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.
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 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 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
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
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 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
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 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
$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
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
Late 18th Century Spanish Provincial Painted Chest with Moorish Influence
Located in Seaford, GB
Spanish Provincial Polychrome Painted Chest (Arcón) with Mudéjar / Moorish Influence, Circa 1800 A striking example of Spanish provincial furniture from the late eighteenth to early...
Pine
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
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
$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
$5,383 / 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
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
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
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
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
$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
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
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
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
Small 19th Century Camphor Wood Campaign Trunk
Located in Bedfordshire, GB
A Delightful Mid 19th Century Camphor Wood Military Campaign Trunk, Of Rare Small Proportions, Having Well Figured Lift Up Lid Enclosing Storage Space, Original Brass Bound Decoration And Original Brass Handles. Its widely accepted that trunks like this were normally purposed for army use, often given into the ownership of high ranking officers to use for their travels around the various battlegrounds and territories of the empire around the world, hence the carrying handles and the brass banded decoration, which also serves the functional purpose of protecting the item from bumps and bashes during the numerous times it would have been transported. In modern day living this trunk would make a perfect coffee table boasting signifcant storage, or could also be used as a storage chest in many locations around the home including the hallway, living room or bedroom. The trunk is also a little smaller than a large amount which yuou will find on the market, which of course allows for it to be used in an even wider variety of spaces. The trunk has also been inspected in our workshops by our expert antique...
Other
$2,693
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
Antique Georgian Style Concave Corner Cabinet
Located in London, GB
A very impressive antique Georgian style concave corner cabinet. This was made in England, we would date it to around the 1930’s period. The quality is excellent, this is a great si...
Glass, 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
$1,495Sale 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
$4,725
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
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
Monumental Antique Indian Dowry Chest
Located in Forney, TX
A magnificent antique metal-bound solid teak wood damchiya marriage dowry chest with hidden compartments and beautifully aged patina! Hand-crafte...
Iron
Dutch Painted Bombe Commode
Located in Arundel, GB
A very elegant, painted oak, early 19th century Dutch Bombe commode with 4 long drawers. Raised on bracket feet with a serpentine profile top. Fitted with brass handles and escutcheo...
Oak
$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
$5,563
H 30.71 in W 49.61 in D 27.17 in
Antique 19th Century Solid Pine and Traditional Painted Bohemian Trunk or Chest
Located in Casteren, NL
This beautiful trunk or blanket chest was made in the mountain area of Austria in the early 19th century, circa 1820. It was completely made in solid pine by the use of traditional w...
Steel
English Mahogany Secretary Desk, 19th Century
Located in Southampton, NY
English Mahogany secretary desk, 19th century Three pieces: Crown, upper drawers and lower cabinet. Lowest draw pulls out as a secretary desk. Measures: 21" deep x 46.5" wide x 80.5"...
Mahogany
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
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
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