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.
Cold Painted Vienna Bronze Young Boy, Signed Bergmann Foundry, ca. 1900
Located in Petaluma, CA
This highly detailed cast and and cold painted Vienna bronze was made by the premier maker of this genre, Franz Bergmann. Signed with his foundry mark on the base. That style base u...
Bronze
19th Century Mughal Indo Persian Footed Tinned Copper Bowl
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Mughal Islamic Indo Persian red copper footed bowl, of compressed hemispherical shape, resting on a splayed conical foot, with slightly everted rim,...
Metal, Copper
Moroccan Orange Blue and White Handcrafted Vintage Ceramic Vase
Located in Plainview, NY
This beautiful hand painted decorative vase features a mesmeric arabesque pattern and inviting colors of red, orange and blue. Perfect a as an elegant centerpiece on your dining room...
Ceramic, Paint
Rubin Red Plate Gold Luster Glided Hand Painted Majolica Centerpiece Bowl Deruta
By deBlona
Located in Recanati, IT
The dish, made of majolica painted in duotone of blue and red, features dense decoration, inspired by the Moorish style, throughout its surface. The outer band of the brim is richly ...
Gold Plate
Vintage Moroccan Burlwood Jewelry Box
Located in Middleburg, VA
A captivating and finely crafted vintage Moroccan box, made circa 1900, fashioned from richly figured burled Amboyna wood. Designed in the form of a stacked set of antique books, thi...
Brass
Antique Moroccan Bone and Wood Sewing Box
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Impressive antique Moroccan lidded sewing box handcrafted in walnut featuring a bone top with ebony and marquetry inlays on an inlaid box with a remarkably complete interior, retaini...
Bone, Ebony, Walnut
Vintage Moroccan Moorish Octagonal Metal and Glass Candle Lantern
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Vintage Moroccan Moorish clear glass lantern with intricate metal filigree. Octagonal shape, delicately handcrafted by artisans in Morocco. Bronze metal color finish. Could be used w...
Metal
Large Wooden Sculpture, Moor With Dragon, 19th Century
Located in MARSEILLE, FR
Large black-tinted wooden sculpture of a Moorish woman carrying a shell, a dragon at her feet. The eyes and teeth are made of mother-of-pearl. Some missing parts (butcher's t...
Wood
Moroccan Antique Bronze Cover with Brass Etched Decor
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Very handsome large-scale handcrafted cover. Large handmade Moroccan ceremonial brass vessel for covering wedding presents, hand-forged in Fez. Perfect as center piece for food cove...
Brass, Bronze
Viennese Cold-Painted Orientalist Bronze Group by Franz Bergman
By Franz Xaver Bergman (Bergmann)
Located in London, GB
Viennese cold-painted Orientalist bronze group by Franz Bergman Austrian, c.1900 Height 12cm, width 15cm, depth 9cm This small but intricately crafted and designed bronze group ...
Bronze
Vintage Moorish Bowl by Berber Tribes of Morocco, Hand-Crafted, 1950
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Vintage decorative Moorish bowl blue and white.
Ceramic
Large Moroccan Brown and Green Ceramic Jars with Lid a Pair
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Large pair of Moroccan brown and green ceramic urns with lid, handcrafted in Fez Morocco, the green ceramic is hand-etched with Arabic writing calligraphy. This kind of Art Writing looks calligraphic is called Lettrism, it is a form of art that uses letters that are not supposed to mean anything, just put together as Decorative Art. It is just about the beauty of the free writing. Large vintage ceramic jars...
Ceramic
Large Pair of 19th Century Russian Brass Candelabra with Turkish Influence
Located in Middleburg, VA
An enchanting and elaborate pair of 19th-century Russian candelabra, masterfully crafted from solid brass with rich Turkish design influence. These ...
Brass, 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
18thC German Pewter and Wood "Draubenkrug" Stein
Located in Sarasota, FL
An early 18th century German "Draubenkrug" stein. Made with wooden staves and richly engraved reticulated pewter mounts that depict leaping stags and scrolled foliage. The lid top fe...
Pewter
Fine Pair of Antique Enamel Marbleized Moser Glass Vases in Orientalist Style
Located in New York, NY
A fine pair of antique Orientalist Moser enameled marbleized glass vases in the Orientalist style. With an unusual pink/brick color with four hand-applied glass handles. Each decorat...
Glass
Late 19th Century Vintage Boho Plaster Bust of Moorish Man
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Infuse your space with eclectic charm using this vintage boho plaster bust of a Moorish man. Crafted with intricate detail and bohemian flair, this piece adds a touch of cultural int...
Plaster
Pair of Large Orientalist Bronze Figures by Emile Pinedo and Marcel Debut
By Émile Pinedo
Located in London, GB
A pair of large Orientalist bronze figures by Emile Pinedo and Marcel Debut French, Late 19th Century Arabe en Marche: height 65cm, width 42cm, depth 28...
Bronze
Pair of Bronze Candlesticks Figural People Olympic Torch Bearer Women 19"H
Located in Greer, SC
Beautiful pair of bronze candlesticks featuring an Olympic torch bearer. Made from high-quality bronze, making these a unique set to add to your home d...
Bronze
Belle Époque Period Ormolu and Porcelain Mantel Clock in Moorish Style
Located in London, GB
This beautiful clock, formed from gilt bronze and porcelain, is designed and decorated in a discernibly Moorish style. The clock is supported by a flat shaped gilt bronze base, the base supporting four gilt bronze columns that support the gilt bronze clock drum. The cylindrical drum contains a circular dial, the dial of porcelain and inscribed with Roman numerals. The gilt bronze throughout is cast and chased with geometrical motifs—particularly evident on the front of the four vertical columns. These motifs are distinctively Moorish in scheme, the lattice-type geometrical sequences recalling Islamic decorative...
Ormolu, Bronze
Antique French Orientalist/Moorish Silver/Gilt Bronze and Enamel Figural Clock
Located in New York, NY
A very unusual 19th century antique French orientalist/Moorish silvered bronze, gilt bronze and champleve enamel figural clock, signed Boulez, marks on movement ROBLIN & FILS FRERES,...
Silver, Enamel