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.
Antique Moroccan Desk or Escritoire
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Important 19th century Moroccan escritoire or desk crafted in mahogany with strong aesthetics movement influences. Featuring Moorish architectural references, floral and geometric bone inlays...
Mahogany
Antique Writing Desk and Chair Set circa 1920s, Moorish Style Inlaid Desk
Located in Miami, FL
Very fine antique Moorish style inlaid writing desk and chair set, circa 1920's. This hand-carved, intricately detailed example has absolutely incredible inlay work and fine woods to...
Wood, Cedar
Liberty & Co A Moorish Walnut Desk with Angular Design & 4 Opposite Side Drawers
Located in London, GB
Liberty & Co. A Moorish Walnut Desk with Mushrabia turnings to the upper shelf, just below to the turned uprights there are dowel holes which I have shown in the images, they are the...
Walnut
George III Bureau Desk or Secretary Chest from the 18th Century
Located in Austin, TX
A fine George III slant top desk or bureau secretary chest of elm, oak and padouk woods, c.1780 - an inlaid slant front drops to reveal a series of small drawers and document compart...
Metal, Brass
$2,661
H 37.21 in W 35.24 in D 13.59 in
Antique Anglo Indian Military Campaign Camphor Wood & Brass Bureau Desk Drawers
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
We are delighted to offer for sale this lovely late Victorian Anglo Indian campaign Camphor wood with brass inlay Military bureau desk This piece really is exquisite. It’s a genui...
Brass
$4,026
H 31.11 in W 55.12 in D 31.5 in
Rare Antique circa 1860 Library Writing Table Desk with Twin Writing Slopes
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
We are delighted to offer for sale this very rare original circa 1860 Mahogany library table with built in twin writing slopes This is a very r...
Hardwood
$6,895
H 44 in W 47 in D 23 in
George III Bureau Desk or Secretary Chest of Mahogany from the 18th Century
Located in Austin, TX
A fine George III slant top desk or bureau secretary chest of patinated mahogany, c.1770 - an inlaid slant front drops to reveal a series of small drawers and document compartments, ...
Metal, Brass
Louis XV Style Chinoiserie Slant-Top Desk
Located in Pembroke, MA
A stunning, petite French slant-top desk or "bureau de pente" in the Louis XV style, turquoise and gold polychromed with Chinoiserie detailing, and red under-body. Desk opens to rev...
Bronze
Petite Queen Anne Style 1880s Walnut Slant-Front Desk on Cabriole Legs
Located in Palm Desert, CA
A late 19th century Queen Anne style small walnut mini slant front desk on stand resting on graceful cabriole legs ending in pad feet. The slant drop front,...
Walnut
Antique Early American 19th Century Pine Plantation Desk
Located in Forney, TX
An early American 19th century pine plantation desk with nicely aged patina. Born in the Mid-Atlantic region / Southern United States, circa 1800s, hand-crafted of solid pine wood with mellow warm tone and rich grain patterns, one-piece construction, having a stepped molded cornice above a tall pair of paneled cabinet doors, opening to reveal an interior fitted with shelves and divided slots for documents, plank boarded back with old metal patch, over a lift-top writing slope with spacious storage underneath, the apron adorned with simple decorative pilasters...
Pine
English Mahogany Secretary Desk, 19th Century
Located in Southampton, NY
English Mahogany secretary desk, 19th century Three pieces: Crown, upper drawers and lower cabinet. Lowest draw pulls out as a secretary desk. Measures: 21" deep x 46.5" wide x 80.5"...
Mahogany
$4,072
H 47.25 in W 47.05 in D 18.51 in
Mid-Century Modern Vintage Walnut Ash Desk Bureau Secretary, 1950s, Italy
Located in Vienna, AT
Mid-Century Modern vintage secretary desk bureau Ico Parisi style from walnut and ash veneers designed and manufactured 1950s Italy. The beauti...
Ash, Walnut
$1,800Sale Price|62% Off
H 40.75 in W 39 in D 20.5 in
Late 19th Century Italian Walnut Burl Inlaid Louis XIV Secretary Drop Leaf Desk
Located in Encinitas, CA
Late 19th Century Italian Walnut Burl Inlaid Louis XIV Secretary Drop Leaf Desk. Trim three-drawer bureau chest featuring secretary drop lid with lock and key revealing small drawers and compartments. Beautiful walnut veneers and solids with rosewood inlaid detail. Handsome hardware, hinges and pulls. Lock and key. Due to the curved shape of the desk and components, some measures are a close approximation. Exterior measures of the desk: 39" W x 20.5" D x 40.75" H 99.1 cm W x 52 cm D x 103.5 cm H Opened drop lid desk...
Walnut
$1,870
H 47.5 in W 20 in D 10.75 in
Antique Regency Brass Inlaid Mahogany Traveling Desk Wooden Writing Slope Box
Located in Dublin, Ireland
An Exceptionally Fine Quality English Well Figured Rosewood Ladies or Gents English Georgian Travelling Writing Slope of outstanding quality and unusually large proportions, with lav...
Brass
$770Sale Price|30% Off
H 34.5 in W 36.5 in D 22.5 in
Antique Heywood Wakefield Wicker Rattan Bookcase Writing Desk & Chair
Located in Dayton, OH
Antique Heywood Wakefield wicker and rattan writing desk and chair. The desk features rectangular form with one drawer and two bookcases on e...
Wicker
Vintage Boho Moorish Petite Secretary Desk
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An exceptional vintage Boho secretary desk. A chic petite frame with beautiful Moorish carvings on the front drop down panel. Lots of great storage above or below. Acquired from a Pa...
Wood
Colorful Moroccan Style Knee Hole Desk
Located in Laguna Beach, CA
Colorful Moroccan style painted knee hole desk, late 20th century. There is also a chair that is included in the price of this desk. This is a v...
Rare Desk and Chair by Carlo Bugatti
Located in Montreal, QC
Rare desk and a chair by Carlo Bugatti (1856-1940) all in walnut and ebonized wood, inlaid with pewter, copper and brass, fitted with hammered copper reliefs...
Walnut
Sold
H 29.5 in W 108 in D 24 in
Moroccan Handcrafted Desk, Vanity or Dresser With Moorish Star Designs
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Moroccan handcrafted and custom-made 9 feet dresser, desk, very decorative with nice intricate Moorish stars hand-cut motifs on doors and block feet. Hispano Moresque style cabinet w...
Walnut