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
Pair of Large Antique Ottoman Moorish Abalone, Mother-of-Pearl and Bone Inlaid
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Pair of Large Antique Ottoman Moorish Abalone, Mother-of-Pearl and Bone Inlaid Pedestals, circa 1880. An exceptional pair of large antique Ottoman Moorish pedestal tables, handcrafte...
Mother-of-Pearl, Abalone, Shell, Bone, Fruitwood
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
Pair Of Tall And Large Oriental Pedestal Tables In Marquetry, 20th Century
Located in MARSEILLE, FR
Pair of tall and large oriental hexagonal pedestal tables, made of wood, mother-of-pearl and bone marquetry, cleverly organized to create a decor with geometric patterns Rare in thi...
Bone, Mother-of-Pearl, Wood
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
$4,600 / set
Anglo Indian or Moorish Pair of Brass Pedestals
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Spirited pair of brass pedestals or stands with lively hand-hammered floral patterns on all six panels. Hand polished and lacquered for easy car...
Brass
Moorish Walnut Pedestal Table, 19th Century, Antique Inlaid Design
Located in Queens, NY
Middle Eastern Moorish style (19th Cent) walnut square pedestal inlaid with pearl and intricately carved spindle & ball design panels resting on 4 feet.
Walnut
$2,750 / set
H 21 in W 17.5 in D 17.5 in
Vintage Hand Carved Inlaid Mother of Pearl Side Tables, 20th Century
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Pair of intricately carved & inlaid mother of pearl side tables. Beautifully detailed on top, bottom & all sides make this pa...
Mother-of-Pearl, Wood
$1,950
H 36.5 in W 14.5 in D 14.5 in
Moroccan Pedestal Table in Moorish Hand Painted Design Octagonal Shape 1960s
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Vintage 1960s Moroccan pedestal table. hand painted Moroccan side table on a dark maroon background color with floral and geometric designs in blue and ochre colors. Moroccan octagon...
Wood
1970s Artisan Compass Table with Abalone & Mother-of-Pearl Inlay
Located in Charleston, SC
Artisan Crafted Specimen Compass Table A stunning table inlaid with abalone shell, mother of pearl, and marble to form a compass rose on the table top. Satin wood and teak, zebra wood and other exotic wood compromises the table. The table has a marine grade...
Marble
$3,650
H 23.5 in W 18.75 in D 18.75 in
Antique Middle Eastern Arabesque Style Mother of Pearl Inlaid Table
Located in Houston, TX
Antique Middle Eastern, Moroccan or Moorish Arabesque style octagonal side table. This beautiful table has a great pattern with alternating intricately inlaid mixed woods and mother-...
Wood
$1,081Sale Price|20% Off
H 23.63 in Dm 13.39 in
Chinese Hardwood Carved Pedestal Table with Marble Inlaid Top, 1920s
Located in Amsterdam, NL
Stunning and elegant Chinese pedestal table. Striking Chinese design from the 1920s. hand carved "Hongmu" wood (Chinese hardwood) base with original multicolored marble inlaid top. T...
Hardwood
$1,081
H 44.49 in W 11.42 in D 15.75 in
Vintage Metal and Wood Pedestal Table, Minimalist Design, 20th Century
Located in Linkebeek, BE
Metal and wood Pedestal Vintage - Decoration - Home Decor Measures : 29cmx40cm Total H:113cm Top H: 95cm Materails : Metal - Wood Wear consistent with age and use : Please see photos
Metal
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
Antique Middle Eastern Arabesque Style Mother of Pearl Inlaid Table
Located in Houston, TX
Antique Middle Eastern, Moroccan or Moorish Arabesque style octagonal side table. This beautiful table has a great pattern with alternating intricately inlaid mixed woods and mother-...
Wood
$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
$3,370
H 27.2 in W 23.3 in D 23.3 in
Octagonal Studded Leather and Wood Pedestal Table - France 1940's
Located in New York, NY
Octagonal Art Deco pedestal table covered in studded leather on both the upper and lower shelves in good vintage condition. Some scratches & markings present on the leather. Upper pl...
Leather, Oak
Pair of Antique Inlaid Moroccan Pedestals
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Intriguing pair of antique Moroccan pedestals or stands handcrafted in walnut in a dignified stance, featuring stick and ball panels over Moorish arches, bone and mother of pearl geo...
Bone, Mother-of-Pearl, Walnut
Exquisite Pair of 1930s Moorish Pedestal Tables
Located in Paris, FR
An exquisite pair of 1930s Moorish pedestal tables meticulously handcrafted with elaborate carvings and sculpted details all over. The ornamental details bring a three-dimensional effect that gives the tables a sense of depth and richness. The tables feature coloured coral and white inlays carefully placed to create striking patterns and contrast against the dark wood of the tables. Very stable. Fully restored. height: 101 cm length: 29 cm depth 25 cm Spirit Gallery...
Wood
Painted Moroccan Stand or Pedestal
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Standout Moroccan stand crafted in indigenous hardwood in an octagon form hand decorated with traditional colors in floral designs on legs with moorish arches.
Hardwood
Moorish Middle Eastern Octagonal Pedestal Table Inlaid
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Gorgeous, Moorish style, one of kind 19th century antique Middle Eastern Egyptian, Syrian or Lebanese octagonal pedestal table inlaid with bone and precious fruitwood. Elegant fine antique Moorish...
Bone, Wood
Inlaid Moroccan Stand or Pedestal
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Pedestal crafted with exotic hardwoods such as mahogany, king wood and ebony. The hexagon top features interlocking geometric designs in mother of pearl. The six sided base has stick...
Hardwood
Middle Eastern Moorish Inlaid Pedestal
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Middle Eastern elegant Moorish pedestal finely carved and inlaid. Walnut wood inlaid with hand carved with Moroccan arches. Alberto Pinto and Doris Duke ...
Walnut
Sold
H 25.99 in W 16.15 in D 14.18 in
Moorish Style Carved Hardwood Side Table with Mother of Pearl Inlay
Located in London, GB
This hardwood side table is a wonderful piece of Indo-Portuguese furniture. The table is designed in a Moorish style, which was a variation of Islamic art. This style flourished in N...
Mother-of-Pearl, Hardwood
Pair of Oriental Side Tables, Early 20th Century
Located in Isle Sur La Sorgue, Vaucluse
Charming and exotic pair of octagonal Moorish-style side tables, carved all over with intricate geometric patterns. Dimensions provided below are for the larger of the two. The sm...
Egyptian Moorish Octagonal Side Tilt-Top Inlaid Table
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Middle Eastern Egyptian octagonal side table with marquetry inlaid and mother-of-pearl. Tilt-top table with Moorish intricate geometric designs. Hand...
Wood
Moroccan 1950s Mini Sized Traditional Moroccan Brass and Wood Tray Table
Located in Barcelona, ES
A rare miniature sized hand-hammered brass and wood folding tray table. The tray has engraved Arabic details and the wooden part has carved de...
Brass
Moroccan Side Tables with Moorish Designs, Pair
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Pair of Moroccan hand-painted side tables with Moorish designs. Maroon background with multicolored floral and geometric designs. Very fine Moorish artwork on an octagonal shape ba...
Wood
Moroccan Pedestals Blue Table
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Moroccan vintage pedestal blue table, hand-painted on a blue background with floral and geometric designs in brown and ivory colors. Moorish arches on the ...
Wood