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.
$6,800Sale Price|20% Off
19th Century Egyptian Moorish Settee, Handcrafted Walnut & Silk
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Middle Eastern Egyptian black settee with spindle and ball design with triple Moorish arches inlaid with mucharabie intricate and Fine work. Sofa is newly...
Walnut
Hand-Carved Moroccan Moorish Sofa Settee with Gold Upholstery, 1930
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Moroccan Moorish Arabian Sofa Settee. Fabulous one of a kind Moorish Middle Eastern, handcrafted Settee, finely hand-carved and inlaid. Nice hand carve...
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
Antique Early 20th Century Moorish Settee with Decorative Inlay
Located in Westfield, MA
This stunning early 20th-century Moorish settee is a remarkable example of intricate craftsmanship and exotic design. Constructed from rich hardwood, the frame features a dazzling ar...
Bone, Abalone, Walnut
Middle Eastern Moorish Triple Arch Settee
Located in Queens, NY
Middle Eastern Moorish walnut settee with spindle and ball design and pearl inlay with triple arch open design back with woven fabric seat (19th...
Mother-of-Pearl, Walnut
Middle Eastern Damascus Walnut Settee
Located in Queens, NY
Middle Eastern Damascus (20th Cent) Settee in walnut with inlaid mother of pearl and ebony with spindle & ball and finial details (matching 2 arms & 2 sides 060219/CON63) One finial...
Ebony, Mother-of-Pearl, Walnut
Fine Vintage Moroccan Folding Settee
Located in Bridgeport, CT
Moroccan Settee with inlaid Bone discs and intricate overall carved decoration. With decorative carved crest. In very good condition with only minor age and use wear including a miss...
Bone, Wood
$7,000
H 26 in W 95 in D 33 in
Edward Wormley for Dunbar Sofa M#261 with Original Jack Lenor Larsen Upholstery
By Dunbar Furniture, Jack Lenor Larsen, Edward Wormley
Located in St. Louis, MO
Classic mid-century modern sofa designed by Edward Wormley from his 1958 Dunbar - Conversation Pieces Collection, this sofa model #261 still has its original Jack Lenor Larsen colorf...
Brass
$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
Austro-German 19th Century Biedermeier Sofa
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
A fabulous Biedermeier style settee from 19th century Bavaria made from exceptionally beautiful, solid maple in a sheltering design like a banquette to enclose the upholstery. Some a...
Upholstery, Maple
$4,439
H 48.82 in W 53.35 in D 53.35 in
Vintage Giltwood Love Seat Conversation Settee Mid 20th Century
Located in London, GB
This is a fantastic English vintage giltwood love seat or conversation "Sociable Settee" mid 20th century in date. It is of clover leaf outline and has four individual seats with...
Velvet, Giltwood
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
Danish Settee
Located in San Francisco, CA
A Danish settee upholstered in beige linen, with piping along all the edges, including the rolled arms, and mahogany legs. Seat has eight-way hand tied springs in good condition. T...
Linen, Mahogany
19th Century Empire Walnut Upholstered Settee
Located in WEST PALM BEACH, FL
This is a lovely tailored walnut Empire settee. The top rail is flanked by two graceful sloping arms, joining two brass classical female heads crowing two front straight tapering le...
Brass
Rare Egyptian Revival Ebony and Inlaid Settee, Late 19th Century
Located in Southampton, NY
Egyptian Revival ebony and inlaid settee, late 19th century "Of architectural form with geometric borders and inlaid with fruitwoods, ivory, mother of pearl and wire, the carved giltwood cresting rail in the form of serpents centred by a tablet inlaid with a winged bird, probably the symbol of the Egyptian Goddess, Nekhbet, clutching a payrus stalk, the padded back between two moulded cartouches depicting Horus and Iris, the arm supports in the form of Canopic jars surmounted by the head of Anubis, with a padded seat and shaped legs terminating in paw feet. Measures: 26" deep x 56" wide x 45.5" high x 18" seat height In the nineteenth century, the Egyptian Revival became fashionable following the Napoleonic campaigns in Egypt with the publication of Voyage (1802) by Vivant Denon...
Wire
$12,280
H 38 in W 84 in D 37 in
"Italian Hand-Painted Settee with Antiqued Blue Finish, Regency Style"
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Made to Order Italian hand painted settee, antiqued blue crackle finish, upholstered in a linen Fabric, cushion filling 50/50 White Goose Down, sprung decking, hand made in Los Angel...
Linen, Upholstery, Wood, Hardwood
Queen Ann style walnut framed Settee
Located in Cheshire, GB
Walnut framed love seat, the solid walnut frame with a floral green upholstered back, seat and scrolling arms, raised on cabriole supports united by stretchers. Dimensions Height 38 ...
Walnut
$10,661Sale 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
French Louis XV Style Carved-Wood & Upholstered Settee
Located in Atlanta, GA
A French Louis XV style sofa from the mid-19th century. This antique settee from France upholstered features a gently arched top rail at back, carved acanthus leaves decorated the sk...
Upholstery, Wood
Early 20th C Moorish Intricately Carved Settee With Inlay
Located in Troy, MI
Found in Turkey, this hand-carved wood settee dates from approximately 1910. This backrest and sides of this settee feature an intricately carved lattice pattern with no breaks or re...
Shell, Wood
Antique Tete-a-Tete with Bone Inlays
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Rare and remarkable antique Moroccan tete-a-tete crafted in walnut in classic graceful form featuring geometric bone inlays, turned balustrades, stick and ball, custom floral upholst...
Walnut
Middle Eastern Syrian Inlaid Settee
Located in Bradenton, FL
Middle Eastern Syrian (20th Cent) settee in walnut with inlaid mother of pearl and ebony with spindle & ball and finial detail. Also listed are a matchi...
Wood
Sold
H 29.5 in W 50.25 in D 20.25 in
Moroccan Set of Two Armchairs and Settee with Inlay and Openwork, Early 20th C
Located in Ft. Lauderdale, FL
This is a great group of seating for the intellectual travellers with a 1920's affinity for things mondiale. It is made of intricately carved walnur with accents of ebonized pearls i...
Mother-of-Pearl, Walnut
Vintage Moroccan Low Day Bed with Red Cushion
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 geo...
Wood
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...
Walnut
Vintage Moroccan Settee Low bench, Day Bed with Red Cushion
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
Middle Eastern Turkish Settee Sofa
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
19th century Middle Eastern Turkish settee, intricate Moroccan Musharabie Moorish fretwork on the back and side, inlaid mosaic marquetry. Hispano More...
Wood
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...
Walnut
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
Walnut Settee by Carlo Bugatti
Located in Montreal, QC
Ebonised walnut settee by Carlo Bugatti (1856-1940) decorated with pewter and brass inlay and embossed copper, upholstered with parchment. Carlo Bugatti was a famous designer acti...