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-Victorian Moorish wrought & cast iron pergola or decorative garden structure
Located in London, GB
A monumental Moorish mid-Victorian wrought iron Pergola or Decorative Garden Structure, a unique masterpiece in High Victorian Ironwork design. Ou...
Wrought Iron
$1,480Sale Price|20% Off
Antique Hand-Carved Teak Wood Arched Asian Wall Panel, Moorish Design, 1940
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Antique Asian hand-carved teak wood wall panel architectural elements. An architectural hand-carved teak wood arch doorway panel in the form of an entrance Moorish door, great to use...
Teak
Moroccan Handcrafted Encaustic Cement Tile, Moorish Design, 1980
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Moroccan handcrafted and hand painted cement tile with traditional leaves design. These are authentic Moroccan encaustic tiles hand made by artisans in Fe...
Cement
Hand Painted Wooden Moorish Style Ceiling Keystone for Center Room
Located in Marbella, ES
Hand Painted Wooden Moorish Style Ceiling Keystone for Center Room
Wood
Hand Painted Wooden Moorish Style Ceiling Keystone for Center Room
Located in Marbella, ES
Hand Painted Wooden Moorish Style Ceiling Keystone for Center Room
Wood
Monumental 19th-Century Moroccan Moorish Studded Wood Riad Door
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Monumental 19th-century Moroccan Hispano-Moresque studded wood doorway, handcrafted in Marrakech. This impressive antique Moroccan door features a smal...
Iron
$7,880Sale Price|20% Off
Pair of Monumental 19th-Century Moroccan Painted Riad Doors from Fez
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Pair of Monumental 19th-Century Moroccan Hand-Painted Riad Doors from Fez, 117 Inches. An extraordinary pair of monumental late 19th-century Moroccan hand-painted wooden riad doors f...
Wood
Hand Forged Wrought Iron Moorish Folding Screen, Three Panels, Morocco
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Hand forged folding Moroccan iron screen with three panels decorated with Moorish designs. Classic and elegant Art & Craft this highly embellished, detailed folding screen divider in the Mediterranean Spanish style iron art work would embellish any room, garden or wall, Santa Barbara style. Could make an amazing headboard. Three panels folding iron screen with Moorish designs in repeat. Heavy and well-made original condition. Each panel: 68.5" high, 15.75" wide Folds up for easy storage. Hand forged heavy wrought iron screen divider by skilled Moroccan artisans in Marrakech Morocco. Rustic Spanish colonial style wrought iron window grill...
Wrought Iron
Moroccan Encaustic Cement Tile in Antique White Color
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Moroccan handcrafted and hand-painted cement tile in antique white color. These are authentic Moroccan encaustic tiles handmade by artisans in Fez ...
Cement
Hand-Forged Wrought Iron Folding Moorish Screen with Three Panels
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Hand-forged folding Moroccan screen with three panels decorated with Moorish designs. Classic and elegant Art & Craft this highly embellished, detailed folding screen divider in the Mediterranean Spanish style would embellish any room, garden or wall, Santa Barbara style. Could make an amazing headboard. Three panels with Moorish designs in repeat. Heavy and well-made original condition. Each panel: 68.5" high, 15.75" wide Folds up for easy storage. Rustic Spanish colonial style wrought iron window grill...
Wrought Iron
Moroccan Handcrafted Reclaimed Encaustic Cement Tile Blue Color
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Moroccan handcrafted and hand-painted cement tiles with traditional Moroccan Blue color. These are authentic Moroccan reclaimed encaustic tiles...
Cement
Moroccan Reclaimed Encaustic Cement Tile with Moorish Fez Design
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Moroccan Encaustic Cement Tile with Moorish Fez Design. Moroccan handcrafted and hand-painted cement tiles with traditional Moorish colors in blue, yellow, red and black on a white ...
Cement
Moroccan Encaustic Cement Tile Border with Moorish Andalusian Fez Design
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Moroccan Encaustic Cement Tile Border with Moorish Andalusian Fez Design. Moroccan Hand-Painted Cement Tile with Traditional Fez Design Moroccan handcrafted and hand-painted cement...
Concrete
Moroccan Encaustic Cement Tile Border with Moorish Fez Design
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Moroccan handcrafted cement tile with traditional Fez Moorish design. These are authentic Moroccan encaustic tiles hand made by artisans in Fez Morocco. This is the traditional Moroc...
Cement
Moroccan Hand Painted Cement Tiles with Traditional Fez Design Set of 6
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Moroccan Hand Painted Cement Tile with Traditional Fez Design, Set of 6 Blue and White colors. Moroccan Hand-Painted Cement Tile with Traditional Fez Design. Moroccan handcrafted a...
Cement
Moroccan Encaustic Cement Tile Sample with Modern Design
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Moroccan handcrafted and hand painted cement tile with modern black, white and grey design. These are authentic Moroccan encaustic tiles hand made by artisans in Fez Morocco. This ...
Cement
Moorish Archway in Red and Gold, 19th Century Geometric Design
Located in Queens, NY
Middle Eastern style (19/20th Century) red and gold painted large archway with geometric design.
Gold Leaf
Set of 6 Antique Mediterranean Polychrome Glazed Ceramic Tiles, 18th/19th Centur
Located in MARSEILLE, FR
A charming collection of six antique hand-painted earthenware tiles, originating from the Mediterranean basin (most likely Spanish, Sicilian, or Tunisian Qallaline workshops) and dat...
Earthenware
$1,400 / item
Cast Brass Moorish Door Handle
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Beautiful cast brass pull handle with Moorish styling.
Brass
$21,069
H 106.3 in W 157.49 in D 118.12 in
French Style Wrought Iron Greenhouse with Door and Windows in Green Color
Located in Marbella, ES
French style wrought iron greenhouse with doors and windows that open outwards in white color. Ready for glass panels to be instal...
Iron
American Charleston Cast Iron Lyre Boot Scrape, Circa 1820
Located in Charleston, SC
American Charleston cast iron lyre boot scrape resting on a oval scalloped edge base, Early 19th century.
Iron
Handmade Zelige Tile in Terracota Colour
Located in Marbella, ES
Handmade glazed zelige tile in terracota colour in size 10x10 cm. Price per M2 of 165 Euro, which corresponds to 100 tiles of 10x10 cm.
Terracotta
$810Sale Price|40% Off
H 15.5 in W 31.5 in D 3.25 in
Pair of Mid-19th Century Greek Revival Cast Iron Scrolled Balcony Brackets
Located in Brooklyn, NY
A pair of cast iron architectural balcony brackets of impressive weight and delicate design. English or American, c. 1830.
Iron
Encaustic Tiles
Located in Dallas, TX
Blue and grey encaustic tiles with beautiful floral borders. Measures: Borders 2.75" x 5.75".
Cement
Pair of 19th Century Swedish Diamond Pattern Doors
Located in East Point, GA
A pair of Swedish doors with geometric patterns and original paint from the 19th century. This pair of antique doors from Sweden feature a repeating diamond pattern, comprised of a s...
Iron
$6,400 / set
H 136.5 in W 85 in D 1.38 in
Pair of Large Antique French Door Shutters from a Chateau, 19th Century
Located in Dallas, TX
These monumental arched antique door shutters were salvaged from a 19th century French chateau. They would have been on the ground floor, attached...
Iron
$26,194
H 106.3 in W 236.23 in D 157.49 in
French Style Wrought Iron Greenhouse with Door and Windows in White Color
Located in Marbella, ES
French style wrought iron greenhouse with doors and windows that open outwards in white color. Ready for glass panels to be installed.
Iron
$4,800Sale Price / set|20% Off
H 50.5 in W 36 in D 24.5 in
Large Pr. Wrought Iron Finials English 19th C.
By Fiske Or Mott
Located in New York, NY
Incredible pair of wrought iron finials, probably originally placed on a brick wall as decorative elements at an entrance. The finials feature fol...
Wrought Iron
$1,850
H 68.5 in W 47.25 in D 0.5 in
Hand Forged Wrought Iron Moorish Folding Screen, Three Panels, Morocco
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Hand forged folding Moroccan iron screen with three panels decorated with Moorish designs. Classic and elegant Art & Craft this highly embellished, detailed folding screen divider in the Mediterranean Spanish style iron art work would embellish any room, garden or wall, Santa Barbara style. Could make an amazing headboard. Three panels folding iron screen with Moorish designs in repeat. Heavy and well-made original condition. Each panel: 68.5" high, 15.75" wide Folds up for easy storage. Hand forged heavy wrought iron screen divider by skilled Moroccan artisans in Marrakech Morocco. Rustic Spanish colonial style wrought iron window grill...
Wrought Iron
Antique Carved Teak Wood Indian Door/Gate
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Individually hand crafted Teak door in early 20th century. Industrial metal details. Two salvaged doors that have been barred together to make one larg...
Iron
$3,280
H 29.53 in Dm 18.51 in
Antique Cast Iron Bird Bath, Victorian Style, Decorative Birds, Europe, 1900s
Located in Odense, DK
A beautiful and decorative cast iron bird bath featuring two sculptural birds surrounded by elegant floral ornaments and scrolling foliage. Made in Scandinavia in the early 20th cent...
Iron
$21,069
H 106.3 in W 118.12 in D 157.49 in
French Style Wrought Iron Greenhouse with Door and Windows in White Color
Located in Marbella, ES
French style wrought iron greenhouse with doors and windows that open outwards. Ready for glass panels to be installed.
Iron
Antique Wrought Iron Decorative Transom
Located in Redding, CT
Antique wrought iron decorative Transom or window guard. Lovely half moon shape with detailed scroll work. Some restoration done to piece. See photos. Perfect ornamentation for above...
Iron
$34,166
H 138.98 in W 196.86 in D 236.23 in
Architectural Garden Structure Large Victorian Wrought Iron Greenhouse
Located in Marbella, ES
An impressive, large-format greenhouse crafted entirely from iron, featuring an elegant Victorian-inspired structure. It stands out for its meticulous architectural composition, with...
Iron
Sold
H 124.02 in W 66.93 in D 21.66 in
19th Monumental Neomudejar Doorway Carved in Wood and Polychrome
Located in Marbella, ES
19th Monumental Neomudejar Doorway Carved in Wood and Polychrome
Wood
Moroccan Reclaimed Encaustic Cement Tile with Moorish Fez Design
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Moroccan Reclaimed Encaustic Cement Tile with Moorish Fez Design. Moroccan handcrafted and hand-painted cement tiles with traditional Mooris...
Cement
Moroccan Reclaimed Encaustic Tiles Set of 2
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Moroccan handcrafted and hand-painted cement tiles with traditional Marrakech ochre and red colors. These are authentic Moroccan reclaimed encaustic tiles...
Cement
Moroccan Reclaimed Encaustic Cement Tile with Moorish Fez Design Set of 2
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Moroccan Encaustic Cement Tile Border with Moorish Fez Design. Moroccan handcrafted and hand painted cement tiles with traditional Moorish color. These are authentic Moroccan recla...
Cement
Moroccan Reclaimed Encaustic Cement Tiles in Red and Black, Set of 5
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Moroccan handcrafted and hand-painted cement tiles with traditional Marrakech colors in red and black. These are authentic Moroccan reclaimed encaustic tiles hand made by artisans i...
Cement
Moroccan Encaustic Cement Tile with Moorish Blue Design
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Moroccan Encaustic Cement Tile with Moorish Blue Fez Design. Moroccan handcrafted and hand-painted cement tiles with traditional Moorish designs. These are authentic Moroccan reclaimed encaustic tiles...
Cement
Moroccan Encaustic Cement Tile Border with Moorish Leaf Design Set of 2
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Moroccan Encaustic Cement Tile Border with Moorish leaf Design. Moroccan handcrafted and hand-painted cement tiles with traditional leaves design in yellow, white, blue green and wh...
Concrete
19th Century Moorish Revival Bronze Architectural Model Panel
Located in Forney, TX
A scarce antique Moorish architectural model thin bronze plaque from the late 19th century. This architectural model features a symmetrical design, the bronze frame having three sections, each panel with large traditional Moorish architecture rounded horseshoe - keyhole arch, flanked by xa pair of smaller pierced arches, finely detailed, decorated in intricate relief work, with light arabesque motif, Islamic calligraphy inscriptions, two large Star of David hexagrams, and notched saw toothed edge ornamentation. Provenance: From the highly curated contents of well regarded professional antique dealers, Ed and Jane Grant, who retired after four decades in the industry. The couple supplied both their Washington metro based antique shop, Grant Antiques, and their very fine quality Connecticut showcase, E.J. Grant Antiques, with domestic and imported pieces. World travelers who especially loved European antiques, sourced their merchandise during their frequent buying trips to Europe and Asia and included purchases originating in France, the British Isles, Italy, Spain, and beyond. "We have never been content with our established route. England is our first and favorite country and furniture. Then we discovered France. Then Holland and Belgium. On to Italy, Spain, then Scandinavia and later China. As always, bits and pieces from the U.S.," explains Jane in her memoirs of their 40 years as antiques dealers. Upon closing their antiques businesses (which were considered prominent sources for quality, diversity, and condition), the contents were carefully moved to a storage facility in Trumbull, CT awaiting the auction. It's always sad to see such a fine couple shut their doors after so many years in the industry, but we were honored to have the opportunity to find some truly beautiful pieces from such a respected and trusted source. Acquisition: Reputable auction house, Blackrock Galleries...
Bronze
Sold
H 67.33 in W 36.03 in D 7.88 in
Morrocan Painted Open Backed Cupboard Early 20th Century Folk Art
Located in Trensacq, FR
One of a kind Moroccan open backed cupboard. Beautiful, vibrant, hand painted double doored cabinet in great antique condition. A fabulous original piece that can be wall mounted an...
Iron
Moroccan Encaustic Cement Tile Sample with Floral Design
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Moroccan handcrafted and hand painted cement tile with traditional floral design. These are authentic Moroccan encaustic tiles hand made by artisans in Fez Morocco. This is the tradi...
Cement
Moroccan Encaustic Cement Tiles with Moorish Design
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Set of four Moroccan handcrafted cement tile with traditional Green Moorish design. These are authentic Moroccan encaustic tiles hand made by artisans in Fez Morocco. This is the...
Cement
Moroccan Encaustic Cement Tile Sample with Moorish Design
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Moroccan handcrafted and hand painted cement tile with traditional Green Moorish design. These are authentic Moroccan encaustic tiles hand made by artisans in Fez Morocco. This i...
Cement
Sold
H 68.5 in W 47.25 in D 0.5 in
Hand Forged Wrought Iron Moorish Screen, Three Panels, Moroccan Design
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Hand forged folding Moroccan screen with three panels decorated with Moorish designs. Classic and elegant Art & Craft this highly embellished, detailed folding screen divider in the Mediterranean Spanish style would embellish any room, garden or wall, Santa Barbara style. Could make an amazing headboard. Three panels with Moorish designs in repeat. Heavy and well-made original condition. Measures: Each panel 68.5" high, 15.75" wide Folds up for easy storage. Hand forged heavy wrought iron screen divider by skilled Moroccan artisans in Marrakech Morocco. Rustic Spanish colonial style wrought iron window...
Wrought Iron
Set of Two Moorish Screen Hand Forged Iron Panels
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Set of two Moorish screen hand forged iron panels Hand forged folding Moroccan screen panels decorated with Moorish designs. Classic and elegant Art & ...
Wrought Iron
19th Century Moorish Castle Gatehouse Doors from Spain
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Massive 19th century wooden Moorish style gatehouse doors or castle doors from Spain. Constructed from 19th century large timber frames featuring a smalle...
Iron