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Moorish Folk Art

MOORISH STYLE

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.

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Style: Moorish
Moroccan Metal Silver Plated Tea Pot
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Traditional vintage silvered-metal and brass Moroccan tea pot, embossed with traditional repousse design, nicely aged, handcrafted in Fez, stamped in ...
Category

Mid-20th Century Moroccan Moorish Folk Art

Materials

Metal, Silver Plate, Brass

Large French Jug, Moorish Style, Stamped "Mauresque Longchamp", Vase
Located in Greven, DE
Beautiful large ceramic jug in a moorish style, France, circa 1880. Stamped at the bottom "Mauresque Longchamp".
Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Moorish Folk Art

Materials

Ceramic

Large French Bowl, Moorish Style, Stamped "Mauresque Longchamp"
Located in Greven, DE
Beautiful large ceramic bowl in a moorish style, France, circa 1880. Stamped at the bottom "Mauresque Longchamp".
Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Moorish Folk Art

Materials

Ceramic

Moorish Green Glass Perfume Bottle Sprinkler with Embossed Metal Overlay
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Handcrafted Moroccan Moorish green painted glass perfume bottle or rose water sprinkler with raised embossed silvered metal floral design over glass. The pressed glass bottle in Art ...
Category

20th Century Moroccan Moorish Folk Art

Materials

Metal

Mid-Century Moorish Brass and Copper Tea Pot on Kettle
Located in Plainview, NY
This Mid-Century Moorish teapot on kettle is made or red copper and brass and stands is a true thing of beauty by standing on a beautifully carved Kettle / pedestal. Handcrafted by ...
Category

Mid-20th Century Moroccan Moorish Folk Art

Materials

Brass, Bronze

Moroccan Ceramic Bowl
Located in Lohr, Bavaria, DE
Beautiful brass mounted antique ceramic bowl. Very good condition and Color.
Category

20th Century Moroccan Moorish Folk Art

Materials

Ceramic

Moroccan Ceramic Lidded Urn with Arabic Calligraphy Black Writing, Fez
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Large Moroccan glazed royal blue ceramic urn with lid from Fez. Vintage Moorish style ceramic handcrafted and hand painted with Arabic calligraphy w...
Category

Mid-20th Century Moroccan Moorish Folk Art

Materials

Ceramic

Syrian Moorish Inlaid Mosaic Backgammon and Chess Wooden Game Board Box
Located in Studio City, CA
Stunning mosaic design and gorgeous craftsmanship. The board/box is made of various wood, mother-of-pearl, and bone inlays. A genuine work of art. A set of backgammon pieces...
Category

20th Century Syrian Moorish Folk Art

Materials

Wood

Turkish Polychrome Hand Painted Ceramic Kutahya Platter
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Turkish polychrome hand painted ceramic Kutahya decorative hanging Plate. Kütahya is famous for its kiln products, such as tiles and pottery, which...
Category

Mid-20th Century Turkish Moorish Folk Art

Materials

Ceramic

Moroccan Ceramic Bowl with Lid Tajine from Fez Polychrome
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Moroccan large ceramic decorative serving bowl tajine polychrome with leather, stones and metal overlay with conical overlay lid. The bottom is a circular ceramic bowl and the top of the tagine is distinctively shaped into a cone. Handcrafted and hand painted with Moorish designs by artisans in Fez Morocco. Great decorative Moroccan Folk ceramic...
Category

Mid-20th Century Moroccan Moorish Folk Art

Materials

Ceramic

North African Tribal Art Parchment Wall Decor
Located in North Hollywood, CA
African tribal art parchment wall shade sconce featuring a large triangle hide form stitched on iron and hand painted surface. These Moroccan art pieces could be used as wall lamp s...
Category

20th Century Moroccan Moorish Folk Art

Materials

Iron

Moroccan Parchment Handpainted Folk Art Wall Sconce
Located in North Hollywood, CA
African Tribal Art parchment wall shade sconce featuring a large triangle hide form stitched on iron and hand painted surface. These Moroccan Art pieces could be used as wall lamp sh...
Category

20th Century Moroccan Moorish Folk Art

Materials

Iron

Vintage Hollywood Regency Moorish Majolica Camel Garden Seat
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Vintage highly decorative Hollywood Regency Moorish Majolica camel garden seat. Hollywood Regency 1950s poly-chrome glazed Italian terracotta garden st...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Moorish Folk Art

Materials

Ceramic, Terracotta

Moorish Emerald Green Glass Perfume Bottle Sprinkler with Embossed Metal Overlay
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Handcrafted Moroccan Moorish Emerald green painted glass perfume bottle or rose water sprinkler with raised embossed silvered metal floral design over glass. The pressed glass bottle in Art Deco, Art Nouveau style is oval shape with curved sides and hand decorated with embossed metal silvered overlay. This has a long metal top spout that unscrews. This is a recycled vintage French perfume...
Category

20th Century Moroccan Moorish Folk Art

Materials

Metal

Moroccan Ceramic Blue Bowl Adorned with Silver Filigree from Fez Antique 1920s
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Handcrafted Moorish Moroccan blue decorative ceramic Bowl, dish from Fez. Moroccan ceramic bowl in Bleu de Fez, very nice designs hand painted by artist in Fez. Geometrical and flora...
Category

Early 20th Century Moroccan Moorish Folk Art

Materials

Ceramic

Berber Old Earthenware Bowls and Lids from Morocco
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...
Category

Mid-20th Century Moroccan Moorish Folk Art

Materials

Earthenware

Moroccan Moorish Orientalist Oil Painting
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Moroccan Orientalist oil on canvas painting of a 19th century Moroccan market scene with an old men seating on a carpet selling old coins and a Moorish...
Category

Mid-20th Century Moroccan Moorish Folk Art

Materials

Canvas

Vintage Raj Handcrafted Camel Toy India, 1950
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Vintage Raj embroidered large camel toy, India, 1950. Handmade in Rajasthan, India, colorful fabric camel toy. Vintage oversized camel stuffed cotton embroidered and decorated with...
Category

Mid-20th Century Indian Moorish Folk Art

Materials

Cotton

The Arts of Persia Ronald W. Ferrier Hardcover Book 1st Ed. 1989
Located in North Hollywood, CA
The Arts of Persia Ronald W. Ferrier Hardcover Book. Published by Yale University Press, 1989 344 pages, Hardcover First published September 10, 1989 Persian art, with its detail...
Category

Late 20th Century American Moorish Folk Art

Materials

Paper

Hand Painted Middle Eastern Qajar Style Picture Photo Album
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Antique Middle Eastern Qajar early 1900s Persian style picture photo album, with hand painted miniature on the cover. Middle Eastern scrapbook is hand painted with 22-karat gold, wi...
Category

Late 19th Century Asian Antique Moorish Folk Art

Materials

Paper

Cobalt Blue Moroccan Ceramic Bowl with Silver Overlay
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Beautiful cobalt blue Moroccan footed ceramic bowl with silvered metal overlay. Great large decorative ceramic bowl. Measures: Diameter 11 inches x 4 ...
Category

Late 20th Century Moroccan Moorish Folk Art

Materials

Metal

Antique Moroccan Ceramic Bowl from Fez 1920's
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Antique hand-painted and handcrafted Moroccan ceramic bowl or wall art decorative plate, Large Moroccan ceramic bowl handcrafted in Fez by artisans. Hand painted Moorish ceramic pla...
Category

1920s Moroccan Vintage Moorish Folk Art

Materials

Ceramic

Vintage Hand Painted Resting Camel Porcelain Tea Pot
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Vintage “Minton” style tea pot of camel figure. Vintage Hand Painted Camel Porcelain Tea Pot, The camel’s body is in grey color with green and orange bl...
Category

Late 20th Century Italian Moorish Folk Art

Materials

Ceramic, Porcelain

Moroccan Caftan Floral Brocade Multicolored Embroidered Kaftan 1970s
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Gorgeous vintage hostess gown, floral multicolored brocade Kaftan, circa 1970s. Exotic oriental floral long maxi caftan dress with wide arm and lo...
Category

1970s Moroccan Vintage Moorish Folk Art

Materials

Brocade, Braid

Middle Eastern Large Arabian Polished Brass Incense Burner
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Large antique 19th century Turkish incense burner or fire pit with pierced brass and solid brass ornamentation. Museum quality piece footed inc...
Category

19th Century Turkish Antique Moorish Folk Art

Materials

Brass

Moroccan Moorish Ceramic Bowl with Lid, Tajine from Fez
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Large Moroccan ceramic decorative serving tajine polychrome with leather, stones and metal overlay with conical overlay lid. The bottom is a circular ceramic bowl and the top of the tagine is distinctively shaped into a cone. Handcrafted and hand painted with Moorish designs by artisans in Fez Morocco. Great decorative Moroccan Folk ceramic...
Category

Mid-20th Century Moroccan Moorish Folk Art

Materials

Ceramic

Middle Eastern Moorish Handcrafted Mosaic Decorative Box
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Exquisite handcrafted Middle Eastern mosaic marquetry inlaid walnut wood box. Small box intricately decorated with Moorish motif designs which h...
Category

Mid-20th Century Lebanese Moorish Folk Art

Materials

Fruitwood, Shell, Mother-of-Pearl

Moroccan Ceramic Lidded Urn from Fez with Arabic Calligraphy Pink Writing
Located in North Hollywood, 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...
Category

20th Century Moroccan Moorish Folk Art

Materials

Ceramic

Middle Eastern Micro Mosaic Handcrafted Box
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Exquisite handcrafted Middle Eastern mosaic marquetry inlaid wood box. Small octagonal box intricately decorated with a miniature painting of an old man with a textile in his hand motif and inlaid with mosaic marquetry. Middle Eastern, Asian micro mosaic box...
Category

Mid-20th Century Azerbaijani Moorish Folk Art

Materials

Fruitwood

Antique Moroccan Ceramic Bowl Adorned with Moorish Silver Filigree from Fez
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Handcrafted Moorish Moroccan polychrome decorative ceramic Bowl, dish from Fez. Bleu de Fez, very nice designs hand painted by artist in Fez. Geometrical and floral Moorish design...
Category

Early 20th Century Moroccan Moorish Folk Art

Materials

Ceramic

Middle Eastern Micro Mosaic Octagonal Chess Game with Horn Pieces
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Intricately inlaid handcrafted Persian styled chess game board and handcrafted horn and pone chess pieces. Handcrafted beautiful Middle Eastern Moorish style Khatam chess board cover...
Category

Mid-20th Century Lebanese Moorish Folk Art

Materials

Bone, Horn, Wood

Moroccan Moorish Ceramic Bowl Adorned with Silver Filigree from Fez
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Handcrafted Moorish Moroccan polychrome decorative ceramic Bowl, dish from Fez. Bleu de Fez, very nice designs hand painted by artist in Fez. Geometrical and floral Moorish design...
Category

Early 20th Century Moroccan Moorish Folk Art

Materials

Ceramic

Vintage Taupe and Ivory Cut Velvet Pillow with Metallic Beads
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Vintage Beige and ivory cut velvet pillow with metallic beads. Nice decorative lumbar pillow. This pillow features a central medallion with silver beads decoration, broken chevron ...
Category

Late 20th Century Moorish Folk Art

Materials

Linen, Velvet

Alexander McQueen Waist Belt Cotton Embroidered India Inspired
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Alexander McQueen's waist belt inspired by the handicraft of the Rajasthan Mughal textile. Alexander Mcqueen mirror work colorful India insp...
Category

2010s Italian Moorish Folk Art

Materials

Cotton, Mirror

Egyptian Middle Eastern Resting Camel Sculpture on Marble Stand
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Egyptian Middle Eastern Camel Sculpture on marble stand. Art Deco Style Bronze Resting Camel on White Marble Stand Sculpture. Hand crafted and cast by the using the traditional los...
Category

Late 20th Century Egyptian Moorish Folk Art

Materials

Bronze

Moroccan Blue Ceramic Dish Bowl Adorned with Silver Filigree from Fez
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Handcrafted Moorish Moroccan Bleu de Fez decorative ceramic Bowl, dish. Ceramic bowl in Bleu de Fez, very nice designs hand painted by artist in Fez. Geometrical and floral Moorish ...
Category

Early 20th Century Moroccan Moorish Folk Art

Materials

Ceramic

Handcrafted Antique Moroccan Couscous Bowl from Fez, 19th Century
Located in North Hollywood, 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...
Category

Late 20th Century Moroccan Moorish Folk Art

Materials

Ceramic, Pottery

Decorative Moroccan Moorish Handcrafted Ceramic Bowl Dish from Fez
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Handcrafted large Moroccan Moorish polychrome decorative ceramic bowl from Fez. Bleu de Fez, very nice designs hand painted by artist in Fez. Antique ceramic handcrafted bowl with...
Category

Early 20th Century Moroccan Moorish Folk Art

Materials

Ceramic

Vintage Moroccan Kaftan 1970s Red and Gold Floral Brocade Caftan Maxi Dress
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Metallic red and gold brocade maxi dress kaftan hand made by Moroccan artist. Handmade vintage exotic 1970s gold and red metallic brocade ceremonial caftan gown from North Africa, M...
Category

20th Century Moroccan Moorish Folk Art

Materials

Brocade

Large Pair of Moroccan Damask Green Bolster Lumbar Decorative Pillows
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Large pair of Moroccan Damask green floral bolster lumbar decorative pillows. Great to use as accent pillows on a bed or sofa throw pillows. Pillow ...
Category

1970s Moroccan Vintage Moorish Folk Art

Materials

Fabric

Large Moroccan Damask Green Bolster Lumbar Decorative Pillow
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Large Moroccan damask green floral bolster lumbar decorative pillow. Great to use as accent pillows on a bed or sofa throw pillows. Pillow has a b...
Category

1970s Moroccan Vintage Moorish Folk Art

Materials

Fabric

Handpainted Moroccan Red Parchment Wall Sconce
Located in North Hollywood, CA
African Tribal Art parchment wall shade sconce featuring a large triangle hide form stitched on iron and hand painted surface. These Moroccan Art pieces could be used as wall lamp s...
Category

20th Century Moroccan Moorish Folk Art

Materials

Iron

Tribal Art African Parchment Wall Sconce Red
Located in North Hollywood, CA
African Tribal Art parchment wall shade sconce featuring a large triangle hide form stitched on iron and hand painted surface. These Moroccan Art pieces could be used as wall lamp shade...
Category

20th Century Moroccan Moorish Folk Art

Materials

Iron

Antique Turkish Hand-Knotted Ethnic Rug, 1940
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Small hand-knotted rug from Eastern Turkey, Antique oriental accent rug, carpet or mat. Vintage Turkish rug with rare colors. This hand-knotte...
Category

Early 20th Century Turkish Moorish Folk Art

Materials

Wool

Moroccan Hand Painted Vintage Ceramic Astray from Fez
Located in North Hollywood, 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...
Category

Mid-20th Century Moroccan Moorish Folk Art

Materials

Ceramic, Pottery

Moroccan Glass Perfume Bottle Sprinkler with Metal Overlay
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Handcrafted Moroccan Moorish amber painted glass perfume bottle or rose water sprinkler with raised embossed silvered metal floral design over amber glass. The pressed glass bottle in Art Deco, Art Nouveau style is oval shape with curved sides and hand decorated with embossed metal silvered overlay. This has a long metal top spout that unscrews. This is a recycled vintage French perfume...
Category

20th Century Moroccan Moorish Folk Art

Materials

Metal

Turkish Ottoman Scene Polychrome Hand Painted Ceramic Vase Kutahya
Located in North Hollywood, CA
A small Kütahya style polychrome hand painted and handcrafted glazed ceramic decorative vase with an Ottoman scene. This is an intricately, hand painted vase that was made in Marmara, Turkey: Kütahya is famous for its kiln products, such as tiles and pottery, which are glazed and multicolored. It has a beautifully hand painted scene with Ottomans princes enjoying the outdoors, surrounded by flowers in burgundy, turquoise, light and dark blue and green foliage. An Islamic ceramic...
Category

Mid-20th Century Turkish Moorish Folk Art

Materials

Ceramic

Handcrafted Moroccan Gilt Metal Pendant, North Africa
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Gilt metal orb pendant handcrafted by skilled artisans in Morocco, North Africa. Amazing metal Moroccan lantern hand-pierced with thousands of small holes to diffuse the light throug...
Category

20th Century Moroccan Moorish Folk Art

Materials

Metal

Middle Eastern Miniature Painting of Peacocks in Mosaic Frame
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Middle Eastern miniature painting of peacocks framed in a Moorish micro mosaic inlaid picture frame. Middle Eastern miniature painti...
Category

Mid-20th Century Asian Moorish Folk Art

Materials

Wood

Moroccan Moorish Star Shape Ivory Side Tables a Pair
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Pair of Moroccan side tables colorful ivory color hand painted and carved occasional tables with Moorish designs. Vintage Moroccan Pedestal tables in ivory background with polychrome...
Category

20th Century Moroccan Moorish Folk Art

Materials

Wood

Handcrafted Moroccan Metal Orb Pendant, North Africa
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Metal orb pendant handcrafted by skilled artisans in Morocco, North Africa. Amazing metal Moroccan lantern hand-pierced with thousands of small holes to diff...
Category

20th Century Moroccan Moorish Folk Art

Materials

Metal

Vintage Masonic Shriner Burgundy Ceramic Vase
Located in North Hollywood, CA
AL Malaikah vintage Masonic Shriner iconic burgundy Fez hat design ceramic planter or vase. Vintage fez hat from Los Angeles Al Malaikah Shriner mason...
Category

1970s American Vintage Moorish Folk Art

Materials

Ceramic

Middle Eastern Miniature Painting on Shell
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Hand Painted Asian Persian miniature painting on a sea oyster shell. Middle Eastern Moorish design miniature painting on shell, very fine ...
Category

Mid-20th Century Asian Moorish Folk Art

Materials

Shell, Mother-of-Pearl

Vintage Moroccan Mirror Hand Painted with Red and Amber Moorish Design
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Vintage Moroccan mirror, hand painted, wooden Moorish window shaped mirror. Beautiful hand crafted mirror in a traditional hand painted Mooris...
Category

Late 20th Century Moroccan Moorish Folk Art

Materials

Mirror, Wood, Paint

Moorish Ceramic Tile with Arabic Writing
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Moroccan handcrafted decorative tile with hand painted Arabic writing in brown on ivory crackle glazed ceramic. Arabic writing on ceramic tile hand pai...
Category

20th Century Moroccan Moorish Folk Art

Materials

Ceramic

Vintage Moroccan Mirror Hand Painted with Red Moorish Design
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Vintage Moroccan mirror, hand painted, wooden Moorish window shaped mirror. Beautiful hand crafted mirror in a traditional hand painted Mooris...
Category

Late 20th Century Moroccan Moorish Folk Art

Materials

Mirror, Wood, Paint

Moroccan Red Glass Perfume Bottle Sprinkler with Embossed Metal Overlay
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Handcrafted Moroccan Moorish red painted glass perfume bottle or rose water sprinkler with raised embossed silvered metal floral design over red g...
Category

20th Century Moroccan Moorish Folk Art

Materials

Metal

Moroccan Moorish Star Shape Blue Pair of Side Drinks tables 1960s
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Pair of Moroccan colorful blue hand painted and carved side occasional table with Moorish Islamic designs. Vintage Moroccan side tables in ...
Category

1950s Moroccan Vintage Moorish Folk Art

Materials

Wood

Moorish folk art for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique Moorish folk art for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the 21st Century and Contemporary, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage folk art created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include folk art, decorative objects, lighting and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with ceramic, metal and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Moorish folk art made in a specific country, there are Africa, North Africa, and Maghreb pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original folk art, popular names associated with this style include Berber Tribes of Morocco, and Alexander McQueen. It’s true that these talented designers have at times inspired knockoffs, but our experienced specialists have partnered with only top vetted sellers to offer authentic pieces that come with a buyer protection guarantee. Prices for folk art differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $95 and tops out at $7,000 while the average work can sell for $675.

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