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.
17th Century Spanish Burled Walnut Vargueno or Collectors Cabinet
Located in Milford, NH
A fine example of a diminutive burled walnut vargueno, collector or valuables cabinet, with molded cornice and drop front, opening to a multi-drawer ...
Brass, Wrought Iron
Liberty & Co. A Moorish corner cabinet
Located in London, GB
A Moorish corner cabinet by Liberty and Co. Circa 1890. Height 71 1/2, Width at the front 25 1/2, Depth from back corner to front 13".
Oak
Small Mid 19th-Century Moorish Cabinet with Geometric Relief and Painted Patina
Located in Middleburg, VA
An eye-catching small cabinet from the mid-19th century, crafted in the Moorish style and dating to circa 1890. This architectural piece features two upper drawers over two lower cup...
Iron, Metal
G Parvis, Oriental Walnut Medallion, Late 19th Century
Located in MARSEILLE, FR
Walnut medallion with an oriental decoration in mother-of-pearl, wood and bone marquetry. It opens with 2 doors onto 9 drawers, with different compartments. This medallion is typ...
Walnut
Antique French Boulle Side Cabinets, Bone Inlay, Moorish Style, 1880
Located in Montreal, QC
This sumptuous pair of salon cabinets are what the French call meubles d'appui. Each is enclosed by a single glazed door and with canted sides. They are ...
Bone
Moorish Style Mother of Pearl Inlaid Hardwood Three-Piece Furniture Set
Located in London, GB
This Indo-Portuguese furniture set, which is comprised of a tall corner cabinet, a stool and side table – is designed in a wonderful Moorish style....
Mother-of-Pearl, Hardwood
Vargueño Spain Early 20th Century
Located in Rio De Janeiro, BR
A striking example of early 20th-century Spanish craftsmanship, this remarkable vargueño desk captures the enduring romance and architectural character of historic Iberian furniture ...
Oak, Walnut
$1,464Sale Price|55% Off
H 64.57 in W 40.56 in D 21.26 in
Antique Gothic Style Mahogany Corner Cabinet
Located in Montelabbate, PU
Corner cupboard with riser and two concave openwork doors with Gothic arches in the base. The ebony veneer top has an elevation with shaped shelves, finely carved rosewood columns an...
Mahogany
$2,343Sale Price|20% Off
H 38.19 in W 39.38 in D 24.41 in
Italy Late 19th Century Inlaid Walnut Buffet with Drawer or Low Cabinet
Located in Brescia, IT
This is a pleasant credenza or low cabinet, handmade in walnut with an inlaid in the same wood. The top has very beautiful drawing that distinguishes this antique buffet. Hand made...
Walnut
Pair Boulle Pier Cabinet Ebonised Inlay Antique 1850
Located in Potters Bar, GB
Wonderful Pair of French Ebonised and Boulle Pier Cabinets. Circa 1850 These Cabinets are Raised Upon Shaped Plinth Bases. Each Cabinet Having 1 Glazed Door Which Opens to Reveal She...
Glass, Wood
19th Century French Boulle Inlaid Side Cabinet or Credenza
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A very good quality 19th century French Boulle serpentine fronted credenza, having shaped glazed doors to either end with shelves within. The central door with classical scrolling fo...
Brass
Pair of Louis XVI Style Boulle Side Cabinets
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A good quality pair of 19th century French boulle pier cabinets in the style of Louis XVI. Each having marble tops, red boulle inlaid decoration, gilded ormolu mounts. Glazed doors, ...
Brass
19th-C. French Corner Cabinet
Located in Ballard, CA
A single door painted French corner cabinet in the Louis XVI style. Made out of pine wood painted with light gray/blue and cream accents. Feature...
Iron
Spanish Baroque Style Walnut Vargueño Cabinet on Stand
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Distinctive walnut varqueño cabinet or chest on stand made in the Spanish baroque taste by Flint and Horner Co. New York, New York. When R.J. Horner retired his company merged with G...
Brass
Chinese Mother of Pearl and Hardstone Decorated Lacquered Side Cabinet
Located in Germantown, MD
A Chinese Mother of Pearl and Hardstone Decorated Lacquered Side Cabinet. Protective glass top. Adjustable shelf. Measure 24" in width, 12" in width and 32 in height.
Stone
$1,406
H 55.12 in W 33.47 in D 22.05 in
Danish Mid-Century Rosewood Corner Cabinet / Bar Cabinet, 1960s
Located in Nørre Aaby, DK
Elegant Danish corner cabinet from the 1960s crafted in richly grained rosewood. Features beautiful leaded dark glass and generous storage space inside. A stylish and functional piec...
Rosewood
18th-19th century paint decorated Swedish cabinet
Located in Richmond, VA
Great little Swedish painted pine cabinet from the 18th-19th century. The faux marble cornice, Guttae moldings, and painted botanical door front elevate this little charming cabinet ...
Pine, Paint
Display Cabinet, Late 18th / Early 19th Century
Located in Greding, DE
Solid oak display cabinet with a two-door glazed upper section and a two-door lower cupboard. The shaped crest, molded framing, and subtly contoured panels give the piece a distincti...
Glass, Oak
Sold
H 111 in W 45.25 in D 16.5 in
Attributed Giuseppe Parvis Egyptian Neo-Moorish Salon Suite C. 1880
Located in Atlanta, GA
Attributed to Giuseppe Parvis (Egyptian/Italian 1831-1909), circa 1880. Two part form, tall architectural framed mirror with hardwood, bone, ebony and mother of pearl inlays, pierc...
Ebony, Fruitwood
Pair of Moroccan Painted Stands or Cabinets
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Enchanting pair of vintage Moroccan stands crafted in indigenous hardwoods with one drawer over a cabinet door with open fretwork and paint decorated in floral designs with distincti...
Hardwood, Paint
Vintage Moorish Inlay Cabinet
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Vintage Moroccan inlay cabinet with Moorish arches and details. This inlay artwork is constructed with light color bone, darker wood and silve...
Metal
Sold
H 29.93 in W 21.66 in D 13.39 in
Early 20th Century Moorish Bugatti Style Open Top Chest or Side Table and Mirror
Located in Firenze, IT
For Moorish vibes lovers this small early 20th century architectural cabinet with opening top will bring an arabesque touch to your decor. This small Moroccan or Middle Eastern chest...
Bone, Mother-of-Pearl, Mirror, Wood, Walnut
19th Century Cupboard in the Moorish Manner
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Cupboard or cabinet with an intricately carved case, Moorish arches, stick and ball breathers and columns all with mother of pearl inlays. Storage behind two doors and open display f...
Mother-of-Pearl
Antique Inlaid Cabinet and Blanket Chest
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Antique cabinet with a fold down door in front and blanket chest in the top. Crafted in mahogany and featuring elaborate carvings highlighted with bone inlaid flowers, stick and ball...
Mahogany
Moorish 18th Century Spanish Vargueño Cabinet Desk on Stand
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Sublime 18th century Spanish vargueño cabinet desk or chest on stand featuring dramatic Moorish arabesque inlay designs. Also known as a Bargu...
Silver, Brass, Iron
Mother of Pearl Inlaid Middle Eastern Cabinet
Located in Laguna Beach, CA
Mother of pearl inlaid and bone Moroccan style cabinet, made in the middle east, early 21st century. The overall dimensions are, height 38.75" width 52.5" depth 16.5". The dimensions...
Bone, Mother-of-Pearl, Wood
Sold
H 31.1 in W 23.6 in L 31.1 in
Antique Late 1800s Moorish Wall Cabinet with Cow Bone and Mother of Pearl Inlay
Located in Lisse, NL
Unique and handcrafted late 19th century Islamic style wall cabinet. This stylish and highly decorative wooden wall cabinet has a beautiful, arabic look and feel. With the use of cow bone and mother of pearl, this unique piece is inlaid with islamic patterns around the doors. Inside the framework of these wonderful doors are the also typical Moorish, handcrafted wooden details. It must have taken a highly skilled craftsman days rather than hours to handcraft just these two doors alone. The minaret shaped arches on top of the balcony-like middle section too are beautifully handcrafted and a joy to look at. You can keep items behind the doors, have items on display on the 'balcony' and also on top of this handcrafted work of beauty. We feel it was once part of a larger cabinet or desk, but there are strong antique metal hooks...
Bone, Mother-of-Pearl, Wood
Sold
H 54 in W 30.25 in D 17 in
Emerald Green Chest Drawer or Cabinet Moroccan Taj Mahal Inspired Design
Located in Plainview, NY
A beautiful Moroccan two-door over two-drawer Taj Mahal arch inspired emerald green painted chest drawer. The chest is handmade and carved of high quality wood. The emerald color is ...
Wood, Paint
Pair of Moorish Syrian Style Inlaid Corner Cabinets
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Amazing pair of intricately inlaid Moorish corner cabinets made in the Syrian style with arabesque decoration. Each cabinet has two open shelves and two enclosed storage areas. Decor...
Brass
Large Moorish Style Mother of Pearl Inlaid Display Cabinet
Located in London, GB
Produced in Syria during the late 19th century, this large cabinet is designed about a tripartite structural scheme. The cabinet features a tall centre that is flanked by two smaller...
Glass, Wood, Mother-of-Pearl