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Moorish Chairs

MOORISH STYLE

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.

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Style: Moorish
Antique Syrian Savonarola Curule Mother of Pearl Inlay Throne Armchair, a Pair
Located in Plainview, NY
This exquisite pair of 19th Century Syrian Savonarola Curule throne armchairs represents a pinnacle of antique craftsmanship and aesthetic refinement. The chairs feature intricate mo...
Category

20th Century Moorish Chairs

Materials

Wood

Syrian Walnut Chair with Mixed Inlay, Late 19th-Early 20th Century
Located in San Francisco, CA
A highly decorative example of a Late 19th / Early 20th Century hand carved Syrian Moorish style armchair with velvet and appliqué cushion. Walnut with hand turned fretwork and elabo...
Category

Late 19th Century Syrian Antique Moorish Chairs

Materials

Brass

Moroccan Moorish Style 1900s Side Chair with Richly Carved Décor and Star Inlay
Located in Atlanta, GA
A Moroccan Moorish style accent side chair from the early 20th century, with richly carved décor, mother-of-pearl inlay, Arabic calligraphy and X-Form base. Created in Morocco during...
Category

Early 20th Century Moroccan Moorish Chairs

Materials

Mother-of-Pearl, Wood

Vintage Mid-Century Modern Harvey Probber for Lord and Taylor Moorish Chairs
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A fantastic pair of vintage MCM dining chairs. Designed by Harvey Probber for Lord and Taylor. Beautiful Moorish design with raspberry velvet with deep ebony wood. Acquired from a Pa...
Category

Late 20th Century North American Moorish Chairs

Materials

Velvet, Ebony

Vintage Boho Moorish Inlay Folding Chairs- A Pair
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Unfold a world of exotic charm with this exquisite pair of Vintage Boho Moorish Inlay Folding Chairs. Each chair is a testament to extraordinary craftsmanship, featuring intricate mo...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Moorish Chairs

Materials

Mother-of-Pearl, Wood

Vintage Syrian Moorish Inlaid Folding Chairs
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Infuse any room with mesmerizing old world elegance with this exquisite pair of vintage Syrian Moorish folding chairs. Constructed of intricately carved solid wood and boasting luxur...
Category

Mid-20th Century Syrian Moorish Chairs

Materials

Mother-of-Pearl, Wood, Hardwood

Middle Eastern 19th Century Moorish Folding Chair Shell Inlaid
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Antique Middle Eastern Egyptian Moorish walnut wood folding chair with intricate foliate carving and mother of pearl, shell inlays. Arabian Syrian styl...
Category

19th Century Egyptian Antique Moorish Chairs

Materials

Shell, Mother-of-Pearl, Wood

Moroccan Richly Inlaid Armchair with Carved Back and Scrolling Arms, circa 1900
Located in Atlanta, GA
A Moorish style Moroccan wooden armchair from circa 1900 with bone inlaid décor, carved back, scrolling arms and carved base. This exquisite Moorish-style Moroccan wooden armchair, d...
Category

Early 20th Century Moroccan Moorish Chairs

Materials

Bone, Wood

Pair Antique Syrian Moorish Inlaid Folding Chairs, Late 19th Century, Syria
Located in Austin, TX
A classic and elegant near pair of antique Syrian carved walnut folding scribes chairs with shell and bone inlay, late 19th century, Syria. The chairs of hand carved walnut in a f...
Category

Late 19th Century Syrian Antique Moorish Chairs

Materials

Bone, Shell, Walnut

Middle Eastern Moorish 19th Century Folding Chair
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Antique Middle Eastern Egyptian Moorish walnut wood folding chair with intricate foliate carving and mother of pearl, shell inlays. Arabian Syrian style folding chair inlaid with mo...
Category

19th Century Egyptian Antique Moorish Chairs

Materials

Shell, Mother-of-Pearl, Wood

Oriental Work. 2 chairs In Carved Wood, Bone And Mother-of-pearl Inlay 1880
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Oriental Work. 2 chairs In Carved Wood, Bone And Mother-of-pearl Inlay 1880 the price is for tne pair
Category

Late 19th Century Maghreb Antique Moorish Chairs

Materials

Wood, Bone

Twelve Antique Moorish Style Inlaid Walnut Chairs with Elephants 20thC
Located in Big Flats, NY
***Reduced In-House Delivery Rates - Click on “Ask Seller” to Request a Quote*** Twelve Antique Moorish Style Walnut Inlaid Chairs with Floral Pattern & Elephants, 20thC. Measure - 40.75"h x 22.5"w x 22.5"d. A stunning set of 12 antique chairs...
Category

20th Century Moorish Chairs

Materials

Walnut

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Set of Four Mid Century Dining Chairs Attributed to Harvey Probber
Located in New York, NY
Stylish set of Mid-Century Modern dining chairs, attributed to Harvey Probber. These chairs are solid walnut, with metallic vinyl upholstered seats, wood finish, and upholstered seat...
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Mid-20th Century American Moorish Chairs

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Hand Carved Stump Chair in Pine with Storage, Swedish Modern, Wabi Sabi, 1900s
Located in Odense, DK
A charming rustic stump chair, hand-carved from solid pine and accented with an iron ring. Crafted by an unknown Swedish artisan in the early 1900s, this piece embodies the spirit of...
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Early 20th Century Swedish Moorish Chairs

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Italian Inlaid Folding Savonarola Chair
Located in North York, ON
Original folding chair with finely carved detailed patterns and mother of pearl inlay. Price includes complimentary curb side delivery to the continental USA.
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Early 20th Century Italian Moorish Chairs

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Mother-of-Pearl, Wood

Italian Inlaid Folding Savonarola Chair
Italian Inlaid Folding Savonarola Chair
$2,450
H 38 in W 24.5 in D 22 in
Syrian Inlaid Savonarola Chair
Located in San Francisco, CA
Syrian Inlaid Savonarola chair Beautiful intricate inlay work with a hand tooled leather seat Measures: 26.5" wide x 18" deep x 18" high at the seat x 30" high at the arms x 35...
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20th Century Syrian Moorish Chairs

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Leather, Wood

Syrian Inlaid Savonarola Chair
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Vintage Mid-Century Modern Hexagonal Curved Sectional Sofa after Harvey Probber
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A sleek modern sofa in a hexagonal form circa 1970's. It features a two section design with low profile feet. Fabric is original and needs recovering...
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1970s American Vintage Moorish Chairs

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Pair Of Syrian Mother-Of-Pearl Inlaid Armchairs
Located in London, GB
Pair of Syrian mother-of-pearl inlaid armchairs. Exceptional early C20th hardwood chairs with intricately carved details and turned spindle and ball panels. In excellent, sturdy co...
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Early 20th Century Syrian Moorish Chairs

Materials

Mother-of-Pearl, Hardwood

Pair Of Syrian Mother-Of-Pearl Inlaid Armchairs
Pair Of Syrian Mother-Of-Pearl Inlaid Armchairs
$3,491 / set
H 33.47 in W 24.41 in D 16.93 in
Antique Islamic Syrian Moorish Arabic Caligraphy Inlaid Chair Levantine 1890
Located in Portland, OR
A good antique Syrian Moorish inlaid chair with mashrabiya and Arabic calligraphy decoration, circa 1890. This very attractive antique Levantine chair ...
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1890s Syrian Antique Moorish Chairs

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Bone, Shell, Ebony, Walnut

Pair of Italian Iron Leather Savonarola Curule Leg Armchairs
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Mid-century modern pair of Italian Savonarola armchairs with neoclassical style curule legs. The chairs are crafted from wrought iron with a dimpled finish and dimpled finials on the...
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20th Century Italian Moorish Chairs

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French Early 20th Century Dining Room Chairs
Located in Stockbridge, GA
Very charming French dining room chairs with a nice design of the Louis XVI style. They are strong and sturdy.
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Early 20th Century French Moorish Chairs

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French Early 20th Century Dining Room Chairs
French Early 20th Century Dining Room Chairs
$3,130 / set
H 35.25 in W 19 in D 21.5 in
Primitive Stump Chair in Pine, Hand Carved, Swedish Modern, Wabi Sabi, 1900s
Located in Odense, DK
A cute primitive stump chair made in solid pine with an iron ring attached. Hand carved by an unknown Swedish cabinetmaker in the early 1900s. A lovely wabi sabi piece for the modern...
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Early 20th Century Swedish Moorish Chairs

Materials

Pine

Primitive Stump Chair in Pine, Hand Carved, Swedish Modern, Wabi Sabi, 1900s
Primitive Stump Chair in Pine, Hand Carved, Swedish Modern, Wabi Sabi, 1900s
$1,584 Sale Price
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Vintage Modern Slat Folding Chairs
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Set of 4 Mid-Century Modern wood folding chairs. Easy to store. (Please confirm item location - NY or NJ - with dealer).
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1960s Vintage Moorish Chairs

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Vintage Modern Slat Folding Chairs
Vintage Modern Slat Folding Chairs
$560 Sale Price / set
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H 31.5 in W 18 in D 21 in
Vintage Italian Curule Savonarola Armchair in Cognac Leather Brass & Iron
Located in Philadelphia, PA
An incredible Savonarola chair from Italy circa 1960's. It features heavy solid wrought iron construction with great detailing. Warm brass and replaced saddle leather in cognac color.
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1960s Italian Vintage Moorish Chairs

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Brass, Wrought Iron

Previously Available Items
Pair Syrian Moorish Style Inlaid Folding Chairs
Located in Tarry Town, NY
Introducing a refined near pair of late 19th-century antique Syrian carved walnut folding scribe chairs. These classic and elegant chairs are a testament to the exquisite craftsmansh...
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Late 19th Century Antique Moorish Chairs

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Bone, Shell, Walnut

Antique Pair Monumental Moorish Parcel Gilt & Carved Oak Throne Chairs, c1910
Located in Big Flats, NY
An antique pair of large tall-back Moorish style throne chairs offer oak construction with upholstered backs having carved giltwood acanthus elements, oversized upholstered seats with fringe...
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Early 20th Century Moorish Chairs

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Oak, Upholstery

Moorish Armchair, Syria, Circa 1950
Located in Culver City, CA
Moorish armchair Syria, Circa 1950 Fruitwood frames with Intricate fretwork on the backend side with celluloid inlay. Original upholstery.
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Mid-20th Century Syrian Moorish Chairs

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Upholstery, Fruitwood

Moorish Armchair, Syria, Circa 1950
Moorish Armchair, Syria, Circa 1950
H 28.5 in W 28 in D 26 in
Outdoor Wrought Iron Set of Armchairs in Jean-Charles Moreux Style
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Large vintage outdoor wrought iron set of armchairs in Jean-Charles Moreux Style, They come with upholstered custom cushion seat in very light tea...
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Mid-20th Century French Moorish Chairs

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Metal

Wrought Iron Outdoor Set of 6 Armchairs in Jean-Charles Moreux Style
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Large vintage outdoor wrought iron set of 6 armchairs in Jean-Charles Moreux Style, They come with upholstered custom cushion seat. Hand-wrought iron and probably made circa 1950, ...
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Mid-20th Century French Moorish Chairs

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Metal

Very Impressive Antique Finely Carved Walnut Settee
Located in London, GB
A stunning antique settee, finely carved from solid mahogany or possible walnut. This dates from around the 1840-60’s period, and is a most impressive work of art. The profuse car...
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Mid-19th Century English Antique Moorish Chairs

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Walnut

Liberty & Co. A Moorish Walnut Side Chair with Thebes Style Slung Leather Seat
Located in London, GB
Liberty & Co. A Moorish walnut side or bedroom chair with Mouharabieh turnings to the back and a Thebes style slung leather seat with no less than twenty stretchers uniting the ring ...
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1890s English Antique Moorish Chairs

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Walnut

Very Impressive Antique Finely Carved Walnut Settee
Located in London, GB
A stunning antique settee, finely carved from solid mahogany or possible walnut. This dates from around the 1840-60’s period, and is a most impressive work of art. The profuse car...
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Mid-19th Century English Antique Moorish Chairs

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Walnut

Pair of Spanish Moorish High Back Hall Chairs
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Beautiful Spanish Moorish Revival chairs with hand carved wood Gothic details. Accent any setting with this unique hall chairs. Pair of Spanish High ba...
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20th Century Moorish Chairs

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Armchair Royal Style Camel Bone, Leather and Brass Inlay
Located in Plainview, NY
Armchair Royal style camel bone, leather and brass inlay Armchair Royal style camel bone. This armchair embodies the elite craftsmanship and nimble imagin...
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1980s Moroccan Vintage Moorish Chairs

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Metal

Mother of Pearl Inlaid Syrian Folding Chair
Located in Rochester, NY
Antique Middle Eastern Syrian folding chair with silver wire and mother of pearl shell inlaid design. See all pictures and read condition report i...
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Early 20th Century Syrian Moorish Chairs

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Mother-of-Pearl, Walnut

Pair of Moroccan Silver Metal Inlaid Stools with White Leather
Located in Manhasset, NY
Pair of Moroccan silver metal inlaid stools with white leather. This exquisite pair Moroccan stools will add unique style and sophistication to any room. ...
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1990s Moroccan Moorish Chairs

Moorish chairs for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique Moorish chairs for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the Late 20th Century, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage chairs created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include seating and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with wood, shell and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Moorish chairs made in a specific country, there are Africa, North Africa, and Maghreb pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original chairs, popular names associated with this style include and Harvey Probber. It’s true that these talented designers have at times inspired knockoffs, but our experienced specialists have partnered with only top vetted sellers to offer authentic pieces that come with a buyer protection guarantee. Prices for chairs differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $1,750 and tops out at $7,200 while the average work can sell for $2,900.

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