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
Moorish Brass Inkwell Qalamdan, 19th Century, Hand-Crafted in Asia
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
A 19th century Middle Eastern, Asian brass decorated Islamic Moorish Qalamdan. The Qalamdan is an inkwell in solid brass. It consists of an inkwell and a pen compartment of typical tubular form with an interior cavity to store a reed pen. Attached to the body is an inkwell with engraved designs with a shell style cover. The piece measures 9 1/2" inches long x 2" inches high x 2" inches deep. Great brass decorative Islamic Metal...
Brass
Hand Painted Middle Eastern Qajar Style Picture Photo Album
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Antique Middle Eastern Qajar early 1900s Persian style picture photo album, with hand painted miniature on the cover. Middle Eastern scrapbook is hand painted with 22-karat gold, wi...
Paper
Hand Painted Middle Eastern Moorish Style Photo Album, 19th Century
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Antique Middle Eastern Qajar style Moorish picture photo album, with hand painted miniatures on the cover. This fine Middle Eastern Moorish style scrapbook is hand painted with 22-k...
Paper
$1,008Sale Price|48% Off
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
Antique Brass Qalamdan Inkwell, Moorish Design, Egypt, 1880
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
A 19th century brass decorated Middle Eastern Islamic Qalamdan. The Qalamdan is in solid brass, etched on all sides with Egyptian floral design. It consists of an inkwell and a pen...
Brass
Middle Eastern Moorish Handcrafted Mosaic Decorative Trinket Box
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Exquisite handcrafted Middle Eastern mosaic marquetry inlaid walnut wood box. vintage small trinket box intricately decorated with Moorish motif des...
Shell, Mother-of-Pearl, Fruitwood
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
$360Sale Price|20% Off
Vintage Brass Moroccan Double Inkwell
Located in San Diego, CA
Double inkwell with brass latched cover with hinged open mechanism. Colorful and intricate patterns abundant in Islamic arts were hand painted on front, s...
Metal
Alp Giroux, Silver-plated Bronze Inkwell, Orientalist, 19th Century
Located in MARSEILLE, FR
Silver-plated bronze inkwell representing a bust of an Arab wearing a turban, which hides the hole for the ink pot, placed on an onyx base This inkwell in the orientalist style is s...
Onyx, Bronze
Antique Turkish Etched Brass Qalamdan Inkwell and Pen Case, 1850
Located in Stamford, CT
Exceptional Turkish etched brass Qalamdan, a traveling scribe's inkwell and pen case. The beautiful dome topped inkwell is rare, it is attached by chain to th...
Brass
19th Century Baccarat Inkwell
Located in Tampa, FL
A Baccarat crystal inkwell with decorated bronze. Circa 19th century, France. The interior is two inches deep and the opening is one inch wide.
Crystal
Chinese Rosewood Table Stand
Located in Dallas, TX
This Chinese rosewood stand displays a brilliant red sheen. It's tabletop sized and can hoist anything into the limelight using a little elevati...
Rosewood
$275Sale Price|63% Off
H 4.25 in W 14.5 in D 9.5 in
Victorian Bronze Inkwell, Embossed Design, Germany, Late 1800s
Located in Savannah, GA
Bronze inkwell intricately embossed with scroll work. Features include a pen vest and back tray and double inkwells with griffins on the back gallery. A continental piece possibly Au...
Bronze
$418 / set
H 3.15 in W 3.15 in D 0.99 in
Vintage Set of Four Christmas Candle Holders Erzgebirge Germany
Located in Kitzbühel, Tirol
Set of four handmade and hand-painted christmas candle holders in wood. Four different figures like an angel, santa . The handmade figures are...
Wood
19th Century Middle Eastern Copper Ewer
Located in Basingstoke, Hampshire
A large highly decorative middle eastern copper ewer. Dating from the early 19th century, displaying a charming patination throughout. Measures: Height...
Copper
$960Sale Price|20% Off
H 5.25 in W 6.75 in D 6.75 in
Egyptian Revival Figural Pharaoh Bronze & Brass Inkwell With Glass Insert c1880
Located in Big Flats, NY
This Antique Egyptian Revival inkwell, crafted from cast bronze and brass, dates to approximately 1880. The central bronze figure, depicting a pharaoh or deity adorned with a nemes h...
Bronze
Vintage Christmas Nutcracker Wood Erzgebirge, Germany
Located in Kitzbühel, Tirol
Wooden nutcracker Tiroler figure from the Erzgebirge. The region Erzgebirge formerly Eastern Germany is famous for this special kind of nutcrackers, ...
Wood
Cast Iron Dog Nut Cracker
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Black painted cast iron dog nut cracker. The condition is very good and in working order.
Iron
Vintage Christmas Candle Holder Pyramid Erzgebirge Germany
Located in Kitzbühel, Tirol
Vintage christmas candleholder pyramid handmade and hand-painted in wood. Two different figures with candles all handmade in wood and handpainte...
Wood
19th Century Bookstand
Located in High Point, NC
19th century bookstand from England made from rosewood. The handles are hand-turned along with the spindles, which terminate on the ends with lovely lyre inspired shaped pieces. The ...
Rosewood
$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
Bronzed Camel Metal Sculpture on Stand by Theodore Alexander
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Bronzed camel metal sculpture by Theodore Alexander. Invite a striking visual presence into your Moorish Moroccan design scheme with the Camel sculpture with a bronze highlight fini...
Metal, Bronze
Taj Mahal White Marble Hand-Crafted Collectible Miniature Model
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Vintage Taj Mahal white marble hand-crafted collectible architectural miniature model. Handmade replica or miniature of the original Taj Mahal situated in India and popularly known as symbol of love. A finely Taj Mahal replica hand-made from white marble stone. This Taj Mahal replica is true form of fine Art produced by renowned craftsman based out in Agra (India), whose forefathers were the ones employed by the Shah Jahan...
Marble
Sold
H 3 in W 11.5 in D 1.5 in
Middle Eastern Dagger in the Form of a Fish with Arabic Calligraphy Writing
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Middle Eastern handcrafted dagger in the form of a fish with Arabic calligraphy writing. Great vintage silver plate metal dagger letter opener in...
Metal, Silver Plate, Brass
Vintage Ceramic Handpainted Moroccan Coaster or Tile, Set of 4
Located in Plainview, NY
A set of four vintage ceramic hand painted Moroccan coasters or tiles featuring lovely geometrical and Moorish design in white , black and burgund...
Ceramic
Ceramic Handpainted Moroccan Coaster or Tile, Set of 4
Located in Plainview, NY
A set of four ceramic hand painted Moroccan coasters or tiles featuring lovely geometrical design. Dimensions: 4" W x 4" D x 0.5" H.
Ceramic
Hand-Painted Round Porcelain Ashtray
By Limoges
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Round porcelain ashtray hand-painted with floral and geometric design in blue red green and gold jeweled colors. Use it as an ashtray, vide poche or for decorative bowl. Elegant pr...
Porcelain
bookends orientalist bronze vienese Oirgen Vienna
By Vienna Bronze
Located in Buenos Aires, Argentina
A pair of Vienes bronze bookends orientalist scene (vendors of carpets and weapons) Origin Vienna, Austria, circa 1900 natural wear.
Bronze
Calligraphie du désert book French Edition
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Calligraphie du désert . Calligraphies of the desert. Celebrated master calligrapher Hassan Massoudy carries the desert within him. Through majestic, sweeping strokes, he depicts its breath-taking beauty and wonder. Massoudy draws inspiration from the words and wisdom of some of our greatest poets and writers – Rumi, Paul Bowles, Goethe, Baudelaire, Antoine de Saint-Exupery, Khalil Gibran...
Paper
Sold
H 9.25 in W 7.5 in D 0.75 in
Lords of the Atlas The Rise and Fall of the House of Glaoua, Morocco, 1893-1956
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Lords of the Atlas: The Rise and Fall of the House of Glaoua, 1893-1956. Gavin Maxwell Dutton, 1966 - France - 318 pages. A dramatic history of intrigue and action in Morocco duri...
Paper
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
French Moorish Style Champlevé Enameled Bronze Double Inkwell Pen Tray
Located in Astoria, NY
French 19th century Moorish style double inkwell and pen tray made in enameled champlevé bronze with ornate and colorful floral and foliage enameling to the tray and the bodies of th...
Bronze
Sterling Silver Moroccan Tray Trinket or Jewelry Dish
Located in New York, NY
A beautiful and unique sterling silver Moroccan decorative object small dish or tray; piece could work well as a small desk/vanity tray, trinket or jewelry dish. Piece has a decorati...
Sterling Silver