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.
1970s Unknown Vintage Moorish Furniture
Onyx, Marble
20th Century Moorish Furniture
Mohair
Early 20th Century Syrian Moorish Furniture
Fruitwood
1980s Moroccan Vintage Moorish Furniture
Metal
20th Century Asian Moorish Furniture
Ebony, Mother-of-Pearl, Walnut
1890s Spanish Antique Moorish Furniture
Canvas, Giltwood
20th Century Asian Moorish Furniture
Brass
19th Century Unknown Antique Moorish Furniture
Brass
20th Century Unknown Moorish Furniture
Porcelain
19th Century Antique Moorish Furniture
Porcelain
19th Century French Antique Moorish Furniture
Walnut
19th Century Asian Antique Moorish Furniture
Wood, Bone, Leather
19th Century Unknown Antique Moorish Furniture
Brass
19th Century Unknown Antique Moorish Furniture
Brass
Early 2000s Moorish Furniture
Metal
2010s American Moorish Furniture
Resin
Mid-20th Century African Moorish Furniture
Brass
Mid-20th Century Syrian Moorish Furniture
Mother-of-Pearl, Wood, Hardwood
1890s Austrian Antique Moorish Furniture
Bronze
19th Century Unknown Antique Moorish Furniture
Brass
Early 1900s French Antique Moorish Furniture
Bronze
Early 20th Century American Moorish Furniture
Bronze
21st Century and Contemporary Spanish Moorish Furniture
Abalone, Mother-of-Pearl, Epoxy Resin
20th Century Moorish Furniture
Wood, Mother-of-Pearl, Fabric, Upholstery, Walnut
1890s Antique Moorish Furniture
Bronze
21st Century and Contemporary Philippine Moorish Furniture
Bone, Wood
19th Century Asian Antique Moorish Furniture
Mother-of-Pearl, Walnut
Early 20th Century Czech Moorish Furniture
Cut Glass
19th Century Unknown Antique Moorish Furniture
Gold Leaf
Early 20th Century Asian Moorish Furniture
Brass
20th Century African Moorish Furniture
Enamel
Late 19th Century French Antique Moorish Furniture
Metal
20th Century Asian Moorish Furniture
Wood
19th Century Unknown Antique Moorish Furniture
Walnut
19th Century Asian Antique Moorish Furniture
Walnut
19th Century Unknown Antique Moorish Furniture
Wrought Iron, Brass
Early 20th Century French Moorish Furniture
Glass
19th Century Antique Moorish Furniture
Upholstery, Teak
20th Century African Moorish Furniture
Brass
Early 20th Century Turkish Moorish Furniture
Wool
Early 20th Century Asian Moorish Furniture
Brass
Early 20th Century Asian Moorish Furniture
Brass
Late 19th Century Asian Antique Moorish Furniture
Suede, Walnut
1890s Swedish Antique Moorish Furniture
Brass
Mid-20th Century American Moorish Furniture
Gold, Foil
1880s French Antique Moorish Furniture
Silver, Enamel
1890s Austrian Antique Moorish Furniture
Crystal, Bronze
19th Century Antique Moorish Furniture
Bronze
1860s German Antique Moorish Furniture
Glass
20th Century Moorish Furniture
Mother-of-Pearl, Wood
Mid-20th Century Turkish Moorish Furniture
Wool, Cotton, Foam
Late 20th Century Moorish Furniture
Wool
19th Century Unknown Antique Moorish Furniture
Walnut
21st Century and Contemporary Turkish Moorish Furniture
Wool
20th Century Turkish Moorish Furniture
Mohair
20th Century Turkish Moorish Furniture
Mohair
1930s Turkish Vintage Moorish Furniture
Wool
2010s Pakistani Moorish Furniture
Wool, Cotton