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 Moorish Style Jeweled Gilt Wall Sconce
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
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
$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
Handcrafted Moroccan Metal Sconce Shade, Moorish Cone Design
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Handcrafted Moroccan Spanish style metal tole sconce shade in cone shape. Hispano Moresque sconce shade with cutout stars and crescent moons. Dark ...
Metal
Moroccan Moorish Wall Brass Torchiere Sconces Oversized 6 ft Tall
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Fabulous Moorish bronze finish, Moroccan wall torchiere sconces with filigree designs and inlaid glass stones. Oversized Wall sconces torchieres, palati...
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Handcrafted Moroccan Metal Sconce Shade, Moorish Cone Design
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Handcrafted Moroccan Spanish style metal tole sconce shade in cone shape. Hispano Moresque sconce shade with cutout stars and crescent moons. Dark ...
Metal
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
Handcrafted Moroccan Wall Sconce by Berber Tribes, Hide & Iron, 1980
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
Hand-Painted Moroccan Tribal Art Wall Sconce by Berber Tribes, 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 Moroccan Art pieces could be used as wall lamp sh...
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
Handcrafted Moroccan Wall Sconce by Berber Tribes, Hide & Iron, 1980
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
Daya-w2 Brass Wall Light Sconce, Flow 2 Collection
Located in Paris, FR
Daya-W2 double fixture with leather sheathed stems and textured clear glass shades. Finish: Brass (available in polished or varnished aged +€50 per sconce) is a living material, an...
Brass
$950 / set
H 15.25 in W 8 in D 4.125 in
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
$1,610 / item
H 10.5 in Dm 5.5 in
Barnacle Cone Elbow Wall Sconce, Hand Blown Clear Glass - Made to Order
Located in Aliso Viejo, CA
This series of wall sconces is classically inspired. Scaled versions of our pendants extend from elegant metal armatures. The proximity of the glass to the wall allows for each piece...
Bronze, Brass, Nickel
$3,700 / set
H 25.5 in W 5.5 in D 4 in
Italian Modern Pair Tall White Crystal Clear Leaf Textured Murano Brass Sconces
Located in New York, NY
Very elegant Italian contemporary organic wall lights, entirely handcrafted in the style of Barovier & Toso in refined white and crystal clear Mura...
Brass
$363 / item
H 11.03 in W 9.06 in D 17.33 in
1980's Copper & Brass Cantilever Lamp Green British Army Lamp Shade
Located in Leicester, Leicestershire
British army tilting festoon lamp shade fitted to a copper and brass cantilever wall fitting to create a bespoke wall light. Professionally restored and converted by hand in UK by Loomlight to modern lighting standards, ready for contemporary interiors. Available in a range of colors upon request. The cantilever dimensions can be made to order. Measures: Shade diameter: 23cm Wall fixing diameter: 10cm Reach from wall: 44cm Bulb: E26 / E27 100v - 220v Tungsten Filament Weight: 3.5kg Origin: UK Supplied with a filament bulb. The shade tilts in all directions by means of a ball joint connector to allow the light to be focused into a chosen area. This makes them great for lighting pictures on walls...
Aluminum, Brass, Copper
$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
$3,650
H 31 in W 7 in D 10 in
Jacques Adnet Style Largest Size Sconces Lantern Wall Lamps France 1960, Pair
Located in Miami, FL
Pair of Jacques Adnet style sconces, wall lights, lantern lamps in brass, etched glass and gun metal, this is the largest size, measures 31 inches height. In perfect working condit...
Brass, Steel
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
$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
$2,220 / set
H 14.5 in W 6.25 in D 8 in
Pair of French Maison Jansen Style Brass Opaline Glass Wall Sconces, 1950s
Located in Frankfurt am Main, DE
A pair of Art Deco torchiere wall lights n Maison Janson style, France, 1950s. Elegant design in gilt brass with hand-blown opaline glass ball globes. Both pieces in fine vintage co...
Brass
$1,800 / set
H 15 in W 10 in D 7 in
Pair of Antique Italian Giltwood Wall Sconces, Carved Lantern Design
Located in Montreal, QC
Pair of carved painted and giltwood five-panel one-light wall sconces formed as flush mounted half lanterns; recently rewired.
Giltwood, Glass
$2,280 / item
H 16 in W 4.5 in D 5.75 in
Contemporary Torchiere Wrought Iron Wall Sconce with Spanish Colonial Influence
By Britt Jewett
Located in Santa Paula, CA
Elegant wall sconce with gentle tapering, clean lines and classic torcheire details. Hammered texturing and a rich waxed finish gives this wrought iron fixture a softer look. At ho...
Wrought Iron
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