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Moorish Sofas

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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
Early 20th Century Middle Eastern Carved Walnut Mashrabiya Settee, 1920s–1930s
Early 20th Century Middle Eastern Carved Walnut Mashrabiya Settee, 1920s–1930s

Early 20th Century Middle Eastern Carved Walnut Mashrabiya Settee, 1920s–1930s

$5,850

Early 20th Century Middle Eastern Carved Walnut Mashrabiya Settee, 1920s–1930s

Located in Moreno Valley, CA

An exceptional early 20th-century Middle Eastern settee, attributed to Egypt or the Levant—possibly present-day Lebanon or Syria—and dating to approximately the 1920s–1930s. A precise modern country of origin cannot be established. Its construction and ornament reflect the shared Ottoman-influenced decorative traditions of the Eastern Mediterranean, where craftsmen, materials and design vocabulary circulated between Egypt and the Levant. Handcrafted from warm-toned walnut, the settee features an impressive architectural back composed of multiple carved panels. Intricate mashrabiya openwork, turned spindle latticework, geometric fretwork, carved finials and contrasting star-form inlays create a richly layered Islamic design. The tall stepped crest rises dramatically above the central panel, while the openwork arms, carved front rails and turned feet continue the intricate decoration throughout the frame. The seat has been more recently upholstered in a textured gold-toned Moroccan...

Category

Early 20th Century Egyptian Moorish Sofas

Materials

Walnut

Late 19th-Century Egyptian Moorish Walnut Mashrabiya Settee
Late 19th-Century Egyptian Moorish Walnut Mashrabiya Settee

Late 19th-Century Egyptian Moorish Walnut Mashrabiya Settee

$6,800Sale Price|20% Off

Late 19th-Century Egyptian Moorish Walnut Mashrabiya Settee

Located in Moreno Valley, CA

Late 19th-Century Egyptian Moorish Walnut Mashrabiya Settee An exceptional late-19th-century Egyptian Moorish settee, handcrafted in dark-finished walnut and distinguished by its in...

Category

19th Century Egyptian Antique Moorish Sofas

Materials

Walnut

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Early 20th Century Louis XV Style Finely Carved Wood and Caned Settee
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Previously Available Items
Middle Eastern Turkish Settee Sofa
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Art Deco Moroccan Moorish Sofa Jean-Michel Frank Style
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Art Deco Moroccan Moorish Sofa Jean-Michel Frank Style

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Art Deco sofa settee upholstered with Fortuny style cut velvet Moorish fabric. Jean-Michel Frank Style, Art Deco Moorish style Sofa. With an elegant design inspired by the Jean-Miche...

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Moorish sofas for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique Moorish sofas 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 sofas created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include seating and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with walnut, wood and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Moorish sofas made in a specific country, there are Africa, Egypt, and North Africa 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 sofas differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $6,500 and tops out at $8,500 while the average work can sell for $7,500.

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