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.
Middle Eastern Brass Hookah
Located in Queens, NY
Middle Eastern Persian style water pipe with etched pewter chamber base and carved ebony & pewter inlaid chimney with woven smoking hose (19/20th Cent.)
Ebony
Vintage Moroccan Hazel Atlas Amethyst Triangle Pair of Ashtrays
By Hazel-Atlas
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Moroccan amethyst set of two ashtrays from the 1950s. Small individual ashtrays Vintage hazel atlas Moroccan amethyst ashtrays glass in a triangle ...
Art Glass
Facets Clear Ashtray
Located in Paris, FR
Ashtray Facets Clear all hand-made with concrete, pigments and mirror glass. Exceptional and unique piece.
Concrete
Horse Head Brass Ashtray
Located in Auribeau sur Siagne, FR
Horse head brass ashtray.
Brass
Solid Brass Ashtray
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Solid round brass ashtray. This piece features two deep wells separated by comb like notches down the middle of the ashtray. Dimensions 7" diameter x 1.5" height. Condition Excelle...
Brass
Middle Eastern Antique Dallah Arabic Copper Coffee Pot
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
19th century Middle Eastern Arabian tinned copper Dallah coffee pot. Antique decorative Arabic coffee pot hand-hammered and chased copper with riveted br...
Brass, Copper
$750
H 2 in W 4.75 in D 4 in
Vintage Piero Fornasetti "Caduceus" Lithograph Gilt Porcelain Green Ashtray
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Vintage celadon/mint green ceramic ashtray/trinket dish with cigarette slots by Piero Fornasetti, (circa 1950s, Italy). Features lithographic tra...
Porcelain
Classy Brass Ashtray
Located in Paris, FR
Classy Brass Ashtray in aluminium in antique dark brass finish. Also available on request in black finish.
Aluminum, Brass
Midcentury Hagenauer Solid Brass Ashtray
Located in Vienna, AT
For sale is a unique piece of Mid-Century Modern design. The ashtray was mindfully cast out of solid golden-warm brass. It was produced and designed by the renowned Austrian workshop...
Brass
Cat Brass Ashtray or Bowl
Located in Auribeau sur Siagne, FR
1950 vintage cat brass ashtray or bowl. This can be used as a sculpture too.
Brass
Le Corbusier, Charlotte Perriand Ashtray for Lumax Set of 2
Located in Auribeau sur Siagne, FR
About product: Lumax ashtrey by Le Corbusier and Charlotte Perriand. Manufactured in France, circa 1970. The Lumax Ashtray by Le Corbusier is an iconic design piece. It was designe...
Art Glass
Antique Hand Hammered Brass Middle Eastern Moorish Serving Tray
Located in Douglas Manor, NY
3-481 Antique Large decorative Moorish hand made brass tray with elaborative and fine Islamic geometric designs with pie crest edge
Brass
Antique Middle Eastern Dallah Arabic Brass Coffee Pot
Located in West Hollywood, CA
This beautifully crafted antique brass dallah, traditionally used for brewing and serving coffee, is a fine example of classic Middle Eastern met...
Brass
Walter Bosse Vintage Brass Hand Ashtray for Herta Baller
By Walter Bosse
Located in Vienna, AT
This elegant and heavy ashtray by Walter Bosse for Herta Baller (Model 844) is an original Austrian Mid-Century piece of sculptural character. The object...
Brass
Vintage Metal Aladdin Moroccan Slipper Shoe Ashtray with Beads 1950
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Vintage Metal Moroccan Babouche Slipper Shoe Ashtray. Jewelled beaded Middle Eastern Islamic Moroccan slipper style shoe ashtray. Aladdin Middle Eastern Mughal Persian Moorish pointe...
Metal
Vintage El Morocco Glass Ashtray Dish
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Vintage El Morocco glass ashtray dish. This wonderful vintage iconic El Morocco nightclub New York NYC glass dish ashtray is perfect for the avid col...
Glass
Sold
H 0.75 in W 7 in D 7 in
Moroccan Vintage Hammered Copper Ashtray in Moorish Design Octagonal Dish 1950's
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Large Moorish copper ashtray octagonal metal ashtray hand-engraved with Moorish mosaic geometric designs. Vintage large hammered copper Moroccan mosaic ashtray, trinket dish, catchall, vide poche, brass metal Moorish tray, decorative dish. This is a vintage Middle Eastern Moorish style hammered copper ashtray. The large hand made shallow copper tray features four notched grooves along its rim for cigars. Hand-hammered, etched copper large ashtray features an ornate engraved Moorish Islamic Arabesque...
Metal, Brass, Copper
Sold
H 0.75 in W 7 in D 7 in
Vintage Moroccan Ashtray Hammered Copper Moorish Design Octagonal Dish 1950's
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Large Moroccan octagonal metal ashtray hand-engraved with Moorish mosaic geometric designs. Vintage large hammered copper mosaic ashtray, trinket dish, catchall, vide poche, brass metal Moorish tray, decorative dish. This is a vintage Middle Eastern Moorish style hammered copper ashtray. The large hand made shallow copper tray features four notched grooves along its rim for cigars. Hand-hammered, etched copper large ashtray features an ornate engraved Moorish Islamic Arabesque...
Metal, Copper
Sold
H 0.75 in W 7 in D 2 in
Moroccan Vintage Ashtray Hammered Copper Moorish Design Octagonal Dish 1950's
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Large vintage Moroccan ashtray in octagonal metal hand-engraved with Moorish mosaic geometric designs. Vintage large hammered copper mosaic ashtray, trinket dish, catchall, vide poche, brass metal Moorish tray, decorative dish. This is a vintage Middle Eastern Moorish style hammered copper ashtray. The large hand made shallow copper tray features four notched grooves along its rim for cigars. Hand-hammered, etched copper large ashtray features an ornate engraved Moorish Islamic Arabesque...
Brass, Copper
Sold
H 0.25 in Dm 3.25 in
Vintage Turkish Brass Etched Dish Coasters Set of Two with Tughra Calligraphic D
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Vintage brass Turkish etched coasters set of two with the Ottoman calligraphic Tughra design in the center. Handcrafted, embossed and etched desig...
Brass
Moroccan Hand Painted Ceramic Astrays from Fez set of 6
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Vintage Moroccan covered hand painted ceramic ashtray. Handcrafted Moroccan ceramic covered ash receiver. This covered medium size ashtray could be used indoor and outdoor. If used i...
Ceramic, Pottery
Vintage Art Deco Bohemian Karl Palda Crystal Cut Cigar Ashtray
By Hazel-Atlas
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Exceptional luxury Art Deco Bohemian Karl Palda crystal cut ashtray. Stunning Art Deco details like the streamlined shape with cut-glass engraved pattern combining geometrical details with amber color glass. This Art Deco glass ashtray was designed by Karl Palda in the 1930's and produced by Novy Bor glasswork. Vintage square heavy clear and amber cut glass...
Glass
Vintage Moroccan Hazel Atlas Round Amber Glass Cigar Ashtray
By Hazel-Atlas
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Moroccan amber glass ashtrays from the 1950s. Vintage Hazel Atlas amber round sunflower form cigar ashtray. Vintage hazel atlas Moroccan amber gl...
Glass
Vintage Ceramic Ashtray from Fez Morocco
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Vintage Moroccan covered hand painted ceramic ashtray. Handcrafted Moroccan ceramic covered ash receiver. This covered medium size ashtray could be used indoor and outdoor. If used indoor the cover will keep the smell of ashes in. Hand painted Moorish designs, hand-made in Fez Morocco...
Ceramic, Pottery
Moroccan Hand Painted Vintage Ceramic Astray from Fez
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Vintage Moroccan covered hand painted ceramic ashtray. Handcrafted Moroccan ceramic covered ash receiver. This covered medium size ashtray could be used indoor and outdoor. If use...
Ceramic, Pottery
Moroccan Hand Painted Ceramic Astray from Fez
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Moroccan covered hand painted ceramic ashtray. Handcrafted Moroccan ceramic covered ash receiver. This covered medium size ashtray could be used indoor and outdoor. If used indoor...
Ceramic, Pottery