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.
$1,960Sale Price|20% Off
Moorish Style Inlaid Walnut Bench with Floral Pattern 20thC
Located in Big Flats, NY
Moorish Style Inlaid Walnut Bench with Floral Pattern Unsigned 20thC Measuers - 36.5"h x 65.5"w x 26" A finely crafted Moorish style bench from the 20th century, featuring intricate ...
Walnut
Antique Syrian Moorish Carved Wood Bone Inlaid Upholstered Bench
Located in Dallas, TX
Syrian carved and inlaid bench, likely dating to the late 19th or early 20th century. Constructed of dark hardwood, the bench features elaborate turned spindlework, pierced and carve...
Wood, Fabric, Upholstery
$9,800Sale Price|33% Off
Pair of Antique Moorish Carved Hardwood and Inlaid Upholstered Benches
Located in San Francisco, CA
The semi-attached leather cushion flanked by dramatic flared openwork arms with intricate inlay over a similar openwork apron and turned elements creating an elaborate latticework; w...
Wood
19th Century Moorish Hardwood Bench Inlaid and Upholstered
Located in Hoddesdon, GB
A particularly charming and characterful 19th-Century Moorish bench, beautifully handcrafted and extensively decorated with intricate geometric inlay. The bench is an excellent exam...
Upholstery, Boxwood, Fruitwood, Walnut
Antique Moroccan Benches with Mosaic White Shell Inlay a Pair
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
A pair of antique Middle Eastern Moorish Moroccan settees inlaid with white mosaic marquetry. Mosaic inlaid Levantine Moorish Islamic benches great to use at the end of the bed or in an entryway. Elegant and stylish settees for your Moroccan Moorish decor...
Wood
Small Damascus bench, oriental work from the mid-19th century
Located in Mouscron, WHT
Small Damascus bench, oriental work from the mid-19th century fine sculptures and bone inlay. The fabric is not perfect, but original
Wood
$950 / item
H 25.6 in W 32.67 in D 13.78 in
New Black Wrought Iron Curule Bench with Cushion, Savonarola, Throne
Located in Miami, FL
New black wrought iron curule bench with cushion, Savonarola, Throne. Cushion included.
Iron
Bertu Bench, Suelo Modern Wood Bench, Upholstered, Thick Weave
Located in Oak Harbor, OH
Bertu Bench, Suelo® Modern Wood Bench, Upholstered, Thick Weave This upholstered Suelo® Modern Wood Bench is beautifully constructed from solid wood...
Fabric, Hardwood
Antique French Church Pew Bench Double Seat Oak
Located in Tyler, TX
UNIQUE Carved Oak Antique French Double Church Pew, Entry Bench, Settee or Banquette c.1900-20 ~~Classic French flair decorator piece~~ Perfect for living area seating, entry, hall...
Oak
Midcentury Upholstered Bench with Storage Compartment
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Stylish midcentury bench with upholstered seating and backrests, plus sleek chrome supports and sled legs. The bench's seat lifts up to reveal a storage compartment...
Chrome
$5,129
H 48.82 in W 74.81 in D 31.5 in
19th century French oak bench upholstered in Vaas by Emma Grant
Located in Malton, GB
This is a very stylish, late 19th century French hall bench. Upholstered beautifully in Vaas by Emma Grant. The Vaas fabric is inspired by a Dutch 18th century tin glazed ceramic Emm...
Upholstery, Oak
Mid 19th century large hand painted Swedish bench
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
Mid 19th century large painted Swedish bench day bed Large rustic Swedish pine bench / day bed circa 1850. Very heavy i...
Pine, Paint
$6,980
H 34.85 in W 76.38 in D 22.45 in
Exquisite 19th Century Brazilian Colonial Settee — Rare Inlaid Hardwood Bench
Located in Rio De Janeiro, BR
Exquisite 19th Century Brazilian Colonial Settee — Rare Inlaid Hardwood Bench with Cane Seat An exceptional example of Brazilian Colonial furniture from the early to mid-19th century...
Wood
19th Century English Oak Upholstered Leather Bench
Located in High Point, NC
19th century English oak bench with newly upholstered leather top with nail head trim. The frame of the bench is lovely and simple with pegged construction. The seat is supported o...
Leather, Oak
Pair of Custom Curved Tartan Upholstered and Skirted Benches
Located in Morristown, NJ
Pair of custom upholstered curved benches featuring wool tartan upholstery in warm shades of rust, olive, burgundy, camel, and subtle blue accents. The benches are softly bowed with ...
Wool, Upholstery, Wood
Italian Bench / Settee with Wall Hanging Back, Italy, 1950
By Ico Parisi
Located in Milan, IT
Spectacular Italian bench / settee with wall hanging back, Italy, 1950.
Upholstery, Wood
$2,800
H 20.5 in W 67.5 in D 19.5 in
Long Vintage Italian Style Carved Wood Bench with Upholstered Seat
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A well made carved wood bench from Italy. Fabric is original and very clean. Ready to use condition.
Fabric, Wood
$3,865 / set
H 19.69 in W 35.44 in D 16.54 in
21st Century Pair Carved and Hand Painted Upholstered Benches
Located in Madrid, ES
Pair of benches, carved in beech wood, and hand painted, finished in the form of horse legs. These benches are made by hand, by our cabinetmaker, the painting is also manual and ind...
Fruitwood, Bentwood
$2,995
H 17.25 in W 36 in D 13.75 in
19th Century French Louis Walnut Upholstered Bench with Turned Stretchers
Located in Atlanta, GA
A handsome 19th-century French walnut upholstered bench combining a simple rectangular seat with an unusually decorative turned base. The frame is raised on four substantial walnut l...
Fabric, Upholstery, Walnut
19th century mountain bench
Located in Vosselaar, BE
Good and original softwood bench from the Pyrinee mountains dating to the early 19th century. Original fainted polychrome paint on a pine structure. Great proportions and sober shape...
Pine
Pair of Swedish Gustavian Style Grey Painted Benches or Settees
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Pair Of Swedish Gustavian style grey painted benches Complimentary delivery to most areas of London UK.
Pine
Antique Moroccan Inlaid and Carved Bench
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Enchanting antique Moroccan bench crafted in walnut in a classic moorish form featuring floral carvings, stick and ball panels and inlaid mother of pearl.
Mother-of-Pearl, Walnut
Pair of Moroccan Carved and Inlaid Square Upholstered Stools
Located in San Francisco, CA
the square upholstered seat above a stick and ball carved openwork apron surrounded by an intricately inlaid body; raised on square supports joined by arabesque spandrels all over tu...
Wood
Antique Moroccan Carved and Inlaid Bench
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Enchanting antique Moroccan bench handcrafted in walnut featuring floral carvings, inlaid mother of pearl, balustrades, spindles and kilim upholstery.
Mother-of-Pearl, Walnut
Sold
H 27.5 in W 28.5 in D 20.75 in
Early 20th C Heavily Carved Teak Moorish Bench With Tall Sides and Cushion
Located in Troy, MI
Found in Turkey, this heavily carved bench with cushion dates from the 1910s. Dark stained wood frame - we believe this is teak but cannot be sure - has intricate, highly carved deta...
Upholstery, Teak
Pair of Moroccan Inlaid Benches or Stools
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Pair of exotic near Eastern benches or stools with upholstered cushions over bases crafted in walnut featuring stick and ball panels, geometric inlays of bone, satinwood, and mahogan...
Satinwood, Walnut
Vintage Moroccan Settee Low Bench, Day Bed
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Vintage Moroccan low bench, day bed. Traditional Moroccan sofa, low bench handcrafted in a wooden base adorned with silvered metal with traditional geom...
Wood
Antique Moroccan or Moorish Bench or Ottoman
Located in Houston, TX
Unusual antique Moroccan, Moorish or Middle Eastern bench, ottoman or pouf. This beautiful antique bench or stool has been newly upholstered in...
Mohair, Wood
Continental Paninted and Gilt Decorated Bench
Located in Laguna Beach, CA
Continental (probably Iberian) painted and gilt decorated bench, late 19th century.
Upholstery, Wood, Paint
Antique 19th Century Middle Eastern Arabian Syrian Moorish Settee
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Antique 19th century Syrian Moorish Middle Eastern Arabian finely hand carved and inlaid with mother of pearl. Nice moucharabie designs all-ove...
Mother-of-Pearl, Wood
Moorish Mother of Pearl Inlaid Bench
Located in Laguna Beach, CA
Moorish mother of pearl inlaid bench with turned and carved decorations, circa 1920s.
Mother-of-Pearl, Upholstery, Wood
Pair of Continental Spool Turned Benches
Located in Laguna Beach, CA
Pair of continental spool turned benches, circa 1930s. These benches had a tag that was from Christies in Spain. The tag was lost when the benches were re...
Upholstery, Wood
1960s Moroccan Camel Saddle Stool with Marquetry
Located in Denton, TX
Wood inlaid with metal floral design and tufted leather cushion there is great patina on the leather please see pictures.
Wood
Syrian or Moroccan Bench
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Syrian bench featuring an exotic mixture of walnut, ebonized walnut, stick and ball panels, architectural arches, finials, inlaid with mother-of-pearl and...
Moroccan Inlaid Bench
Located in Laguna Beach, CA
Moorish carved and turned bench with bone inlay, circa 1930.
Bone, Upholstery, Wood
19th Century Moroccan Bench
Located in Houston, TX
Antique Moroccan Bench with Moorish design newly upholstered in oatmeal linen with brass nailhead detail.