Moorish Double Doors

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.

Choosing the right antique or vintage building and garden elements can prove pivotal when you’re working to beautify any room in your home or just put the finishing touches on a garden or other outdoor area.

It takes time and effort to improve your outdoor space or merely to bring an air of tranquility to an indoor area set aside for private relaxation or gathering with friends. The good news is that 1stDibs can help.

To introduce a sense of timelessness to a back patio or interior common area, choose cast-stone statues or sculptural busts for a dose of drama or select ornate architectural elements such as corbels, plaques or panels made of marble or iron. Elsewhere, find a focal point in your living room and create a “feature wall” by bringing pops of color into a corner with handmade antique ceramic tiles.

It helps when design changes like these have a practical upside too.

Victorian cast-iron stair treads hearken back to a time when adding decorative details to your property was a priority. While lending an attractive appearance to an exterior staircase, these safeguards render the steps slip-resistant for those coming and going. And as one good stylistic choice usually leads to another, pairing your sophisticated treads with a coupling of 19th-century hand-forged andirons would be a thoughtful, durable touch for any courtyard or comfortable lounge space, be they intended for an indoor fireplace or a patio firepit.

Where the garden is concerned, any sophisticated garden ornaments you select should work with nature, not against it. Wrought-iron garden gates will simply refuse to be relegated to the background. Instead, they’ll draw attention to your painstakingly sculpted hedges and colorful flora. When paired with a sparse arrangement of other tasteful additions, such as a stone planter, garden stool or other welcoming pieces of outdoor seating, the effect can be transformative.

On 1stDibs, find a sprawling collection of antique garden furniture and architectural elements that meet every need. Our offerings include everything from sculptural bathroom fixtures to flooring ideas to pedestals and columns designed in a variety of styles and much more.