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Moorish Photography

MOORISH STYLE

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.

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Style: Moorish
Mediterranean Design Book by Mary Whitesides 1st Edition, 2006
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Mediterranean Design hardcover – August 17, 2006. by Mary Whitesides (Author). Title: Mediterranean Design Publisher: brand: Gibbs Smith Publication date: 2006 Binding: Hardcover Great hardcover coffee table book. Mediterranean Design reveals the vibrant color, outdoor-living emphasis, and diverse cultural influences that have created this unique style. Defined by an eclectic mix of natural elements: sunlight bouncing across textured walls, rooms arranged around porch-lined courtyards, terra-cotta tile roofs covering wood-beam ceilings, arched passages and porticos, vibrantly colored interiors, and courtyards and fountains that take advantage of the temperate climate. Mediterranean Design brings home the romantic and worldly appeal of a style that finds its heritage in the diverse lands of Morocco, Spain, Greece, Turkey, France, and Croatia. Mediterranean Design highlights the unique aspects of the style, such as spatial orientation of the rooms is defining and private vestibules and porches rather than hallways connecting functional spaces, bedrooms as suites rather than lonely rooms, bathrooms as spas rather than generic or merely functional rooms. Details such as arches, pillars, high ceilings, fountains, gardens, pergolas, lime-washed walls, stone façades...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Moorish Photography

Materials

Paper

Set of Beautiful Litographic Postcards from North Africa by Lehnert & Landrock
Located in Mexico, DF
A beautiful Set of 20 Postcards with original photos of Arab cultures of North Africa created and commercialized by Lehnert & Landrock and signed "Editeurs L&L". This was a photographic studio run by Rudolf Franz Lehnert (Germany 1878-1948) and Ernst Heinrich Landrock (Bohemia 1878-1966) active in Tunisia and Egypt in the early 20th century, noted for producing Orientalist images of North African people...
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Early 20th Century Tunisian Moorish Photography

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Paper

Antique & Handcrafted Pair of Moorish Arabic Motifs Inlaid Picture Photo Frames
Located in Lisse, NL
All handcrafted and very stylish pair of photo frames with inlaid Islamic designs. You don't necessary need to have an Arabic (inspired) interior to fall in love and decorate your home with these stunning Moorish picture frames. The workmanship is there for everyone to see and the combination of the warm colors of the wood and the inlaid shell simply is to die for. It is every antique sellers...
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Early 20th Century Moorish Photography

Materials

Shell, Wood

AL-ANDALUS. El Islam en España by Juan Vernet, Martin Martinez, Collectible Book
Located in North Hollywood, CA
AL-ANDALUS. El Islam en España, multilingual Spanish and English text. VERNET, Juan, MARTINEZ MARTIN, Leonor. Published by Lunwerg Barcelona, 1992 This beautifully illustrated vol...
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20th Century Spanish Moorish Photography

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Paper

Spanish Splendor Great Palaces Castles and Country Homes Hardcover Book Rizzoli
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Spanish Splendor: Great Palaces, Castles, and Country Homes hardcover book. y Mato, Juan Jose Junquera (text by); Schezen, Roberto (photographs by); y Morenes, Enrique Ruspoli (intro...
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20th Century Spanish Moorish Photography

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Paper

Les Maures, La Civilization Islamique in Occident the Moors, Islam in the West
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Les Maures, la Civilization Islamique in Occident, great book in French language. The Moors: Islam in the West Brett, Michael, Forman, Werner. An account of the rise and fall of the ...
Category

Late 20th Century Moroccan Moorish Photography

Materials

Paper

The Land and People of Morocco by William Spencer, 1973
Located in North Hollywood, CA
The land and people of Morocco (Portraits of the nations series) Hardcover – January 1, 1973 by William Spencer (Author) Introduces the land, histo...
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20th Century Moroccan Moorish Photography

Materials

Paper

Spanish Splendor Great Palaces, Castles, and Country Homes Book
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Spanish Splendor: Great Palaces, Castles, and Country Homes softcover book. y Mato, Juan Jose Junquera (text by); Schezen, Roberto (photographs by); y Morenes, Enrique Ruspoli (intro...
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20th Century Spanish Moorish Photography

Materials

Paper

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"Three Chiefs, Blackfoot, Montana" by Edward S. Curtis, Platinum Print, 1900
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Moorish photography for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique Moorish photography for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the 21st Century and Contemporary, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage photography created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include wall decorations, more furniture and collectibles, decorative objects and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with paper, shell and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Moorish photography made in a specific country, there are Africa, Maghreb, and North Africa pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original photography, popular names associated with this style include and Rizoli International Publications. It’s true that these talented designers have at times inspired knockoffs, but our experienced specialists have partnered with only top vetted sellers to offer authentic pieces that come with a buyer protection guarantee. Prices for photography differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $49 and tops out at $1,920 while the average work can sell for $185.

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