Moorish Pillows and Throws
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 Uzbek Vintage Moorish Pillows and Throws
Silk
1960s Uzbek Vintage Moorish Pillows and Throws
Silk
Late 20th Century Italian Moorish Pillows and Throws
Velvet
Late 20th Century Italian Moorish Pillows and Throws
Velvet
Late 20th Century Moorish Pillows and Throws
Velvet
Late 19th Century Italian Antique Moorish Pillows and Throws
Velvet
Late 20th Century Moorish Pillows and Throws
Velvet
Late 20th Century Indian Moorish Pillows and Throws
Silk
Late 20th Century Moorish Pillows and Throws
Linen, Velvet
Late 20th Century Turkish Moorish Pillows and Throws
Metallic Thread
Mid-20th Century Asian Moorish Pillows and Throws
Metallic Thread
Late 20th Century Indian Moorish Pillows and Throws
Fabric
Late 20th Century Indian Moorish Pillows and Throws
Cotton, Silk
19th Century Turkish Antique Moorish Pillows and Throws
Metallic Thread
1970s Italian Vintage Moorish Pillows and Throws
Cotton, Linen
1970s Uzbek Vintage Moorish Pillows and Throws
Linen, Velvet
1970s Uzbek Vintage Moorish Pillows and Throws
Linen, Velvet
1970s Uzbek Vintage Moorish Pillows and Throws
Linen, Velvet
1970s Uzbek Vintage Moorish Pillows and Throws
Textile, Silk, Velvet
Late 20th Century Indian Moorish Pillows and Throws
Silk, Velvet
20th Century Indian Moorish Pillows and Throws
Fabric
1970s European Vintage Moorish Pillows and Throws
Cotton, Linen, Trimming
1970s Indian Vintage Moorish Pillows and Throws
Cotton
19th Century Indian Antique Moorish Pillows and Throws
Linen, Cotton, Silk
20th Century Indian Moorish Pillows and Throws
Fabric
20th Century Indian Moorish Pillows and Throws
Fabric
20th Century Indian Moorish Pillows and Throws
Fabric
20th Century Indian Moorish Pillows and Throws
Fabric
1970s Indian Vintage Moorish Pillows and Throws
Linen, Silk, Cotton
Late 20th Century Moorish Pillows and Throws
Wool
1960s Armenian Vintage Moorish Pillows and Throws
Linen, Cotton
1950s Indian Vintage Moorish Pillows and Throws
Cotton
19th Century Turkish Antique Moorish Pillows and Throws
Cotton, Linen
1940s Uzbek Vintage Moorish Pillows and Throws
Metallic Thread
1960s Uzbek Vintage Moorish Pillows and Throws
Silk
1980s Indian Vintage Moorish Pillows and Throws
Linen, Cotton, Trimming
1970s Indian Vintage Moorish Pillows and Throws
Linen, Silk, Cotton
1980s Indian Vintage Moorish Pillows and Throws
Cotton, Mirror
1970s Indonesian Vintage Moorish Pillows and Throws
Cotton
20th Century Balinese Moorish Pillows and Throws
Acrylic
1980s Indian Vintage Moorish Pillows and Throws
Cotton, Mirror
20th Century Indian Moorish Pillows and Throws
Fabric
1930s Indian Vintage Moorish Pillows and Throws
Cotton
19th Century Turkish Antique Moorish Pillows and Throws
Metallic Thread
1950s Indian Vintage Moorish Pillows and Throws
Cotton, Linen
1950s Indian Vintage Moorish Pillows and Throws
Cotton
1960s Armenian Vintage Moorish Pillows and Throws
Linen, Cotton
Mid-20th Century Turkish Moorish Pillows and Throws
Wool, Cotton, Foam
19th Century Turkish Antique Moorish Pillows and Throws
Linen, Cotton
1990s Moroccan Moorish Pillows and Throws
Fabric
1950s Indian Vintage Moorish Pillows and Throws
Linen, Cotton
19th Century Turkish Antique Moorish Pillows and Throws
Linen, Cotton
20th Century Asian Moorish Pillows and Throws
Natural Fiber, Fur
20th Century Indian Moorish Pillows and Throws
Fabric
1980s Asian Vintage Moorish Pillows and Throws
Silk
Mid-20th Century Indian Moorish Pillows and Throws
Silk
19th Century Turkish Antique Moorish Pillows and Throws
Cotton, Linen
19th Century Armenian Antique Moorish Pillows and Throws
Metallic Thread