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
$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
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
$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
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
Pair of Upholstered Velvet and Brass X-Benches
Located in New York, NY
Pair of upholstered velvet and brass X-benches. The benches have brass frames and green velvet upholstery.
Brass
$14,900
H 32.5 in W 77.5 in D 25.25 in
Antique French Recamier Sofa Bench, Ebonized Mahogany, Circa 1820
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A black, antique French sofa bench-recamier made of hand crafted ebonized Mahogany, in good condition. The canapé is particularized by two side backrests, standing on four arched wooden...
Mahogany, Fabric, Ebony, Upholstery, Cotton
Laurel Settee, Modern Walnut Windsor Style Bench
By Carter Ellis
Located in Chattanooga, TN
A clean modernization of a Classic Windsor bench, this settee features sculpted legs and slats instead of dowels and spindles. Constructed from sustainable walnut, the settee is artisan crafted with traditional joinery and finished with an all-natural, 100% plant-based, hard-wax oil. "The Laurel Settee...
Wood, Walnut
Anglo-Indian Carved Hardwood Hall Bench
Located in Astoria, NY
Anglo-Indian Carved Hardwood Hall Bench, with carved and spindle back and cane paneled seat. 39.5" H x 66.5" W x 24" D; seat: 18" H. Provenance: From an Upper East Side Collection.
Hardwood
Georgian Walnut Bench
Located in Westwood, NJ
Georgian walnut two seater salon style settee with caned back and neutrally upholstered drop-in cushion, sweeping back rail and arms and with simple bl...
Wood
$6,500 / item
H 17.5 in W 72 in D 24 in
6-foot Bench in White Ash with Wool Upholstered Cushion by Hinterland Design
Located in Vancouver, BC
Like logs washed up and resting along the shoreline, the soft corners of this pillow-top solid wood bench will be at peace anywhere. With side tables and an upholstered seat for two, this is a useful addition to any modern setting. Whether you see it as an assortment of driftwood blocks, pillows, or marshmallows, the Pillowy Bench provides a gentle place to land. Made out of solid Canadian white ash with a powder coated steel frame and 100% wool upholstered cushion seat, the Pillowy Bench can be customized to a variety of lengths and fabric colors. Shown in the main image is the 6-foot bench with dark green wool fabric and an upholstered seat length of 36". The subsequent images are a 7-foot bench ($6500) with a pale pink wool fabric and an upholstered seat length of 48". All benches...
Steel
$7,475 / item
H 17.5 in W 84 in D 24 in
7-foot Bench in White Ash with Wool Upholstered Cushion by Hinterland Design
Located in Vancouver, BC
Like logs washed up and resting along the shoreline, the soft corners of this pillow-top solid wood bench will be at peace anywhere. With side tables and an upholstered seat for two, this is a useful addition to any modern setting. Whether you see it as an assortment of driftwood blocks, pillows, or marshmallows, the Pillowy Bench provides a gentle place to land. Made out of solid Canadian white ash with a powder coated steel frame and 100% wool upholstered cushion seat, the Pillowy Bench can be customized to a variety of lengths and fabric colors. Shown in the main image is the 7-foot bench with dark green wool fabric and an upholstered seat length of 48". The bench is also available as a 6-foot long ($5650) with pale pink wool version with an upholstered seat length of 36". All benches...
Steel
$10,761Sale Price|25% Off
H 35.04 in W 71.66 in D 18.12 in
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
20th Century Catalan Bench in Walnut with Caned Seat
Located in Miami, FL
Rare midcentury sofa, settee or bench in the Spanish style with cane back. Shown in original condition, please note price includes refinishing.
Cane, Walnut
Pair of Antique Swedish Carved and Painted Gustavian Benches
Located in Dallas, TX
This pair of antique Swedish Gustavian benches features intricate carvings and painted details, adding a touch of elegance and history to any room. The benches are made of high-quali...
Wood
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