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.
Pair of Moroccan Ceramic Vases with Arabic Calligraphy
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Pair of very decorative brown and ivory handcrafted Moroccan ceramic vases from Fez with two handles chiseled and hand-graved with ivory Arabic poetry ca...
Ceramic
Moroccan Ceramic Blue and White Moorish Jar from Fez 1950s
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Vintage Decorative Moroccan glazed ceramic jar with lid from Fez. Moorish style Moorish ceramic urn handcrafted and hand painted with stylized floral design. Hand painted in Royal bl...
Ceramic
Large Moorish Moroccan Blue and White Ceramic Footed Lidded Jar from Fez
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Large antique Moroccan blue and white ceramic urn with lid from Fez. Moorish style handcrafted lidded jar adorned with fine filigree silver nickel work Antique Hispano Moresque desig...
Metallic Thread
Pair Of Palace Size Moroccan Glaze Decorated Ceramic Jars
Located in Bridgeport, CT
Very large lidded jars with shaped bulbous forms tapering to the bases. Decorated in yellow and blue on white with medallions with floral baskets on the shoulders. Yellow floral bands separate the lower geometric motifs. The lids with complimentary floral decoration. H. 39", Diameter 17.5”. Condition: Please see all detail photos. There are some chips to the rims, lids and base edges , stable age-related craklure to the glaze as well as an old re-glued chip...
Ceramic
Moroccan Ceramic Glazed Water Jug Handcrafted in Fez Morocco
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Moroccan glazed polychrome ceramic water jug with handle. Hand painted ceramic vessel, handcrafted by skilled Moroccan artisans in Fez Morocco. Hand painted in Moorish Granada design...
Ceramic
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
Pair of Moroccan Ceramic Urns with Arabic Calligraphy Designs
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Pair of Moroccan dark brown ceramic urns with lid from Fez Morocco. Chiseled and hand-carved calligraphy designs ornate the urns in the Ottoman style. Very decorative handmade Mooris...
Ceramic
Large Antique Terracotta Jar
Located in Delray Beach, FL
An antique terracotta jar in grand scale ,with beautiful aged patina two side handles, the third one is missing. Good condition even though the ...
Terracotta
Chinese Blue and White Character Lidded Ginger Jar Vases
Located in Queens, NY
3 antique Chinese (Late 19th century) similar ceramic ginger jars with blue floral designs surrounding bold, centered characters and geometric patterned bands leading to brown rustic...
Porcelain
$286Sale Price / item|20% Off
H 15.75 in W 8.67 in D 8.67 in
Contemporary Organic Modern Moroccan Handmade Terracotta Ceramic Jar
Located in Marseille, FR
- Handbuilt brown jar - Made of clay collected from the potter's surroundings. - Made in the Moroccan Rif mountains by the potter Aïcha. Approximate mea...
Clay, Earthenware
$500
H 11.75 in W 8 in D 7 in
Large Majolica Ceramic Bust Planter or Vase of a Woman with Flowers, Italy
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
A large colorful polychrome hand-made ceramic Italian Moorish bust vase or planter of a woman with a flower turban crown. Handmade and glazed in brilliant reds, greens, and yellows, this sculpture depicts the head of a lady wearing a glazed red crown topped with bright red bulbs. She wears circular yellow earrings, red lipstick, and a red necklace...
Ceramic, Paint
Pair Of Moroccan Urns
Located in Houston, TX
Pair Of Moroccan Urns. Offered is a large matching pair of vintage Moroccan incised terracotta urns. These Moorish urns have a subtle color tone that will work in a variety of interi...
Terracotta
Korean Buncheong Joseon Dynasty Glazed Pottery Ceramic Calligraphy Vase
Located in Studio City, CA
A beautifully glazed and colored, hand-decorated Korean Buncheong vase. Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910). Very nice patina. We are listing it as 19th cent...
Earthenware
Chinese Blue and White Shizi Jar
Located in Chicago, IL
Images of shizi, a lion-dog symbol of power and strength of character, cavort among the stylized clouds of heaven on this hand-painted covered jar. Original...
Ceramic
18thC Chinese Export Blue and White Jar Porcelain Hand Painted Scene, Qing
Located in Lincoln, Lincolnshire
This is a heavy Chinese Export porcelain jar hand painted with a blue and white lakeside scene and dating to the late 18th century, Qing dynasty. This is a well potted piece with a ...
Porcelain
Spanish Dark Terracotta Olive Jar / Vessel
Located in Barcelona, ES
Antique Handmade Unglazed Terracota Olive Jar or Vessel, Spain, 19th century- 1930s This eye-catching dark terracota jar or urn was designed to contain water and to keep it fresh. I...
Terracotta, Clay, Earthenware, Pottery
Blue, Brown, White Bamboo Decor Lidded Ceramic Jar, circa 1980s
Located in Copenhagen, DK
Asian inspired Scandinavian ceramic lidded bowl with white bamboo leaves on dark blue background and warm brown accents. Beautiful vintage condition. Scandinavia, circa 1980s.
Ceramic, Pottery
$560Sale Price|30% Off
H 18.12 in Dm 9.45 in
Antique Chinese Oriental blue & white ceramic ginger jar with lid
Located in Wisbech, Cambridgeshire
Antique large blue and white Chinese Oriental ceramic ginger jar with a lid, believed to date from the 20th Century. It bears a 4-character mark on the base. This piece is exception...
Ceramic
Large Italian Glazed Terracotta Urn with Stylized Horse
By Urbino Workshop
Located in Houston, TX
Large Italian Glazed Terracotta Urn with stylized Horse. Italian glazed terracotta Urbino Maiolica style urn or vessel in muted colors with wel...
Terracotta
Two Vintage Moroccan Vessels with Bone Inlays, Priced Individually
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Lofty set of two Moroccan vessels or jars crafted in turned walnut both with classic forms and featuring charming bone and ebony inlays in elaborate floral designs. Priced individual...
Bone, Ebony, Walnut
Tall Moroccan Glaze Decorated Pottery Lidded Jar
Located in Bridgeport, CT
A tall necked footed jar with twin handles and a tall lid. Decorated overall in blue and yellow on white floral scrolls and medallions with floral baskets. H. 38", Diameter 14", Di...
Pottery
Moroccan Earthenware and Metal Lidded Jar
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Lidded urn decorated with traditional mediterranean colors over terra cotta and bone, having applied jewelry style metal work that ups the wow factor.
Metal
Moroccan Decorated Earthenware Lidded Urn
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Striking glazed terra cotta urn decorated with floral designs in traditional mediterranean colors and having applied jewelry style metalwork that ups the wow factor.
Metal
Moroccan Tribal Green Glazed Terracotta Ceramic Jar
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Moroccan Berber green glazed decorative terra cotta jar with handles. Wonderful green and brown shimmering ceramic pottery that can be found only in sout...
Ceramic, Pottery
Large Pair of Moroccan Glazed Ceramics from Fez
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Large pair of Moroccan glazed ceramic urns from Fez. Granada style ceramic handcrafted and hand-painted with Moorish foliate designs in blue, teal, safran and red colors on ivory ba...
Ceramic
Moroccan Porcelain and Metal Lidded Jar
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Lofty Moroccan porcelain lidded jar decorated with distinctive mediterranean designs and colors and adorned with jewelry like metal work.
Porcelain
Antique Japanese Enameled Porcelain Ginger Jar, Circa 1920
Located in Big Flats, NY
An antique Japanese ginger jar or covered urn offers enameled Moorish design with reserve having garden scene with birds, c1920 Measures...
Porcelain
Pair of Large Copper Wine Jars with Lids
Located in Doylestown, PA
A pair of large copper and brass wine storage jars, hand-hammered, likely from Morocco, early 20th century. Could be mounted as a great pair of lamps.
Brass, Copper
Moroccan Tribal Green Glazed Terracotta Jar
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Moroccan Berber green glazed decorative terra cotta jar with handles. Wonderful green and brown shimmering that can be found only in south Morocco in the ...
Ceramic
Moroccan Tribal Green Glazed Terracotta Jar
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Moroccan Berber green glazed decorative terracotta jar with handles. Wonderful green shimmering. These vintage tribal handcrafted green jars were used to ...
Ceramic
Moroccan Green Glazed Terracotta Jars
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Moroccan Berber green glazed decorative terra cotta jar with handles. Wonderful green and brown shimmering that can be found only in south Morocco in the ...
Ceramic