Moorish Tobacco Accessories
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.
20th Century Turkish Moorish Tobacco Accessories
Silver Plate
1920s Moroccan Vintage Moorish Tobacco Accessories
Brass, Tin
Early 19th Century Italian Antique Moorish Tobacco Accessories
Giltwood, Wood
21st Century and Contemporary English Moorish Tobacco Accessories
Paper
1980s Hong Kong Vintage Moorish Tobacco Accessories
Paper
Late 19th Century French Antique Moorish Tobacco Accessories
Silver
Early 20th Century British Moorish Tobacco Accessories
Shagreen
15th Century and Earlier Malaysian Antique Moorish Tobacco Accessories
Mahogany
Late 19th Century German Antique Moorish Tobacco Accessories
Metal
1880s English Antique Moorish Tobacco Accessories
Silver, Sterling Silver, Enamel
20th Century English Moorish Tobacco Accessories
Wood, Bone
Mid-20th Century Moorish Tobacco Accessories
Leather
1850s Burmese Antique Moorish Tobacco Accessories
Brass
Early 20th Century French Moorish Tobacco Accessories
Gold, Enamel
Mid-20th Century American Moorish Tobacco Accessories
Glass
Mid-20th Century Moroccan Moorish Tobacco Accessories
Ceramic, Pottery
Mid-20th Century Moroccan Moorish Tobacco Accessories
Ceramic, Pottery
Mid-20th Century Egyptian Moorish Tobacco Accessories
Brass
Early 20th Century Spanish Moorish Tobacco Accessories
Gold, Brass, Steel
20th Century European Moorish Tobacco Accessories
Metal
Late 19th Century Spanish Antique Moorish Tobacco Accessories
Bone, Wood