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.
$3,650 / set
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
Moroccan Ceramic Lidded Urn with Arabic Calligraphy Black Writing, Fez
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Large Moroccan glazed royal blue ceramic urn with lid from Fez. Vintage Moorish style ceramic handcrafted and hand painted with Arabic calligraphy w...
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
Vintage Pair of Moroccan Glazed Terra Cotta Lidded Urns with Birds
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Lofty pair of vintage urns with stylized birds as lids crafted in terra cotta in classic form decorated in alluring blue and orange with a crackle glaze and contrived aging.
Terracotta
Green Moorish Ceramic Urns with Chiseled Arabic Calligraphy Writing
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Large green Moorish ceramic Urns chiseled with Arabic calligraphy poetry writing. Handcrafted vases from Fez Morocco etched with Arabic calligraphy. This kind of Art Writing looks ca...
Ceramic
19th Century Indo-Persian Copper Urn with Handcrafted Floral Design
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Nice patina on this Indo-Persian decorative copper urn with lid, handcrafted in India for the Persian market, embossed and hand chased with floral and geome...
Copper
Large Heavy Handmade Copper Jug
Located in Belper, Derbyshire
A very sculptural and tactile Turkish copper water jug of some age with a lovely patina. Beautifully hand beaten copper with domed base tapering to a narrow neck with hand formed rin...
Copper
$3,600 / set
Antique Handcrafted Water Pitchers
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Antique pair of water pitchers or jugs handcrafted with copper, hammered, riveted, and plated with a translucent silver finish, giving them an acquired rustic quality only time and u...
Moorish Ceramic Urn with Chiseled Arabic Calligraphy Writing
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Large green Moorish ceramic Urns chiseled with Arabic calligraphy poetry writing.Handcrafted vases from Fez Morocco etched with Arabic calligraphy.This kind of Moorish ceramic art work could be found in the Alhambra palace...
Ceramic
Pair of Large Moroccan Green Chiseled Ceramic Urns with Lids, Fez, circa 1950
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Pair of Large Moroccan Green Chiseled Ceramic Urns with Lids, Fez, circa 1950 An impressive pair of vintage Moroccan ceramic urns, masterfully handcrafted in Fez and richly decorated...
Ceramic
Moroccan Ceramic Lidded Urn from Fez with Arabic Calligraphy Pink Writing
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Moroccan glazed ceramic urn with lid from Fez. Moorish style ceramic handcrafted and hand-painted with Arabic calligraphy pink writing. This kind of Art Writing looks calligraphic...
Ceramic
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
Handcrafted Moorish Ceramic Urns with Metal Handles, 20th Century
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Pair of very decorative large handcrafted Moorish, Spanish style ceramic urns planters from Fez, Metal handles, bottom and top adorned with embossed metal. Great decorative large ce...
Ceramic
Kabyle Berber Vase
Located in Glasgow, GB
This is a very fine delicate presentation vase from the Berber people of the Atlas Mountains of Algeria . Fired from local clay and hand painted in pigments ground from the soil of t...
Ceramic
$3,250 / set
Pair of Mid-Century Brass Urns
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Pair of Mid-Century palatial Indian brass urns or stands with Classic form and a brilliant combination of engraving and enamel, in the champlevé manne...
Brass
Vintage Moroccan Earthenware and Metal Lidded Urn
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Standout vintage Moroccan urn handcrafted in terra cotta decorated in distinctive Mediterranean colors and glazed, featuring jewelry like geometric metal work overlays.
Metal
Crescent of Smoke: A Majestic Ottoman Censer in Brass and Wood, Circa 1900
Located in Rio De Janeiro, BR
Crescent of Smoke: A Majestic Ottoman Censer in Brass and Wood, Circa 1900” A vision of golden grandeur, this rare and evocative censer is a poetic relic of the East — an objet d’art...
Brass
Large Moroccan Earthenware and Metal Lidded Urn
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Standout vintage Moroccan urn handcrafted in terra cotta decorated in distinctive Mediterranean colors and glazed under fine jewelry-like metalwork highlights.
Metal
Hugely Oversized Turkish Brass Teapot with Snakes
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Impressive huge Turkish teapot handcrafted in brass featuring a fluted lid structure with finial on a bulbous container engraved with symbols and wearing a stone beaded necklace with...
Stone, Brass
Handcrafted Vintage Moroccan Ceramic Urn with Lid, Moorish Design
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Vintage Moroccan Ceramic Urn with Lid, white crackled ceramic with silver overlaid. Great to use in the kitchen or in the bathroom. Great folk...
Metal
Pair of Moroccan Green and Brown Chiselled Ceramic Urns with Handles
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Pair of Moroccan green and brown ceramic urns with lid and handles. Great Moorish style handcrafted and chiselled decorative ceramic urns etched with Arabic calligraphy poetry writin...
Ceramic
Large Middle Eastern Arabesque Style Etched Brass Urn
Located in Houston, TX
Large middle Eastern Arabesque style etched brass urn. Stunning huge middle Eastern Arabesque style hand etched brass urn, vessel or vase. This gorgeous heavy weight Moorish style b...
Brass
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 Glazed Terra Cotta Olive Oil Jug
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Wonderful vintage Italian terracotta olive oil jug. Hand painted decorations in blues and gold. Nice lion head with rings on each side,
Terracotta
$900
H 14.38 in Dm 14.97 in
Japanese Antique Pottery with Beautiful Ripped in the Edo Period/Tsubo Wabisabi
Located in Sammu-shi, Chiba
It is an old jar baked in Japan. It seems to be in the Edo period (1700s-1800s). The unique distorted shape is beautiful. The color and balance of the gla...
Pottery
$4,900 / set
H 18 in Dm 8.5 in
19th Century Continental Style Hand Decorated Floral details Covered Urn
Located in Tarry Town, NY
These exquisite 19th-century Continental style covered urn is a testament to the intricate artistry and craftsmanship of its era. The urn's exterior is adorned with a vibrant and det...
Porcelain, Paint
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
$640Sale Price|54% Off
H 7.09 in Dm 7.49 in
Antique Rare Pottery Coated with Copper Plate Used in Japan/Tsubo Wabisabi
Located in Sammu-shi, Chiba
It is used in Japan. It seems to be in the Edo period (1700s-1800s). But details are unknown. The unique distorted shape is beautiful. The color and balance of the glaze are al...
Pottery
$1,072
H 5.52 in W 4.34 in D 4.34 in
Black and Brown Unique Abstract Ceramic Vase by David Whitehead La Borne
Located in Neuilly-en- sancerre, FR
David Whitehead Stoneware ceramic vase realised in La Borne Circa 2000 Unique handmade piece signed under the base Black and bron stoneware ceramic colors Measures: H...
Ceramic
Antique Moorish Moroccan Ceramic Floor Vase
Located in Lake Worth, FL
For FULL item description click on More Details below. Shipping Quote Information The shipping quote stated in the listing was from 1st Dibs and they normally set all the costs and handle all the shipping details. However, if you let us know what 1st Dibs is quoting you and give us your zip code, we can sometimes ship it for less and get it to you faster. For a shipping quote, click on "ASK THE SELLER" under the purchase button and provide your zip code. Offering One Of Our Recent Palm Beach Estate Fine Art Acquisitions Of An Antique Moorish Moroccan...
Metal, Nickel
Chinese Bronze Vase with 10 Figures
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Chinese bronze vase with 10 figures - Not certain of age, but works well in any setting and water tight. A very heavy (17 lbs) piece. Beautifully mad...
Bronze
$574Sale 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
19th Century Copper Bed Warmer
Located in Pomona, CA
19th-century copper bed warmer with a brass cap.
Brass, Copper
19th Century Grand Tour Neoclassical Urn
Located in Ongar, GB
A nice 19th century grand tour neoclassical spelter urn on a wooden ebonised base. It does have a small old repair on one handle but hardly noticeab...
Spelter
Red glazed ceramic vase by Michel Lanos
By Michel Lanos
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Red glazed ceramic vase by Michel Lanos. 9.8 x 7.5 inches. Perfect original decorations. Artist monogram under the base. Circa 1980. Unique piece. - Born in Paris in 1926, Michel L...
Ceramic
Large Vintage Moroccan Earthenware and Metal Urn
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Standout vintage Moroccan lidded urn crafted in terra cotta in classic form. Decorated in distinctive Mediterranean colors and glazed under extensive jewelry like metal work ambitiou...
Metal
Antique Moroccan Copper and Bronze Lidded Vessel or Urn with Serpents
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Enchanting antique Moroccan lidded vessel handcrafted in dramatic form with a hammered and riveted body and featuring a cast bronze lid, base and mythological serpent with cat heads ...
Bronze, Copper
Antique Large Moroccan Mixed Metal and Bone Urn
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Impressive large Moroccan urn handcrafted in hammered copper in classic form, clad in a bone mosaic and decorated in jewelry like copper and brass hammered accents.
Brass, Copper
Moorish Pair of Earthenware and Metalwork Lidded Urns
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Impressive vintage pair of Moroccan lidded urns handcrafted in terra cotta decorated and glazed in distinctive mediterranean color, featuring jewelry ...
Metal
Moroccan Painted Wood Lidded Box or Urn
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Striking gourd form vintage Moroccan lidded box or vessel hand crafted in indigenous wood and painted with floral designs in distinctive mediterranean colors highlighted with decorat...
Hardwood
Vintage Pair of Moroccan Blue and White Earthenware Palace Urns
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Impressive pair of vintage Moroccan palace size lidded urns crafted in terra cotta in classic form with distinctive hand decorated Mediterranean designs in alluring blue tones.
Terracotta
Large Earthenware and Metal Moroccan Lidded Urn
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Large and impressive Moroccan lidded urn crafted in terra cotta, glazed over mediterranean colors and decorated with jewelry like metal work that ups the wow factor.
Metal
Decorated Earthenware Lidded Urn
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Large glazed terra cotta urn decorated with floral and geometric designs in traditional mediterranean colors featuring applied jewelry style high quality metalwork.
Earthenware
Large Moroccan Decorated Earthenware Palace Urn
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Tall glazed terra cotta urn decorated in traditional mediterranean colors and having jewelry like metalwork overlays that ups the wow factor. Best of the genre.
Earthenware
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
Large Decorated Earthenware Lidded Urn
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Large glazed terra cotta urn decorated with floral and geometric designs in traditional mediterranean colors and applied jewelry style metalwork taking this urn to the next level.
Earthenware, Terracotta
Decorated Earthenware Lidded Urn
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Large glazed terra cotta urn decorated with floral and geometric designs in traditional mediterranean colors and applied jewelry style metalwork taking this urn to the next level.
Earthenware, Terracotta