Moorish Furniture
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.
Mid-20th Century Moroccan Moorish Furniture
Metal, Silver Plate, Brass
Late 19th Century Asian Antique Moorish Furniture
Silver, Brass, Copper
Early 20th Century Moroccan Moorish Furniture
Ceramic
Early 20th Century Moroccan Moorish Furniture
Ceramic
Mid-20th Century Algerian Moorish Furniture
Metal
20th Century Turkish Moorish Furniture
Silver Plate
Early 20th Century Moroccan Moorish Furniture
Ceramic
Early 20th Century Moroccan Moorish Furniture
Ceramic
20th Century Moroccan Moorish Furniture
Faux Leather
1880s French Antique Moorish Furniture
Silver, Enamel
Early 20th Century Moroccan Moorish Furniture
Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary English Moorish Furniture
Paper
Early 20th Century Moorish Furniture
Sterling Silver
Late 19th Century Japanese Antique Moorish Furniture
Bronze
18th Century Swedish Antique Moorish Furniture
Wood
1980s American Vintage Moorish Furniture
Ceramic
15th Century and Earlier Malaysian Antique Moorish Furniture
Mahogany
19th Century Indian Antique Moorish Furniture
Brass
20th Century French Moorish Furniture
Ceramic
Mid-20th Century Moroccan Moorish Furniture
Brass, Bronze
21st Century and Contemporary American Moorish Furniture
Ceramic
20th Century English Moorish Furniture
Silver, Sterling Silver, Enamel
Late 19th Century Japanese Antique Moorish Furniture
Bronze
19th Century Persian Antique Moorish Furniture
Silver
1960s Moroccan Vintage Moorish Furniture
Agate, Silver
1990s Moroccan Moorish Furniture
Glass
Mid-20th Century Asian Moorish Furniture
Silver Plate, Metal, Brass
Mid-20th Century Moroccan Moorish Furniture
Metal
1990s Moroccan Moorish Furniture
Leather
Early 20th Century Moroccan Moorish Furniture
Ceramic
20th Century Moroccan Moorish Furniture
Glass
20th Century Moroccan Moorish Furniture
Fabric
Late 19th Century Turkish Antique Moorish Furniture
Silk
19th Century European Antique Moorish Furniture
Silver
1980s Moroccan Vintage Moorish Furniture
Coral, Silver