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.
Pair of Antique Ottoman Moorish Abalone Mother-of-Pearl Inlaid Pedestal Tables
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
An exceptional and highly unusual pair of antique Ottoman Moorish pedestal tables, handcrafted in Turkey during the late 19th century, circa 1880. Distinguished by extensive mosaic d...
Fruitwood, Bone, Shell, Abalone, Mother-of-Pearl
Moorish Moroccan Octagonal Pedestal Tables Inlaid with Mosaic Marquetry
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Pair of Moroccan Moorish style walnut octagonal pedestal tables inlaid with mosaic marquetry. Tabletop is of octagonal form, decorated with various ...
Fruitwood, Walnut
Moorish Handcrafted Octagonal Pedestal Table Inlaid with Mosaic Marquetry
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Moroccan Moorish style walnut octagonal pedestal table inlaid with mosaic marquetry. The tabletop is of octagonal form, decorated with various g...
Fruitwood, Walnut
Octagon Plaster Dining Table Pedestal
Located in Las Vegas, NV
Unique octagonal pedestal, plaster over wood, faux finished to look like verdigris copper. Can be used as a table base or oversized pedestal. Base is in overall excellent vintage c...
Plaster
$2,295
H 35.5 in Dm 13.5 in
Vintage Chinese Rosewood Pedestal Plant Stand w/Mother of Pearl Inlaid Details
Located in Topeka, KS
Fantastic vintage Chinese Rosewood plant stand or pedestal table with Mother of Pearl details. Beautiful condition, keeping in mind that this is vintage and not new so will have signs of use and wear even if it has been refinished or restored. Specifically, there may be missing MOP. Please see photos, zoom in for details, and see long description as they are part of the condition report. We attempt to portray any imperfections. Circa, Late 19th to Early 20th Century. What an absolutely GRAND PLANT STAND!!!!! This is a GORGEOUS plant or fern stand OR pedestal table composed of Chinese Redwood...
Mother-of-Pearl, Rosewood
Bronze Pedestal Table by Jacques Jarrige "Bella"
Located in New York, NY
A sculptural and elegant interpretation of the classic guéridon or bistro table, Bella is a unique work in bronze by Jacques Jarrige that transforms function into expressive form. Th...
Bronze
20th Century Vintage Italian Round Pedestal Table or Smoking Table
Located in Casale Monferrato, IT
We offer this delightful vintage Italian walnut pedestal table dating back to the 1990s. A perfect table for the living room, very simple without excessive ornamentation. Featuring ...
Walnut
$1,239
H 29.93 in Dm 22.84 in
Midcentury Round Italian Gueridon Table with Marble Resin Top and Metal, 1950s
Located in Roma, IT
Amazing midcentury round gueridon table with marble resin top and metal. This wonderful piece was designed in Italy during the 1950s. This great piece has a fantastic marbled resi...
Metal
$980
H 50.01 in W 11.03 in D 12.6 in
French 19th Century Black And Gilded Twisted Baroque Style Pedestal
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
French 19th Century Black And Gilded Twisted Baroque Style Pedestal
Oak
Moorish Walnut Pedestal Table with Inlaid Octagonal Top, Circa 1890
Located in Queens, NY
Middle Eastern Moorish (19/20th Cent) walnut and inlaid octagonal top pedestal with 3 legs.
Walnut
Alka Black High Pedestal
Located in Paris, FR
Alka Black High Pedestal with all structure in Mindi wood in black veneer finish. Also available on request in : Alka Oak Medium Pedestal Alka Oak High Pedestal Alka Black Medium Pe...
Wood
Bar Table 'I' in Black Terrazzo
By Bentu Design
Located in Paris, IDF
'I' is a collection of tables: coffee / side tables, dining tables, bar tables. The base and the structures are in steel, and the table top is in terrazzo. by Bentu design Ma...
Steel
Vintage Gueridon Pedestal Table in Birch Root Sweden
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
A Swedish vintage birch wood gueridon or small pedestal table with the top made in carved birch root. These 20th Century folk art objects were typical in the region of "Dalsland" in ...
Birch
Guéridon / Bistro Table 'I' in Black Terrazzo
By Bentu Design
Located in Paris, IDF
'I' is a collection of tables: coffee / side tables, dining tables, bar tables. The base and the structures are in steel, and the table top is in terrazzo. by Bentu design Ma...
Steel
Bar Table 'I' in White Terrazzo
By Bentu Design
Located in Paris, IDF
'I' is a collection of tables: coffee / side tables, dining tables, bar tables. The base and the structures are in steel, and the tabletop is in terrazzo. by Bentu design Man...
Steel
Moroccan Moorish Tabouret Side Table
Located in New York, NY
A colorful hand-painted wood Moroccan tabouret side or drinks table with traditional Moorish design, circa mid-20th century, Morocco. This wood table is hand-painted in colorful hues...
Wood, Paint
Sold
H 18 in W 15.75 in D 13.63 in
Tabouret Moroccan Moorish Drinks Side Table, circa Early 20th Century
Located in New York, NY
A dark rich brown Moroccan tabouret drinks or side table with traditional Moorish design, circa early-20th century, Morocco. This wood table is hand-...
Wood, Paint