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.
Antique Middle Eastern Mother-of-Pearl Inlaid Marble-Top Chest of Drawers
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Antique Middle Eastern Mother-of-Pearl Inlaid Marble-Top Chest of Drawers, Early 20th Century. Luxury Antique Levantine Mother-of-Pearl Inlaid Marble-Top Chest of Drawers Moorish Mo...
Mother-of-Pearl
Antique Writing Desk and Chair Set circa 1920s, Moorish Style Inlaid Desk
Located in Miami, FL
Very fine antique Moorish style inlaid writing desk and chair set, circa 1920's. This hand-carved, intricately detailed example has absolutely incredible inlay work and fine woods to...
Wood, Cedar
$7,002 / item
Rustic Brown Moroccan Sideboard
Located in Westwood, NJ
Crafted from carved reclaimed pine, featuring a distressed, hand-rubbed, and antiqued brown finish. Six cabinet doors open to reveal a painted interior with removable shelves, combin...
Wood
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
Antique Moroccan Desk or Escritoire
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Important 19th century Moroccan escritoire or desk crafted in mahogany with strong aesthetics movement influences. Featuring Moorish architectural references, floral and geometric bone inlays...
Mahogany
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
Antique Inlaid Moroccan Tall Chest
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Impressive antique Moroccan tall chest handcrafted in walnut featuring a custom glass top with a scalloped front and matching top drawer over four flat front drawers below having blu...
Bone, Mother-of-Pearl, Hardwood
Antique Zanzibar Omani Teak & Brass Studded Copper Clad Dowry Chest Trunk, 1880
Located in Portland, OR
A good antique Zanzibar, Omani dowry chest, circa 1880. The chest having a hinged lid clad in decorated copper repousse work, the front and sides having similar decoration, the insi...
Brass, Copper
Hand-Carved Arch Bookshelf Wooden Cabinet in Rustic Blue
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Vintage Hand-Carved Arch Bookshelf Wooden Cabinet in Rustic Blue antique distressed look. Painted blue arch bookshelf with distressed finish. Traditio...
Reclaimed Wood
Antique Middle Eastern Mother of Pearl Inlay Dowry Trunk 19th C.
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Rare large antique 19th century mother of pearl inlaid Arabian Middle Eastern blanket wedding dowry chest. Very fine intricate, detailed, stunning craftsmanship quality of Middle Eastern Moorish Islamic artwork...
Mother-of-Pearl, Wood
19th Century mother of pearl overlay display vitrine cabinet
Located in Cypress, CA
A spectacular arabesques Levantine vitrine cabinet, late 19th/early 20th century, a true masterpiece of intricate design. This cabinet features extensive, detailed mother-of-pearl, b...
Pewter
$6,800Sale Price|20% Off
Asian Finely Hand Carved Sideboard from Java, Indonesia
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Very special and unique, fabulous Indonesian sideboard, great quality and very fine hand carved chest of three drawers with two doors. Very interesting work, Anglo-Indian style flow...
Wool
$1,440Sale Price|20% Off
Desk, Secretaire, Moorish Inlays
Located in Buenos Aires, Argentina
Desk - Secretaire - Moorish inlays Origin and marquetry of Morocco Circa 1930. very good condition Leather interior with wear and tear Measurements w...
Wood
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
Liberty & Co, attributed. A good quality oak Moorish dresser
Located in London, GB
A good quality oak Moorish dresser attributed to Liberty and Co with plate rack to the upper section and two drawers with two cupboards below, superb quality stylised handles and hin...
Oak
Arts & Crafts Moorish Waterfall Bookcase Cabinet by Shapland & Petter
Located in Glasgow, GB
An Arts & Crafts mahogany waterfall bookcase cabinet by Shapland & Petter of Barnstaple, featuring Moorish inspired mihrab shaped tall recesses, ribbed molding to the door and brass ...
Brass
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
Liberty & Co A Moorish Walnut Desk with Angular Design & 4 Opposite Side Drawers
Located in London, GB
Liberty & Co. A Moorish Walnut Desk with Mushrabia turnings to the upper shelf, just below to the turned uprights there are dowel holes which I have shown in the images, they are the...
Walnut
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
Moorish Style Inlaid Bombe Commode
Located in Bradenton, FL
Camel bone and mother of pearl inlaid three drawer commode with ball turned pulls and geometric detail. The double bombe serpentine chest extensively ...
Mother-of-Pearl, Wood
Thai Painted Altar Table or Console
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Antique Thai altar table or console with a strong architectural form. Crafted in wood with three arches supported by four turned wood columns. The ...
Paint
Richly decorated, inlaid antique Italian secretary in Moorish style, circa 1860
Located in Harderwijk, NL
This highly decorative, museum-quality antique Italian secretary is beautifully adorned with intricate inlays featuring striking and decorative motifs. The piece has two doors with a...
Wood
$16,500 / set
Pair of French Boulle Side Cabinets
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
$5,411 / item
An Ottoman Kavukluk or turban holder.
Located in PARIS, FR
A Kavkluk Turban holder in carved walnut, inlaid with mother-of-pearl set in nets of pewter. Ottoman period , 19th century . Turkey
Mother-of-Pearl, Wood
George III Bureau Desk or Secretary Chest from the 18th Century
Located in Austin, TX
A fine George III slant top desk or bureau secretary chest of elm, oak and padouk woods, c.1780 - an inlaid slant front drops to reveal a series of small drawers and document compart...
Metal, Brass
$4,056
H 31.11 in W 55.12 in D 31.5 in
Rare Antique circa 1860 Library Writing Table Desk with Twin Writing Slopes
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
We are delighted to offer for sale this very rare original circa 1860 Mahogany library table with built in twin writing slopes This is a very r...
Hardwood
$2,681
H 37.21 in W 35.24 in D 13.59 in
Antique Anglo Indian Military Campaign Camphor Wood & Brass Bureau Desk Drawers
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
We are delighted to offer for sale this lovely late Victorian Anglo Indian campaign Camphor wood with brass inlay Military bureau desk This piece really is exquisite. It’s a genui...
Brass
Large Massive Brutalist Rustical 3D Sideboard, 1960s
Located in Nürnberg, Bayern
Very good condition. The right-hand lock in the door is stuck and cannot be turned. With a little skill, this can certainly be fixed.
Oak
$1,200
H 30 in W 42 in D 20 in
Antique Black Painted Victorian Commode/ Chest of Drawers with Marble Top
Located in Wichita, KS
Antique black painted Victorian commode/ chest of drawers with marble top. The piece has been painted with semi gloss paint and new brass hardw...
Carrara Marble, Brass
$1,503Sale 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
Antique Early American 19th Century Pine Plantation Desk
Located in Forney, TX
An early American 19th century pine plantation desk with nicely aged patina. Born in the Mid-Atlantic region / Southern United States, circa 1800s, hand-crafted of solid pine wood with mellow warm tone and rich grain patterns, one-piece construction, having a stepped molded cornice above a tall pair of paneled cabinet doors, opening to reveal an interior fitted with shelves and divided slots for documents, plank boarded back with old metal patch, over a lift-top writing slope with spacious storage underneath, the apron adorned with simple decorative pilasters...
Pine
$4,749
H 39.5 in W 42.25 in D 20 in
A Fine Early 20th Century Highly Inlaid Marble Top Chest of Drawers
Located in Dublin, IE
A fine early 20th Century richly patinated marble top chest of drawers, of fabulous quality, finely carved, crossbanded, quarter veneered and with stunning, highly inlaid marquetry p...
Siena Marble, Brass
$2,400Sale Price|29% Off
H 36 in W 66.5 in D 23 in
Antique Rustic Louis XV Style French Provincial Sideboard
Located in Sheffield, MA
The French Provincial style sideboard has two smaller side drawers and one larger middle drawer, all dovetailed. Below are two panelled doors flanking a centre panel all a la French ...
Wood
$6,895
H 44 in W 47 in D 23 in
George III Bureau Desk or Secretary Chest of Mahogany from the 18th Century
Located in Austin, TX
A fine George III slant top desk or bureau secretary chest of patinated mahogany, c.1770 - an inlaid slant front drops to reveal a series of small drawers and document compartments, ...
Metal, 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
French Victorian Walnut Corner Cabinet
Located in Queens, NY
French Victorian walnut carved corner cabinet with 2 glass doors with applied urn carving on bottom and festoon top
Walnut
Sold
H 20 in W 20.25 in D 15.5 in
19th Century Hand-Carved Moroccan Cedarwood Dowry Chest with Moorish Arches
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A stunning 19th century Moroccan dowry chest hand-carved from solid cedar wood, featuring a richly detailed facade of Moorish horseshoe arches and geome...
Cedar
Antique White Moroccan Sideboard
Located in Westwood, NJ
A dynamic piece of furniture suitable for use in a large hallway, in the den, or the dining room. With four doors that open to a painted interior with shelves and made with carved pine and a hand-rubbed antique white...
Wood
Redproduction Painted Armoire
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
This bespoke European-inspired armoire of recent construction makes a statement in its towering proportions and patinated blue finish, accented by an ebonized (painted) trim that really defines the paneled doors. Moorish influences are evident in the doors with geometric, raised panels and fitted with antique hinges & latch of patinated wrought iron. Turquoise pigment is washed and distressed in a faux finish that feels at once historic and exotic. The interior is bathed entirely in a sunny yellow paint, offering five adjustable shelves and a fixed top shelf for folded clothing or to use as extra kitchen and pantry storage...
Pine, Paint
Moorish Middle Eastern Painted Wood Blanket Chest
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Colorful hand-painted wooden blanket chest featuring a Moorish Middle-Eastern decorated exterior. The festive designs have Syrian and Moroccan arabesque influence and motifs. The cas...
Wood
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
Antique Moroccan Inlaid Chest of Drawers
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Impressive 19th century Moroccan gentleman's chest hand crafted in walnut with a black glass top on a scalloped cornice with three top drawers over four large drawers. The chest has ...
Mother-of-Pearl, Walnut
Antique White Arabesque Sideboard
Located in Westwood, NJ
This exquisite piece boasts a tranquil white finish, gently distressed to reveal undertones of natural wood for a perfectly aged look. The front fascia is adorned with arabesque mosa...
Wood
Antiqued Sage Arabesque Sideboard
Located in Westwood, NJ
This exquisite piece boasts a tranquil sage green finish, gently distressed to reveal undertones of natural wood for a perfectly aged look. The front fascia is adorned with arabesque...
Wood
Whitewash Painted Moroccan Sideboard
Located in Westwood, NJ
Carved from reclaimed pine and finished in a distressed and antiqued whitewash, this piece exudes rustic charm. Six cabinet doors open to reveal a painted interior with removable she...
Wood
Pair of Moorish Inlaid Commodes
Located in Dallas, TX
A pair of Moorish Inlaid Two-Drawer Commodes, 19th century.
Wood
Sold
H 73 in W 40 in D 11.75 in
Early 20th-C. Moroccan Heavily Carved Fruitwood Bookcase / Etagere / Shelf
Located in Kennesaw, GA
This is an early heavily carved Moroccan etagere / shelving unit. The pierced swags and turned supports adorning each shelf really elevate the look. There is roughly 12 inches betwee...
Fruitwood
Blue Painted Moroccan Sideboard
Located in Westwood, NJ
Carved reclaimed pine in a dark blue distressed and antiqued finish. Six cabinet doors open to reveal a painted interior with removable shelves. Dimensions: 98" W x 19" D x 35" H
Wood