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.
Middle Eastern 19th Century Moorish Folding Chair Shell Inlaid
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...
Shell, Mother-of-Pearl, Wood
A Moorish ebonized parlour chair with Musharabieh turnings
Located in London, GB
Liberty and Co attributed. A Moorish ebonized parlour chair with Musharabieh turnings to each side of the back and also uniting the seat to the lower stretchers, with extending arched feet. With a beautiful original floral beaded tapestry...
Walnut
Middle Eastern 19th Century Inlaid Moorish Folding Chair
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Antique Middle Eastern Moorish walnut wood folding chair with intricate foliate carving and shell inlays. Inlaid with shell stars and moon designs, hand carved with Arabic calligraph...
Wood, Shell
19th Century Moorish Carved Wood Folding Chair with Mother-of-Pearl Inlay
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
A striking late 19th-century Moorish folding chair, circa 1880, handcrafted in dark wood and richly ornamented with intricate carving and delicate mother-of-pearl inlay. The chair h...
Shell, Wood
Indian Rajasthani A pair of polychrome painted chairs with gilt chord embroidery
Located in London, GB
Indian Rajasthani. A rare pair of period side chairs finely painted in polychrome colours with the original floral gilt chord embroidery seats, the seats a little worn with minor los...
Wood
Set of Ten Moorish Style Handcrafted Iron Side Chairs, Spain
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Ten Spanish side chairs in iron with a straight back and playful handcrafted partial backrest. This type of seated furniture is perfect for a Moorish or Spanish style. Wear consisten...
Metal, Iron
Liberty & Co. Moorish Side or Childs Chair with Mashrabiya Turned Details
Located in London, GB
Liberty & Co. Moorish side or child's chair with Mashrabiya turned details to the backrest and on all four sides below the seats, with a red studded leather seat, with Moorish arched...
Walnut
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
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
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
Antique Moorish Folding Chair with Mother-of-Pearl Inlay, Middle Eastern
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
An exceptionally decorative late 19th-century Middle Eastern folding chair, circa 1880, finely handcrafted in carved wood and embellished with delicate mother-of-pearl inlay. The ch...
Wood
Antique Egyptian Moorish Mother-of-Pearl Inlaid Folding Chair, circa 1880
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
An exceptional late 19th-century Egyptian Moorish folding chair, circa 1880, finely hand-carved in dark wood and embellished with delicate mother-of-pearl and shell inlay. With its d...
Shell, Mother-of-Pearl, Wood
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...
Mother-of-Pearl, Wood
Moorish Folding Chairs, Hardwood, Stepped Crest, X-Frame Pair
Located in Rolling Hills Estates, CA
Vintage Moorish folding chairs, an X-frame pair that closes nearly flat along a central pivot. The crest rises to a stepped, crenellated profile above a recessed horseshoe arch, and ...
Wood
Small Damascus bench, oriental work from the mid-19th century
Located in Mouscron, WHT
Small Damascus bench, oriental work from the mid-19th century fine sculptures and bone inlay. The fabric is not perfect, but original
Wood
$2,400 / set
H 34 in W 18.5 in D 16.5 in
Set of 4 Neoclassical Gustavian Style Chairs, Parcel Gilt & Painted, Sphinx Ca
Located in Stamford, CT
Set of 4 carved side chairs, desk chairs, office chairs. Finely detailed set of Neoclassical Gustavian Chairs each in a nice scalamandre fabric having winged sphinxes on the back res...
Wood, Paint
$3,250 / set
H 38 in W 20.5 in D 22 in
A Set of Ten Modern Louis XVI-Style Cerused Wood Dining Chairs.
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Manufactured in Portugal, this set of ten modern Louis XVI-style dining side chairs each feature a shaped rectangular upholstered back above a padded seat newly covered in cream fabr...
Fabric, Wood
$3,950 / set
H 38.25 in W 19.5 in D 19 in
Pair of Swedish Rococo Chairs with Traces of Original Paint, Circa 1770
Located in Atlanta, GA
A genuine pair of period Rococo chairs dating to circa 1770, retaining traces of their original painted surfaces. The frames have been carefully scraped back, revealing a softly worn...
Wood
$2,240Sale Price / set|20% Off
H 32.29 in W 18.51 in D 18.9 in
Pair of 19th Century Biedermeier Fruitwood Side Chairs
Located in Berlin, DE
A pair of beautifully honey colored fruitwood Biedermeier side chairs, with gently curved rectangular backs, the top and side inlaid with banding, the splat carved with a stylized flower head, on sabre legs. Newly upholstered in black Prussian horse hair fabric...
Fruitwood
19th Century Biedermeier Walnut Chair. Vienna, c. 1825
Located in Vienna, AT
Hello, This fine Biedermeier side chair was made in Vienna circa 1825. Viennese Biedermeier pieces are distinguished by their sophisticated proportions, rare and refined design, exc...
Upholstery, Walnut
Pair Of Hand Painted Gustavian Accent Chairs
Located in Bruton, GB
A delightful pair of painted wooden side chairs in the Swedish tradition, featuring softly shaped crest backs with elegant scroll detailing and turned legs. Finished in a serene pale...
Hardwood
$2,589Sale Price|35% Off
H 38.59 in W 18.9 in D 19.3 in
Reanaissance Revival Hand-Carved Chair with Embossed Leather 19th Century
Located in Lucenec, SK
Chair in carved beech and embossed leather seat and back, circa 1850. The coat of arms embossed at the leather back belongs to the Hungarian noble family Erdody de Monyorókerék et Mo...
Leather, Beech
Pair of 19th Century Klismos Chairs
Located in New York, NY
A pair 19th century Danish Klismos chairs. Collected in Copenhagen elegant pair of late 19th century Danish Klismos Chairs. Ebonized hardwood wi...
Hardwood
Chairs Italian 19th Baroque Style Black Leather Century Italy
Located in New York, NY
Chairs Italian 19th Black Leather Century Italy. A pair of side chairs made during the 19th century in Italy. Upholstered in a thick black leather with brass needle...
Leather, Wood
19th Century Anglo-Indian Slipper Chair
Located in Houston, TX
A 19th-century Anglo-Indian slipper chair with an original embroidered upholstered seat.
Upholstery, Wood
Pair of 19th century carved walnut side chairs
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
Pair of 19th century carved walnut side chairs circa 1870. Good quality pair of side chairs which would ideally suit a bedroom or dressing room. Cartouche shaped back rest surmount...
Fabric, Walnut
$4,000
H 35.5 in W 23 in D 26 in
1940's Ebonized Gilt Regency Style Arm Chairs with Custom Cream Upholstery
Located in Brooklyn, NY
This striking pair of 1940s Regency Revival armchairs reflects the resurgence of neoclassical elegance in American design. Crafted with sculptural curved arms and an ebonized wood fr...
Silk, Wood
Moorish Style Burmese Elephant Howdah Seat, 19th Century Rosewood
Located in Waxahachie, TX
19th Century Burmese Elephant Howdah Seat. The upholstered seat cushion is newer than the wood seat. The cushion is probably 1960-70s. Has zipper...
Rosewood
Moresque Side Chair With Metal Inlay Circa 1910
Located in Petworth, GB
Moresque side chair Profusely inlaid with metal, possibly pewter Ebonised beech Italian In the style of Carlo Bugatti Circa 1910 Height 112cm. Width 29cm. Depth 36cm Seat Heigh...
Beech
Sold
H 52 in W 17.5 in D 19.5 in
19th -C. British Colonial / Moroccan Style Inlaid And Carved Side Chairs - Pair
Located in Kennesaw, GA
This is a pair of 19th century heavily carved Moorish side chairs. The mother of pearl inlay is in very good condition. Both seats are upholstered in carpet remnants. They are unmark...
Mother-of-Pearl, Wood
Pair of Antique Inlaid Syrian Damascus Armchairs
Located in London, GB
A stunning pair of antique Syrian Damascus armchairs, dating from around the 1900-1920 period. They are of extremely high quality, with absolutely stunning inlay throughout of var...
Mother-of-Pearl, Wood
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
Hand Painted Indian Rajasthani Side Chair
By Southeast Asia
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Indian Rajasthani low chair with handwoven seat. An antique Indian Moorish rustic low wooden chair. Charming our eyes with its rustic appearance, this low wooden chair features a straight back. With its nicely weathered appearance and delicate décor, this Indian wooden chair...
Cane, Wood
Pair of Spanish Moorish High Back Hall Chairs
Located in Moreno Valley, 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...
Wood
Set of 4 Painted Middle Eastern Side Chairs
Located in Laguna Beach, CA
Set of 4 painted and carved middle Eastern side chairs, circa 1930s. Height of seat without cushion 17". Height of seat with cushion 21".
Wood, Paint
Sold
H 38.25 in W 17 in
Liberty & Co. a Pair of Moorish Side Chairs with Carving & Moucharabieh Turnings
Located in London, GB
Liberty & Co. a pair of Moorish side chairs with stylised floral carvings to the top and moucharabieh turnings to the sweeping backs and below the seats to the front and to the sides...
Walnut
Pair of Ottoman Empire Mother-of-Pearl Inlaid Side Chairs
Located in Stamford, CT
Impressive pair of mother-of-pearl and metal inlaid chairs with intricate hardwood turnings. The skill and time that went into creating these chairs is remarkable. Each with a crest ...
Mother-of-Pearl
Pair of Middle Eastern Egyptian Moorish Armchairs
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Pair of Egyptian armchairs with faux leather seat cushion with Moorish lattice fret work on side and back with Moorish arches design in the style of Carlo Bugatti. Hispano Moresque style, Alhambra design with Moorish Islamic arches...
Faux Leather, Wood
Sold
H 48 in W 14.5 in D 14.75 in
Pair of Moroccan / African Teak Accent Chairs, Unusual Sculptural Design
Located in Kansas City, MO
Two Moroccan teak chairs. We love the condition of these chairs. Just the right amount of attractive wear to the original leather seats. Structurally sou...
Leather, Teak