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.
Moroccan Moorish Lantern with Filigree Designs and Milky Glass Pendant
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Vintage Moroccan Moorish lantern. Elegant and stylish milky glass handcrafted Moroccan pendant with intricate filigree work in the Moorish sty...
Metal
Handcrafted Brass Moorish Wall Sconce Shade by Berber Tribes, 1980
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Moroccan brass handcrafted Art piece could be used as wall lamp shade. Brass frame perfect for soft subtle sconce light. There are no electrics within the lampshade. They will look great over an electric fitting or just as a Moroccan Art...
Brass
$13,500 / set
Moorish Style Bronze Wall Lanterns
Located in New York, NY
A pair of large cast bronze Moorish style wall lanterns with a rich patina and suitable for exterior installation. Opal glass globes house single Edison sockets with a max wattage of...
Bronze
Vintage Moroccan Moorish Brass Cone Shaped Wall Sconce Shade, a Pair
Located in Plainview, NY
A pair of Moroccan Moorish style brass wall sconce shade featuring intricate filigree design and a stylish cone shape. The sconce shades are be...
Brass
Handcrafted Moroccan Metal Tole Sconce Shade, Moorish Style, 1980
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Handcrafted Moroccan Spanish style metal tole sconce shade in cone shape. Hispano Moresque sconce shade with cutout. Dark rust finish patina, For use...
Metal
Pair of Monumental Moroccan Moorish Pierced Brass Wall Torchiere Sconces
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
An exceptional pair of monumental Moroccan Moorish wall torchiere sconces, handcrafted in Morocco. Standing nearly six feet tall, these dramatic architectural wall lights were design...
Brass
Moorish-Style Brass Wall Sconce, Jeweled Lantern, Antique, 1900-1925
Located in Queens, NY
Middle Eastern Moorish-style (1st quarter 20th Century) six-sided bracket lantern wall sconce with embossed brass and fretwork design and glass jewels inset in the top. Only one scon...
Brass
Moroccan Moorish Pierced Metal Wall Sconce Shade with Stars and Crescents
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Handcrafted Moroccan Moorish pierced metal wall sconce shade, featuring a dramatic tapered cone form decorated with hand-cut stars, crescent moons and geometric openwork. Made in Mor...
Metal
Moorish Style Handmade Wrought Iron Exterior Outdoor Lantern Black Light Fixture
By Santa Barbara Lighting Company
Located in Santa Paula, CA
The Zara is a Moorish style exterior light fixture designed to add a touch of exotic elegance to your space. Crafted from heavy gauge steel, th...
Wrought Iron, Steel
Vintage Moroccan Berber Hand-Painted Red Hide & Iron Wall Sconce Shade, 1980s
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
A striking vintage Moroccan Berber wall sconce shade, handcrafted in Marrakech, Morocco, circa 1980. This sculptural wall light cover combines a hand-forged iron framework with stret...
Iron
Moroccan Parchment Handpainted Folk Art Wall Sconce
Located in Moreno Valley, 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...
Iron
Tall Wrought Iron Wall Sconces with Brass Lanterns, 1960s
Located in Stamford, CT
Decorative black wrought iron back piece with hanging brass Moroccan lanterns. Each lantern holds a standard bulb. Each sconce has a cord at the bottom with a wall plug. Each lantern...
Brass, Wrought Iron
Moroccan Moorish Filigree Metal and Clear Glass Lantern
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Elegant and stylish clear glass handcrafted Moroccan lantern with intricate filigree work in the Moorish style. Will add elegance in any room. Could be used as a Moroccan wall sconce...
Metal
Vintage Moroccan Yellow & Pink Painted-Hide Wall-Light Shade, Iron Scrolls, 1980
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
A distinctive vintage Moroccan wall-light shade handcrafted in Marrakech circa 1980, this sculptural piece combines painted hide parchment with an expressive hand-formed iron framewo...
Iron
Moorish Style Wrought Iron Exterior Lantern, Antique Glass, Zinc Finish
By Santa Barbara Lighting Company
Located in Santa Paula, CA
The Zara is a Moorish style exterior light fixture designed to add a touch of exotic elegance to your space. Crafted from heavy gauge steel, this fixtur...
Wrought Iron
Moorish Style Wrought Iron Exterior Pendant Fixture, Antique Glass, Zinc Finish
By Santa Barbara Lighting Company
Located in Santa Paula, CA
The Zara is a Moorish style exterior light fixture designed to add a touch of exotic elegance to your space. Hand-crafted from heavy gauge steel, this f...
Wrought Iron
Moroccan Wall Sconce Iron and Hand Painted Parchment
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Moroccan Wall Sconce Decor Iron and Parchment Moroccan parchment wall shade sconce featuring a large curved hide form stitched on iron and hand painted surface. These Moroccan Art ...
Iron
Moroccan Moorish Pierced Tole Metal Wall Sconce Shade, Floral Rosette Design
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Handcrafted Moroccan Moorish metal tole wall sconce shade, made in Morocco in the Hispano-Moresque tradition. The tall, slender half-cylinder form is entirely worked in pierced metal...
Metal
Vintage Parchment Moroccan African Tribal Art Wall Sconce
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
African Tribal Art parchment wall shade sconce featuring a large curved hide form stitched on iron and hand painted surface. These Moroccan Art pieces could be used as wall lamp sha...
Iron
Pair of Parchment Moroccan African Ethnic Wall Art
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
African tribal art parchment wall shade sconce featuring a large curved hide form stitched on iron and hand painted surface. These Moroccan art pieces could be used as wall lamp sha...
Iron
Handcrafted Moroccan Wall Sconce by Berber Tribes, Iron & Hide, 1980
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
African Tribal Art parchment wall shade sconce featuring a large triangle hide form stitched on iron and hand painted surface. These Art pieces could be used as wall lamp shade. Ir...
Iron
Carlo Bugatti Moorish-Style Wall Sconces, Brass & Bone, Italy, 1888
Located in SAINT-OUEN-SUR-SEINE, FR
This asymetric pair of wall sconces is quintessentially characteristic of Carlo Bugatti’s art, designed by him around 1888. Carlo Bugatti (1856-1940) trained at the Brera Academy in...
Brass, Copper
Moorish Inspired Swedish Candle Sconces Star Motif
Located in New York, NY
A pair of single light Moorish inspired Swedish wall sconces with domed back plates with on stars. A single candle cup projects from an arm on hand tooled backplate. Circa 1890
Brass
$2,800 / set
H 13.25 in Dm 23 in
Pair Moroccan Moorish Style Jeweled Metal Lanterns / Chandeliers / Hanging Lamps
Located in New York, NY
Pair of antique chandeliers (hanging lamps, lanterns) in the Moorish Moroccan style, 23 by 13 1/4 inches, finely crafted from metal with fine openwork designs of stylized spider webs...
Metal
$2,706 / set
H 7.88 in W 9.85 in D 9.85 in
Pair of italian sconces 60's style Achille Castiglioni glass and chromed metal
Located in Ternay, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
Pair of vintage Italian wall lamps from the 60's in the style of Achille Castiglioni's work. Very original wall lamps by their design and their very modern look for the time. Chromed...
Metal
$2,460 / item
H 25.5 in W 4 in D 5.75 in
Hand-Crafted Torchiere Wrought Iron Interior Wall Sconce Spanish Colonial
By Santa Barbara Lighting Company
Located in Santa Paula, CA
A traditional Torchiere arm mount light fixture, in hand-hammered wrought iron and finished in a rich Old World finish. Two rectangular backplates and semi-scrolled arms support this long, tapered...
Wrought Iron
$3,515 / item
H 12.63 in W 7 in D 5.5 in
Series03 Wall Sconce, "Smoke" Patinated Sculpted Brass, Goatskin Parchment Shade
Located in Ozone Park, NY
Sculpted solid brass in a "smoke" acid patinated finish, machined and mechanically fastened. Goatskin parchment shade with accordion-folded face and hand stitched edges. Hand-dyed br...
Brass
$760Sale Price / set|20% Off
H 11.25 in W 6 in D 2.75 in
Vintage Moroccan Brass Wall Sconce or Lantern, a Pair
Located in Plainview, NY
A pair of stylish handmade vintage Moroccan brass wall sconces or lanterns. The sconces have a semi-cylindric shape, feature exquisite Moorish geometrical design and made of high qua...
Brass
Pair of Cone Sconces
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Vintage Italian Murano glass wall lights with hand blown milky white cone shades and clear stems infused with gold, mounted on black metal frames / Made in Italy, circa 1960s Measure...
Murano Glass
Pair of French Art Deco Alabaster Brass Wall Sconces, 1930s
Located in Frankfurt am Main, DE
A pair of Art Deco alabaster and brass wall sconces, France 1930s. White alabaster with beautiful black veins, brass with side black painted accents. Both pieces in very good vintage...
Alabaster, Brass
Pair Brass Opaline Glass Wall Sconces, Finland, 1950s
Located in Frankfurt am Main, DE
A pair of brass and glass wall lights, Finland, 1950s. Clean lines design from the Scandinavian Modern period, opaline glass shades in cream color. In good vintage condition, no dama...
Brass
Grand 19th Century French Sanctuary Lantern with Moorish Designs
Located in New Orleans, LA
This grand hanging lantern was once an incense burning sanctuary lamp, and is made of brass sporting a beautiful dark patina. The French antique piece dates back to the 19th century ...
Brass
$550 / item
H 10.75 in W 7.25 in D 9.5 in
V-Lite-Brass Table Lamp or Wall Sconce with Perforated Shade
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Designed in collaboration with Commune design, the V-Lite doubles as a table lamp and a wall sconce. As a sconce, the fixture comes with a large brass b...
Brass, Copper, Metal
Midcentury Moorish Ceramic Pendant Light
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Vintage, midcentury, Moorish pendant light features a patinated, white and deep orange ceramic shade with perforated body on a brass fitter and chain. This light has been rewired for...
Brass
Iron and Glass Lantern Pendant
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Simple and elegant iron and glass pendants. Glass globe shaped as an octagon with inlaid iron with in clear glass. Oil rub bronze hardware. Newly re-wired. One available.
Pair of Moroccan Painted Parchment Wall Sconces
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Standout pair of wall sconces handcrafted with metal frames covered in parchment or vellum and paint decorated with floral and geometric mediterranean designs.
Metal
Sold
H 25 in W 16 in D 7 in
Pair of French Orientalist "Alhambra" Bronze Two-Light Wall Appliqués Sconces
Located in Long Island City, NY
A large pair of French orientalist silvered bronze two-light wall appliqués or sconces or mirrors in the Alhambra / Moorish design, circa 1880. In the manner of Gustave-Josep...
Bronze
Antique French Orientalist Figural Wall Sconce Pair with Palm Trees
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Intriguing pair of antique French Orientalist two light wall sconces with a polished bronze finish, featuring a figure with a turban under a pair of...
Bronze
Tribal Art African Parchment Wall Sconce Red
Located in Moreno Valley, 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...
Iron
Pair of 19th Carved Wood Venetian Figural Wall Sconces
Located in Palm Beach, FL
19th century Venetian three light wall sconces with carved wood and gilt figural heads having plumed hats, earrings, and neckerchiefs over three metal arms supporting carved wood can...
Wood
African Tribal Art Parchment Wall Decor
Located in Moreno Valley, 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...
Iron
North African Tribal Art Parchment Wall Decor
Located in Moreno Valley, 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...
Iron
Parchment African Tribal Art Wall Decor Sconce
Located in Moreno Valley, 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...
Iron
Moroccan Handcrafted Iron Metal Wall Sconces
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Pair of Moroccan Spanish style iron metal sconce shade. Hispano Moresque iron with a dark finish patina hand-cut with stars, cone shape. For use only indoor or outdoor, shade only, n...
Iron
Tribal Art African Red Parchment Wall Sconce
Located in Moreno Valley, 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...
Iron
Parchment Moroccan African Art Wall Curved Sconce
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
African Tribal Art parchment wall shade sconce featuring a large curved hide form stitched on iron and hand painted surface. These Moroccan Art pieces could be used as wall lamp sha...
Iron
Handpainted Moroccan Red Parchment Wall Sconce
Located in Moreno Valley, 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...
Iron