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Moorish Tapestries

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
Moorish Tapestry with a 19th Century Orientalist Arabian Scene
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Large Aubusson style european made tapestry with an orientalist 19th century scene depicting an Arabian sultan and other figures and Middle Eastern Moorish architecture in the background. Probably a scene in North Africa, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia or Egypt with a sultan well dress sitting and an old man and women around him. Great textile to use as a wall tapestry decoration. Unframed antique Belgian or French machine made tapestry depicting a Moorish Islamic scene, typical of late 18th century and early 19th century after the Orientalist scenes. This is an authentic example of French or Belgian made tapestries...
Category

Early 20th Century French Moorish Tapestries

Materials

Fabric

Antique Moroccan Moorish Silk Textile Tapestry Wall Hanging Hiti
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Antique Moroccan Moorish Silk Textile Tapestry Wall Hanging Hiti Ottoman voided silk velvet wall covering. Silk velvet cut designs, light browns, yellow, cream and blue, the panel consist on two arches with Islamic floral designs. Antique textiles from early 1900s. Each arch panel is 62" height X 26"5 wide Antique silk...
Category

Early 20th Century Moroccan Moorish Tapestries

Materials

Silk

Large Tapestry with an 19th Century Orientalist Scene and Moorish Architecture
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Large Aubusson style tapestry with an orientalist 19th century scene depicting Arabs figures and Middle Eastern Moorish architecture in the background. Probably a scene in North Afr...
Category

20th Century French Moorish Tapestries

Materials

Canvas

Antique Moroccan Moorish Silk Textile Tapestry Wall Hanging Hiti 19th C.
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Antique Moroccan Moorish Silk Textile Tapestry Wall Hanging Hiti Ottoman voided silk velvet wall covering. Silk velvet cut designs, light browns, yellow, cream and blue, the panel consist of two Moorish arches with Islamic floral designs. Antique textiles from early late 19th century. Each arch panel is 63" height X 26"5 wide Antique silk tapestry...
Category

19th Century Moroccan Antique Moorish Tapestries

Materials

Silk, Velvet

Large Tapestry, North Africa, circa 1950
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Large tapestry, North Africa, circa 1950.
Category

1950s African Vintage Moorish Tapestries

Materials

Wool

Graphic Old Moroccan Rug AIT OAGHARDA
Located in Alessandria, Piemonte
My carpets are not affected by fashions. Enjoy one genuine product, made to keep You company and be part of Your home. This one is like the sun and the moon, according to the hours o...
Category

1950s Moroccan Vintage Moorish Tapestries

Materials

Wool

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788  - Tapestry of the 20th Century
788  - Tapestry of the 20th Century
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XL Mid-Century Modern Abstract Cubist Women Textile Art Wall Hanging Tapestry
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Mid-20th Century Hungarian Moorish Tapestries

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French Manufacture Aubusson signed Tapestry 19th - Galante Scene - N° 1425
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Located in Paris, FR
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797 - Tapestry of the 20th Century
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French Verdure Aubusson Tapestry 19th Century - Numbered 2180 - No. 1410
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Pretty mid century African Bogolan hand painted Tapestry
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Mid-20th Century Malian Moorish Tapestries

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Bobyrug’s Pretty Vintage Egyptian Tapestry
Bobyrug’s Pretty Vintage Egyptian Tapestry
H 77.17 in W 48.04 in D 0.2 in
668 - Aubusson French Antique Textile , 19th century.
Located in Paris, FR
Textile of the Royal Manufacture of Aubusson of the 19th century. Representation of some flowers. Perfect state of preservation. Reinforced by a fabric on the back of the work Dimen...
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1840s French Antique Moorish Tapestries

Materials

Wool

Antique Tapestry Verdure Tapestry Large Handmade French Tapestry 5X7, 1900
Located in New York, NY
Antique Verdure Tapestry French Tapestry Handmade Antique Large Tapestry 1900 Measures: 5.4" x 7.4". "A magnificent antique French tapestry depicting magnificent verdure and greenery. This piece includes rare black colors. Beautiful colorway, and an easy, chic addition to any space."-Antique Rug Collection Size 5'4" x 7'3" 163cm x 221cm Serial ID # 10095k Design Verdure Origin France Age circa 1900 Category Antique Pattern Verdure/Floral/Human Figures Material 100% Hand Woven Wool Foundation Material Cotton Color Beige, Green, Black, Brown, Pink, Ivory Quality Great Condition Great condition, minute low area About Us~ Welcome to Antique Rug Collection. Your #1 Source for handmade Antique Rugs & Tapestries at great prices, curated by leading industry expert. We are a 6th Generation antique rug shop with 48+ years of experience working with designers, private clients, dealers, and really anyone looking for a unique antique rug at a great price. We've made an imprint selling rugs...
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Late 16th Century Flemish Historical Tapestry
Located in Port Washington, NY
This magnificent tapestry was woven in Flanders during the middle of the European Renaissance, in the late 1500s. At this time, Flanders was creating some of the best textiles in the world, and many of the rich wooded scenes with animals and hunting motifs began to appear. Tapestries subjects were thick forests and park lands, hunting scenes filled with deer, birds, exotic animals, and even mythological creatures. These were later referred to as Game Park tapestries...
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16th Century Belgian Antique Moorish Tapestries

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Previously Available Items
Orientalist Tapestry With 19th Century Moorish Architecture Scene
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Large Aubusson style european made tapestry with an orientalist 19th century scene depicting Arabs figures and Middle Eastern Moorish architecture in the background. Probably a scene in North Africa, Morocco or Algeria, Tunisia, Egypt with a man on camel and women on a donkey and child walking barefoot. Great textile to use as a wall tapestry decoration. Unframed antique Belgian or French machine made tapestry depicting a Moorish Islamic landscape, typical of late 18th century and early 19th century after the Orientalist scenes. This is an authentic example of French or Belgian made tapestries...
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Early 20th Century Belgian Moorish Tapestries

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Fabric

Moroccan Wall Hanging Hiti with Moorish Arches Red and Gold
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Moroccan wall hanging, hiti with red and gold moorish arches. Moroccan vintage textile in gold and red, could be used both sides. Great Moorish traditional geometric Fez design with arches. Ideal to frame it or to use it as a wall hanging. Hiti (hiti, hayti, from the Arabic hayt, ‘a wall’) is a form of wall hanging found in Morocco and sometimes in other parts of North Africa. Essentially, which is used to decorate the walls behind the divans that line meeting halls (majlis) on ceremonial occasions, especially weddings. A hiti is normally composed of a series of panels, each with a design in the shape of an arch (qus). Above the arches there is a band with one or two rows of geometric patterns reminiscent of a balustrade. Hence the production of these costly hitis was allegedly supervised by the local guild of leather workers...
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Late 20th Century Moroccan Moorish Tapestries

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Cotton

Antique Granada Moorish Textile with Arabic Calligraphy Writing
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Antique Granada, Islamic Spain, great square textile with ivory color fringes featuring Moorish floral designs and calligraphy Arabic writing. Colors ar...
Category

Early 20th Century Spanish Moorish Tapestries

Materials

Silk

Hereke Design Silk Prayer Souf Rug with Tree of Life and Pomegranates
Located in Lohr, Bavaria, DE
A beautiful Chinese silk souf rug with Hereke design Construction This decorative rug has a pile made of fine spun 100% pure organic mulberry silk combi...
Category

Late 20th Century Chinese Moorish Tapestries

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Silk

Tapestry with an 19th Century Orientalist Scene and Moorish Architecture
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Large Aubusson style Tapestry with an orientalist 19th century scene depicting Arabs figures and Middle Eastern Moorish architecture in the background. Probably a scene in North Afr...
Category

20th Century French Moorish Tapestries

Granada Islamic Spain Textile with Moorish Calligraphy Writing
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Granada, Islamic Spain, great square textile with ivory color fringes featuring Moorish floral designs and calligraphy Arabic writing. Colors are earth ...
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Early 20th Century Spanish Moorish Tapestries

Moorish tapestries for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique Moorish tapestries for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the Late 20th Century, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage tapestries created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include wall decorations, asian art and furniture, more furniture and collectibles and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with fabric, silk and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Moorish tapestries made in a specific country, there are Africa, Europe, and Maghreb pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original tapestries, popular names associated with this style include antique textiles galleries, and Berber Tribes of Morocco. 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 tapestries differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $210 and tops out at $5,035 while the average work can sell for $850.

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