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.
Moorish Folding Chair, Walnut Wood, Mother of Pearl Inlay, Egypt, 1880
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Antique Middle Eastern Egyptian Moorish walnut wood folding chair with intricate foliate carving and mother of pearl, shell inlays. Arabian Syrian styl...
Wood
Moorish Moroccan 19th Century Folding Chair Inlaid
Located in Moreno Valley, 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...
Wood
Antique Egyptian Moorish Carved Walnut Mother-of-Pearl Inlaid Folding Chair
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
A striking late 19th-century Egyptian Moorish Revival folding chair, circa 1880, finely handcrafted in carved walnut and accented with delicate mother-of-pearl and shell inlay. The ...
Wood
Pair of 19th Century Carved Oak Corner Chairs
Located in High Point, NC
Pair of 19th century carved oak corner chairs from England with a wonderfully carved back, supports and arms, all depicting acanthus leaves and scrolls. The seats have wonderful carv...
Oak
Carved Walnut Art Nouveau French Corner Chair
By J. Horner
Located in Rockaway, NJ
Very fine carved walnut French Art Nouveau corner lounge chair.
Upholstery, Walnut
19th Century Welsh Turner’s Chair
Located in Troy, MI
Found in England, this Old Saxon Style Welsh turner's chair dates from approximately 1890. This three legged chair features turned arms, a triangular seat and a carved back rest. Spi...
Hardwood
$6,700Sale Price|28% Off
H 32 in W 25 in D 29 in
Alan Siegel Post-Modern Craftsman 'Tongue' Chair, Signed & Dated 1981
By Alan Siegel
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This work of Post-Modern functional art is called the 'Tongue' chair by artist and sculptor Alan Siegel, exhibited in 1981 at the Betsy Rosenfield Gallery in Chicago. Signed and dated (1981) by the artist underneath the seat. Carved from Maple and Black Walnut, this gorgeous piece of art is something unique, fun and whimsical, and ideal for art and design collectors and investors. This incredible chair, which in of itself is a sculpture of collectible fine art, was designed as a figural man's head where the backrest is comprised of the hair and eyes along with a sculpted nose, teeth and mustache. The tongue makes the seat and below that for the legs of the chair is the beard and chin. Other Alan Siegel chairs were present in the exhibition such as the 'Smiling Bandit' chair and 'Laughing Bandit' chair which were also carved from Maple and Black Walnut. Ideal for Modern and Post-Modern homes, also consider for Mid-Century Modern, Contemporary, Transitional and Mixed-styled rooms. Works great as a side chair, hallway chair, entryway chair, occasional chair, captains chair for a dining table or game table, reading chair or fireside chair, or office desk or guest chair. ARTIST EXHIBITIONS: 2017 Galeria Nudo, San Miguel de Allende, Mexico 2013 Kleinart James Gallery, Woodstock, NY 2013 Galeria Manuel Chacon, Fabrica La Aurora, San Miguel de Allende, Mexico 2011 Galeria Atelier, San Miguel de Allende, Mexico 2004 Galeria le Noir, Mexico 2002 Franklin Parrasch Gallery, New York, NY 2001 Franklin Parrasch Gallery, New York, NY 2000 Elena Zang Gallery, Woodstock (Shady), NY Nancy Hoffman...
Wood
Mid-Century Modern Ninfea Folding Side Chair by Gio Ponti, Italy
By Gio Ponti
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A light-brown, vintage Mid-Century Modern Italian Ninfea folding side chair made of hand crafted polished Walnut, designed by Gio Ponti, in good condition. The seat backrest of singl...
Leather, Walnut
Classic Vintage Charles and Ray Eames for Herman Miller DCM chair
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Classic Vintage Charles and Ray Eames for Herman Miller DCM chair.
Chrome
Chinese Hongmu Corner Chair, 19th Century
Located in Ottawa, Ontario
A Chinese Hongmu corner chair, 19th century. The horseshoe-form back with molded crest above a pair of open carved splats with fruiting and fl...
Wood
$6,200Sale Price / set|21% Off
H 31.5 in W 24.5 in D 16.25 in
Vintage Jansky Side Chairs by Driade, Walnut, Mid-Century Modern
A dark-brown, vintage late Mid-Century Modern Italian pair of Jansky side chairs made of handcrafted Walnut, designed by Borek Sipek and produced by Driade, in good condition. The sc...
Metal
Valenti elegant pair of turned wood folding chairs
Located in Milano, IT
Elegant pair of turned wood folding chairs with leather seat and backrest and brass details. Attributed to Pierre Lottier for Valenti. Made in the ...
Leather
Victorian Carved Walnut Upholstered Seat Corner Chair
Located in Germantown, MD
Victorian Carved Walnut Upholstered Seat Corner Chair. Good antique condition. Measures 24.5" in width, 22" in depth, 29" in height. Seat height is 16" and the arm height is 26.25"....
Upholstery, Walnut
French Louis XV Style Carved Walnut Corner Chair
Located in Vienna, AT
The low curving back centered by a splat of pierced foliate scrolls, cabriole legs, restoration will be done on request Diamentions: Height 32", Widht 27" Depth 33"
Walnut
$1,500 / set
H 32.5 in W 26.5 in D 21 in
Pair of Chinese Rosewood Corner Chairs with Mother-of-Pearl Inlay, c. 1940
Located in Doylestown, PA
Pair of midcentury Chinese rosewood corner chairs. Beautifully formed, sculptural chairs with detailed mother-of-pearl inlay of floral and geometric patterns and intricately carved ...
Mother-of-Pearl, Rosewood
19th Century Middle Eastern Egyptian Moorish Corner Chairs
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Antique late 19th century Middle Eastern Egyptian Moorish side chairs finely hand carved with intricate wood fretwork and inlaid with shell. Nice mouchar...
Wood, Shell