a perfect chic object. We have specialized in the sale of Art Deco and A...
Glass
Vintage Continental Italian Leather Desk Set
Located in Forney, TX
A vintage Continental (most likey Italian) gilt tooled and embossed leather and marbleized paper five piece desk accessories set, decorated in gilt armorial motif with royal crown ov...
Crystal, Brass
$414 / set
H 0.79 in W 2.96 in D 13.47 in
Ghidini 1961 Axonometry Pen and Cards Desk Trays Set in Polished Brass
By Ghidini 1961, Elisa Giovannoni
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Trays in brass. The compositional scheme of this family of small trays is the axonometric isometric projection of two parallelepipeds which creates a three-dimensional optical effect...
Brass
Baroque Style Brass Inkwell Set and Letter Holder Stand
Located in Doylestown, PA
Baroque style solid brass double inkwell set with letter holder, c. 1900-1910. A gorgeous desktop accessory ornately adorned with cherubs, flowers and scrolling acanthus leaves. In...
Brass
Vintage Moroccan Photo Album with Camel Desert Embossed
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Vintage Moroccan leather photo album with Arabian camel desert scene embossed. Middle Eastern Egyptian revival with laced edges. Brown, red and camel co...
Leather