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Moorish Corner 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
19th Century Middle Eastern Egyptian Moorish Corner Chairs
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Antique late 19th century Middle Eastern Egyptian Moorish side chairs finely hand carved with intricate wood fretwork and inlaid with shell. Nice mouchar...
Category

Late 19th Century Egyptian Antique Moorish Corner Chairs

Materials

Wood, Shell

19th Century Middle Eastern Egyptian Moorish Corner Chairs
19th Century Middle Eastern Egyptian Moorish Corner Chairs

19th Century Middle Eastern Egyptian Moorish Corner Chairs

Moorish 19th Century Folding Chair 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

Late 19th Century Egyptian Antique Moorish Corner Chairs

Materials

Wood

Moorish 19th Century Folding Chair Inlaid
Moorish 19th Century Folding Chair Inlaid

Moorish 19th Century Folding Chair Inlaid

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

Late 19th Century Moroccan Antique Moorish Corner Chairs

Materials

Wood

Moorish Moroccan 19th Century Folding Chair Inlaid
Moorish Moroccan 19th Century Folding Chair Inlaid

Moorish Moroccan 19th Century Folding Chair Inlaid

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

Late 19th Century Moroccan Antique Moorish Corner Chairs

Materials

Wood

19th Century Moorish Egyptian Pearl Inlaid Folding Chair
19th Century Moorish Egyptian Pearl Inlaid Folding Chair

19th Century Moorish Egyptian Pearl Inlaid Folding Chair

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

Late 19th Century Egyptian Antique Moorish Corner Chairs

Materials

Wood

Moorish Egyptian 19th Century Folding Chair Inlaid
Moorish Egyptian 19th Century Folding Chair Inlaid

Moorish Egyptian 19th Century Folding Chair Inlaid

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Moorish corner chairs for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique Moorish corner chairs for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the 19th Century, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage corner chairs created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include seating and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with wood, bone and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Moorish corner chairs made in a specific country, there are Africa, North Africa, and Egypt pieces for sale on 1stDibs. 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 corner chairs differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $2,950 and tops out at $11,000 while the average work can sell for $2,950.

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