Moorish Furniture
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.
Mid-19th Century Egyptian Antique Moorish Furniture
Brass
1980s Moroccan Vintage Moorish Furniture
Pottery
1980s Moroccan Vintage Moorish Furniture
Metal
1960s Moroccan Vintage Moorish Furniture
Metallic Thread, Gold
Mid-20th Century Moroccan Moorish Furniture
Metal, Silver Plate
Late 20th Century Moroccan Moorish Furniture
Paper
Mid-20th Century Moroccan Moorish Furniture
Brass
20th Century Moroccan Moorish Furniture
Terracotta
Late 20th Century Moroccan Moorish Furniture
Leather
20th Century Moroccan Moorish Furniture
Brass
Mid-20th Century Moroccan Moorish Furniture
Brass
Mid-20th Century Moroccan Moorish Furniture
Damask
Late 19th Century Egyptian Antique Moorish Furniture
Wood, Shell
Late 20th Century Moroccan Moorish Furniture
Ceramic
Early 19th Century Moroccan Antique Moorish Furniture
Metal
1860s Moroccan Antique Moorish Furniture
Copper
Late 20th Century Moroccan Moorish Furniture
Metal
Late 19th Century Egyptian Antique Moorish Furniture
Wood
20th Century Moroccan Moorish Furniture
Iron
Late 19th Century Moroccan Antique Moorish Furniture
Bone, Wood
20th Century Moroccan Moorish Furniture
Brass
1920s Moroccan Vintage Moorish Furniture
Brass, Tin
20th Century Moroccan Moorish Furniture
Iron
Early 20th Century Moroccan Moorish Furniture
Brass
20th Century Moroccan Moorish Furniture
Stone
Early 20th Century Moroccan Moorish Furniture
Porcelain, Hardwood
Late 20th Century Moroccan Moorish Furniture
Metal
20th Century Moroccan Moorish Furniture
Cement
20th Century Moroccan Moorish Furniture
Ceramic
Late 20th Century Moroccan Moorish Furniture
Ceramic
19th Century Moroccan Antique Moorish Furniture
Brass, Iron
1970s Zambian Vintage Moorish Furniture
Copper
Late 20th Century Moroccan Moorish Furniture
Metal
Mid-20th Century Moroccan Moorish Furniture
Wool
Mid-20th Century Moroccan Moorish Furniture
Ceramic
1990s Moroccan Moorish Furniture
Ceramic, Paint
19th Century African Antique Moorish Furniture
Brass
20th Century Moroccan Moorish Furniture
Metal
Mid-20th Century Moroccan Moorish Furniture
Metal
20th Century Moroccan Moorish Furniture
Brocade, Braid
Early 20th Century Egyptian Moorish Furniture
Brass
20th Century Moroccan Moorish Furniture
Metal
Late 20th Century Moroccan Moorish Furniture
Ceramic, Pottery
20th Century Moroccan Moorish Furniture
Brocade
19th Century Egyptian Antique Moorish Furniture
Shell, Mother-of-Pearl, Wood
20th Century Moroccan Moorish Furniture
Metal
20th Century African Moorish Furniture
Paint
19th Century African Antique Moorish Furniture
Brass
20th Century African Moorish Furniture
Copper
20th Century Moroccan Moorish Furniture
Fabric, Textile, Velvet
20th Century Moroccan Moorish Furniture
Copper
Mid-19th Century African Antique Moorish Furniture
Bone, Wood
19th Century African Antique Moorish Furniture
Earthenware
19th Century Algerian Antique Moorish Furniture
Paint
20th Century Moroccan Moorish Furniture
Metal
20th Century Moroccan Moorish Furniture
Metal
1990s Moroccan Moorish Furniture
Brass
Early 20th Century Moroccan Moorish Furniture
Brass
20th Century Moroccan Moorish Furniture
Brass
1970s Moroccan Vintage Moorish Furniture
Brocade, Silk, Braid





