Moorish Collectibles and Curiosities
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.
Mid-20th Century Turkish Moorish Collectibles and Curiosities
Fruitwood
20th Century Spanish Moorish Collectibles and Curiosities
Paper
1990s North American Moorish Collectibles and Curiosities
Paper
1980s Vintage Moorish Collectibles and Curiosities
Paper
21st Century and Contemporary Moroccan Moorish Collectibles and Curiosities
Paper
Late 20th Century Moroccan Moorish Collectibles and Curiosities
Paper
1960s Moroccan Vintage Moorish Collectibles and Curiosities
Metallic Thread, Gold
Mid-20th Century Indian Moorish Collectibles and Curiosities
Cotton
Mid-20th Century Indian Moorish Collectibles and Curiosities
Leather
20th Century Turkish Moorish Collectibles and Curiosities
Silver Plate
Late 20th Century French Moorish Collectibles and Curiosities
Paper
Late 19th Century Indian Antique Moorish Collectibles and Curiosities
Bronze
Late 20th Century French Moorish Collectibles and Curiosities
Paper
Mid-20th Century Syrian Moorish Collectibles and Curiosities
Brass
1960s Moroccan Vintage Moorish Collectibles and Curiosities
Metallic Thread
Late 20th Century American Moorish Collectibles and Curiosities
Wool
Mid-20th Century Lebanese Moorish Collectibles and Curiosities
Wood
Early 20th Century Moroccan Moorish Collectibles and Curiosities
Sterling Silver
1920s Moroccan Vintage Moorish Collectibles and Curiosities
Brass, Tin
Late 20th Century American Moorish Collectibles and Curiosities
Paper
Late 20th Century Egyptian Moorish Collectibles and Curiosities
Paper
21st Century and Contemporary American Moorish Collectibles and Curiosities
Paper
20th Century Moroccan Moorish Collectibles and Curiosities
Metal, Nickel
Late 20th Century Moroccan Moorish Collectibles and Curiosities
Paper
Mid-20th Century Lebanese Moorish Collectibles and Curiosities
Bone, Horn, Wood
Early 20th Century Tunisian Moorish Collectibles and Curiosities
Paper
19th Century Moroccan Antique Moorish Collectibles and Curiosities
Brass, Iron
20th Century Asian Moorish Collectibles and Curiosities
Paper
2010s Italian Moorish Collectibles and Curiosities
Cotton, Mirror
1970s American Vintage Moorish Collectibles and Curiosities
Ceramic
Late 20th Century Moroccan Moorish Collectibles and Curiosities
Terracotta
20th Century Turkish Moorish Collectibles and Curiosities
Paper
20th Century Spanish Moorish Collectibles and Curiosities
Paper
20th Century American Moorish Collectibles and Curiosities
Paper
20th Century Asian Moorish Collectibles and Curiosities
Paper
20th Century Turkish Moorish Collectibles and Curiosities
Paper
20th Century Asian Moorish Collectibles and Curiosities
Paper
20th Century French Moorish Collectibles and Curiosities
Paper
Mid-20th Century Moroccan Moorish Collectibles and Curiosities
Metal
20th Century Spanish Moorish Collectibles and Curiosities
Paper
Late 20th Century Moroccan Moorish Collectibles and Curiosities
Paper
Late 20th Century African Moorish Collectibles and Curiosities
Paper
1970s American Vintage Moorish Collectibles and Curiosities
Wool
20th Century Moroccan Moorish Collectibles and Curiosities
Paper
Late 19th Century Turkish Antique Moorish Collectibles and Curiosities
Brass, Iron
Early 20th Century Moorish Collectibles and Curiosities
Plaster
20th Century Spanish Moorish Collectibles and Curiosities
Paper