Moorish Collectible Jewelry
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.
1960s Moroccan Vintage Moorish Collectible Jewelry
Metallic Thread, Gold
Mid-20th Century Indian Moorish Collectible Jewelry
Leather
1960s Moroccan Vintage Moorish Collectible Jewelry
Metallic Thread
2010s Italian Moorish Collectible Jewelry
Cotton, Mirror
Mid-20th Century Moroccan Moorish Collectible Jewelry
Metal
Late 20th Century Uzbek Moorish Collectible Jewelry
Cotton, Silk
Mid-20th Century American Moorish Collectible Jewelry
1960s English Vintage Moorish Collectible Jewelry
Carnelian
19th Century German Antique Moorish Collectible Jewelry
Silver
1970s Italian Vintage Moorish Collectible Jewelry
Wood
1960s Italian Vintage Moorish Collectible Jewelry
Gold
20th Century Japanese Moorish Collectible Jewelry
Cotton, Silk
Late 20th Century American Moorish Collectible Jewelry
Crystal
1970s German Vintage Moorish Collectible Jewelry
Wood
1950s Vintage Moorish Collectible Jewelry
Hardwood
Early 2000s Moorish Collectible Jewelry
Paper
Late 19th Century Indian Antique Moorish Collectible Jewelry
Rock Crystal, Metal
1960s Moroccan Vintage Moorish Collectible Jewelry
Metallic Thread, Gold
1960s Moroccan Vintage Moorish Collectible Jewelry
Gold