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.
Moorish Moroccan Blue and White Ceramic Vase from Fez with Silver Filigree
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Fabulous handcrafted antique Moroccan blue and white footed ceramic vase in Moorish style. Adorned with fine filigree silver nickel work with hand...
Ceramic
Glazed Moorish Ceramic Covered Jar Handcrafted in Fez Morocco
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Moorish ceramic Moroccan glazed polychrome jar tureen with cover. Hand painted ceramic Jubbana, handcrafted by skilled Moroccan artisans in Fez Morocco. ...
Ceramic
Antique Moroccan Ceramic Glazed Bowl Handcrafted in Fez Meknes Jobbana 1900
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Antique large Moroccan handcrafted glazed polychrome ceramic bowl. Moroccan, Fez or Meknes bowl Jobbana with geometric Moorish designs. Hand painted ceramic Jubbana bowl, handcrafted by skilled Moroccan artisans in Fez Morocco...
Ceramic
$564Sale Price / set|20% Off
Antique Moroccan Earthenware Bowls with Lids, Terracotta, Circa 1950
Located in Alessandria, Piemonte
O/2956 - Old earthenware bowls and lids from Morocco: terracotta lids can be used to keep food warm in serving dishes. I'm closing my activities, so...
Earthenware
B&Cie, Charles POYARD, Félix FLICK, Dish With Portrait of a Berber Woman
Located in SAINT-OUEN-SUR-SEINE, FR
This faience dish was crafted by the B&Cie factory in Montereau, while its design was conceived and painted by Félix Flick; Charles Poyard likely contributed to the enameling. T...
Ceramic, Faience
Moroccan Ceramic Bowl
Located in Lohr, Bavaria, DE
Beautiful brass mounted vintage ceramic bowl. Very good condition and color. Traditional design. Also to be used as wall decoration. Important Shipping Information: All of our rugs ...
Ceramic
$440Sale Price|20% Off
Vintage Hand Painted Ceramic Moroccan Vase or Urn
Located in Plainview, NY
This beautiful hand painted ceramic Moroccan round vase or urn Features wonderfully intricate and imaginatively sequenced hand painted designs. This colorful, round, orb-like ceramic...
Ceramic
Handcrafted Antique Moroccan Couscous Bowl from Fez, 19th Century
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
An under-glazed painted pottery bowl with abstract naive design, blue, ochre, brown. Moroccan antique pottery bowl of deep rounded form with flattened rim rising on a low ring foot, hand-painted on the exterior with black decoration, the interior in polychrome painted, having abstract design in blue and ochre with turquoise accents, crack lure. Handcrafted antique ceramic dish, Fez, Morocco, Circa 1880, Museum quality piece. Antique Mokhfia (couscous bowl...
Ceramic, Pottery
$560Sale Price / set|20% Off
Handmade Large Ceramic Serving Decorative, Center Table Plate, Set of 2
Located in Plainview, NY
Intricate and ornate arabesque motifs in mesmerizing colors define these large, gorgeous ceramic dinner plates. Handcrafted in the bustling workshops of master artisans in the coasta...
Ceramic, Paint
Moroccan Ceramic Flask Bottle from Fez with Silvered Filigree
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Early 20th century antique Moroccan ceramic from Fez, adorned with silver nickel filigree handwork. Great one of a kind handcrafted urn with lid ...
Ceramic
$560Sale Price / set|20% Off
Handmade Large Ceramic Serving, Decorative or Center Table Plate, Set of 2
Located in Plainview, NY
Intricate and ornate arabesque motifs in mesmerizing colors define these large, gorgeous ceramic dinner plates. Handcrafted in the bustling workshops of master artisans in the coasta...
Ceramic, Paint
Moorish Ceramic Glazed Covered Urns Handcrafted in Fez Morocco
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Large pair of Moorish Moroccan glazed polychrome ceramic jars tureen with cover. Hand painted ceramic Jubbana, handcrafted by skilled Moroccan artisans in Fez Morocco. Moorish desi...
Ceramic
Creil Fine Creamware Dish
Located in Downingtown, PA
Creil Faience Fine Creamware Dish, Circa 1800-20 This charming French creamware dish is decorated with a molded design of bullrushes encircling the dish. The crisp design display...
Creamware, Pottery
$550
H 23.5 in W 14 in D 10 in
Mexican Vessel Rustic Natural Clay Folk Art Handmade Ceramic Terracotta Oaxaca
Located in Queretaro, Queretaro
Silvia creates her own representation of the Mixe Blouse, very traditional garment of the Mixe Region, in Mexico. In the heart of the Sierra Norte Mountains in the state of Oaxac...
Ceramic, Clay
$625
H 2.25 in Dm 9 in
Antique Portuguese Pottery Palissy Style Majolica Lobster Wall Dish Plate, 1900
By Bernard Palissy
Located in Portland, OR
A good antique Palissy Ware style Portuguese majolica wall plate, circa 1900. The plate decorated with a large lobster to the center resting on a textu...
Pottery
$281Sale Price / item|20% Off
H 7.88 in W 5.52 in D 9.85 in
Sheep Moneybox Pop Art, Red, Made in Italy, 2022, New Collection
Located in San Miniato PI, IT
These splendid ceramic creations are born from the artistic laboratory of Mosche Bianche. The piggy bank, a means that has always been used to remind us of the importance of savi...
Ceramic
$429Sale Price|54% Off
H 5.91 in W 14.38 in D 14.97 in
Antique French Green Glazed Terracotta Dairy Bowl / Tian, Provence, c. 1850
Located in Buisson, FR
Great piece of pottery from the Provence. Beautiful green color, France, circa 1850. Good but weathered condition.
Terracotta
$4,472
H 1.19 in Dm 15.36 in
Large Ceramic Decorative Dish "Woman & Bird" Signed by Roger Capron, 1955
By Roger Capron
Located in Paris, FR
Roger Capron (1922-2006) Roger Capron studied at Art appliqués of Paris from 1938 to 1943 before teaching drawing in the same establishment from 1945. In 1946, he settled in Vallaur...
Ceramic
$1,575Sale Price|55% Off
H 4.38 in Dm 7.25 in
Londi Bitossi Vase, Ceramic, Moorish Stripes, Brown, Chartreuse, Orange, Signed
By Bitossi, Aldo Londi
Located in New York, NY
Londi Bitossi vase, ceramic, Moorish stripes, brown, chartreuse and orange, signed. Small low vase from Aldo Londi's Moorish Stripes series with chartreuse and orange glaze over coar...
Ceramic
Contemporary Handmade Ceramic Noble Vase Red and White
Located in Brooklyn, NY
One of a kind ceramic Noble vase in red clay with white speckled base, copper green glaze interior. The vase is comprised of two different clay bodies and features a raw, unglazed ce...
Ceramic, Clay
Early 20th Century Morocco Fez Ceramic Bowl
Located in Auribeau sur Siagne, FR
Painted and glazed clay bowl with Moorish designs. Early 20th century Fez, Morocco.
Pottery
$620Sale Price / set|20% Off
H 7.88 in W 5.52 in D 9.85 in
Sheep Moneybox Pop Art, Set of 3 Pieces, Made in Italy, 2022, New Collection
Located in San Miniato PI, IT
These splendid ceramic creations are born from the artistic laboratory of Mosche Bianche. The piggy bank, a means that has always been used to remind us of the importance of savi...
Ceramic
19th Century Italian Majolica Dish with Renaissance Figures
Located in San Francisco, CA
19th century Italian Majolica dish with Renaissance figures Superb highly decorated Italian Majolica plate with hand a hand painted scene of Roman mythology; The abduction of Sabine...
Ceramic
Moroccan Ceramic Glazed Covered Urn Handcrafted in Fez Morocco
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Moroccan glazed polychrome ceramic tureen with cover. Hand painted ceramic Jubbana, handcrafted by skilled Moroccan artisans in Fez Morocco. Moorish desi...
Ceramic
Pair of Ceramic and Iron Manises Vases. Spain, Late 19th Century
Located in Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires
Pair of ceramic and iron Manises vases. Spain, late 19th century.
Iron
Antique Persian Blue Tiles Scene Islamic Koranic Script, Set 6
Located in Hyattsville, MD
Six late 19th century hand painted Persian tiles with Islamic Script. Siliceous paste painted in polychromy under transparent colorless glaze...
Ceramic
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 Terracotta Bowl for Garden Party
Located in Alessandria, Piemonte
O/2648 - Vintage terracotta dish for couscous or bowl for fruits, as rustic or modern centerpiece for Your garden parties.
Terracotta
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
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
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
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
Moorish Moroccan Ceramic Candlestick from Fez with Silver Filigree
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Fabulous handcrafted antique Moroccan blue and white footed ceramic candle holder in Moorish style. Adorned with fine filigree silver nickel work...
Ceramic
Sold
H 0.25 in W 5.75 in D 5.75 in
Vintage Hand Painted Ceramic Square Coasters or Decorative Tiles, Set of 7
Located in Plainview, NY
Am exquisite set of vintage hand painted Moroccan ceramic square coasters or decorative tiles. Each piece features intricate Moorish design in blue, Brown and orange. This beautiful ...
Ceramic, Paint