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.
Egyptian Framed Painting of People Serving a Pharaoh
Located in Queens, NY
Egyptian (Mid-Century) print of people serving a pharaoh with hieroglyphs and vases with tops resembling animal heads in gold and red trim frame
Gold
Mid-20th Century Moorish Style Moroccan Market Scene Oil Painting
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Moroccan Orientalist oil on canvas painting of a 19th century Moroccan market scene with an old men seating on a carpet selling old coins and a Moorish...
Canvas
Architecture de L'islam de L'atlantique au Gange by Henri Stierlin 1979 Book
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Architecture de l'Islam. De l'Atlantique au Gange Stierlin, Henri. Architecture of Islam. Publisher : Office du Livre; First Edition: January 1, 1979. Language : French Hardcover : 288 pages This book shows the architectural history and characteristics. of each region of the Islamic world from a cultural context. It is full of beautiful color photographs taken by the author and newly made drawings. The most important point is that the author, Stierlin, clarifies the feature of Islamic architecture...
Paper
Mid-20th Century Hand-Painted Oil: Moroccan Rug Market Scene
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Moroccan orientalist oil on canvas painting of a 19th century Moroccan rug market scene with an sellers seating on a pile of carpet and two other men wearing traditional colorful robes standing and checking the goods. The background depict an old house with wooden mucharabie and Moorish arches. Contemporary French oil on canvas orientalist painting of a Moroccan market...
Canvas
Oil Painting Still Life on Burlap, in the Fresco Style
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Oil painting on burlap with a striking composition of a Chinese porcelain bowl. Executed in an ancient fresco style, combining modern simplicity with age old rustic texture and techn...
Burlap, Paint
Monumental Pair of Porcelain Plaques of Orientalist or Turkish Women in Castle
Located in New York, NY
A pair of monumental and rare Antique German hand-painted polychrome enamel and raised gold porcelain plaques depicting orientalist/Turkish women standing in castles of exquisite cra...
Gold
Orientalist Watercolor of Young African Boy
Located in Montreal, QC
Orientalist watercolor of an Arab boy on an oriental rug. Inscribed in the back the former owner of the painting: W. de Keller 1 rue Goethe Par...
Paper
Orientalist Gravure Scene of Turkish Women Dancing in the Harem, Luigi Crosio
By Luigi Crosio
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Orientalist Moorish gravure scene of Turkish women dancing in the harem. After Luigi Crosio (Italian, 1835-1916), Moorish Scene, "The Dancer" Luigi Crosio...
Paper
Noel H. Leaver A Gateway in Syria Painting, Orientalist, 20th Century, Signed
Located in Montreal, QC
Noel Harry Leaver was a prolific painter of Orientalist scenes in the first half of the 20th century.. His work was often both cool and still with shaded and brighter areas and shape...
Paint, Paper
Turkish Miniature Paintings and Manuscripts from the Collection of Edwin Binney
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Turkish Miniature Paintings and Manuscripts from the Collection of Edwin Binney, Binney, Edwin (1973) Examples of the Turkish pictorial a...
Paper
$2,600 / set
French Colored Lithographs of Mathilde
Located in Queens, NY
4 French (19th Cent) colored lithographs of Crusader scenes depicting the history of Mathilde with text in French & Spanish
French Victorian Algerian Scene Lithograph, Birch Frame, 19th Century
Located in Queens, NY
French Victorian birch framed colored lithograph of Algerian scene
Birch
Moroccan Orientalist Giclee Painting of King Mohamed V, Framed, 1956
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Orientalist Moroccan scene giclee painting of the King o Morocco. French orientalist reproduction painting of Mohamed V coming back from exile with a ...
Wood
Antique Pair of Orientalist Watercolors by Emile Boivin
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Antique 19th Century Orientalist watercolors on paper depicting middle eastern landscapes executed with skill and confidence. Signed by French artist Emile Boivin...
Silver Leaf
R Weisse, Street Scene, Orientalist Painting, Late 19th Early 20th Century
Located in MARSEILLE, FR
Orientalist oil on canvas depicting a woman sitting in the street, quenching her thirst, with 2 children. This painting is signed by the artist Rudolf Weisse on the lower right: Wei...
Paint
Moorish Antique Watercolor on Paper of French Algeria
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Remarkable 19th century watercolor on paper depicting a sunny day in french Algeria with figures, horses and a dog in the distinctive architecture. Presented under glass in a gilt wo...
Paint
Orientalist Engraving after Horace Vernet, Empire Period
By Carle Vernet (Antoine Charles Horace Vernet)
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Orientalist engraving after Horace Vernet, wood frame, Empire period Orientalist engraving depicting Rebecca at the Fountain giving a drink to...
Paper
Topkapi Palace by Ilhan Aksit Le Palais de Topkapi
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Le Palais de Topkapi, Topkapi Palace. Published 1993 by Aksit Kultur Turizm Sanat Ajans First Edition January 1993) Edition Language French. By the 16th cent...
Paper
Orientalist KPM Porcelain Plaque of Interior Scene
Located in London, GB
Orientalist KPM Porcelain plaque of interior scene German, 20th century Frame: Height 71cm, width 64cm, depth 4cm Plaque: Height 50cm, width 39cm, depth 0.5cm Painted in the Or...
Porcelain, Giltwood
Arcimboldo by Roland Barthes (Book)
Located in North Yorkshire, GB
A beautifully produced book by Franco Maria Ricci, one of a limited edition of 3,000 numbered copies, this being 388. 175 pages with tipped in color plates with additional drawings and sketches, the text is in English. Arcimboldo has become best known for his portraits of human heads made up from vegetables, plants, fruits, sea creatures and tree roots, which were greatly admired by his contemporaries and remain of great fascination to this day. each was carefully constructed and as can be seen with the main image, the Librarian...
Paper
$560Sale Price|46% Off
H 10.75 in W 8 in D 0.5 in
Original Moulin Rouge Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec Style Painting
Located in Miami, FL
A lovely original oil painting in the manner of Toulouse-Lautrec. Measures: 10 3/4" Height x 8" Width x 1/2" Deep.
Paint
$568Sale Price|30% Off
H 26.78 in W 29.93 in D 0.79 in
Large still life oil on canvas Painting Artwork
Located in Wisbech, England
Large still life oil on canvas Painting Artwork. Unsigned, believed to be early 20th Century as judged by the frame. In good antique condition with minor knocks, marks, age related ...
Canvas
$1,950
H 26 in W 35.5 in D 1 in
Orientalist Gravure Scene of Turkish Women Dancing in the Harem, Luigi Crosio
By Luigi Crosio
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Orientalist Moorish gravure scene of Turkish women dancing in the harem. After Luigi Crosio (Italian, 1835-1916), Moorish Scene, "The Dancer" Luigi Crosio...
Paper
20th Century Impressionistic Library Still Life Oil Painting, Signed
Located in Atlanta, GA
20th century still life of leather books, a brass candlestick and an inkwell with quill pen painted in an impressionistic style. Oil on canvas and signed in the lower right corner.
Canvas, Wood
McCaffery, (20th Century) Street Scene (New Orleans), Painting
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
McCaffery, (20th Century) Street Scene, (New Orleans) 1973 Acrylic on board, signed, dated 15 1/2 by 19 1/2 in. Overall 21 by 25 in. Condition Report Good condition.
Paint
$2,676
H 25.2 in W 31.5 in D 1.97 in
20th Century European "Arab Market" Orientalist Oil on Canvas with Frame
Located in Marbella, ES
20th century European "Arab Market" Orientalist style oil on canvas with frame.
Canvas
$1,190Sale Price|30% Off
H 38 in W 32 in D 2.75 in
Vintage Flemish Style Floral Still Life Signed Oil Painting
Located in Dayton, OH
Vintage Flemish-Style Floral Still Life, after Pieter Bruegel the Elder's "Flowers in a Wooden Vessel". 20th Century Oil on canvas, signed lower right. This Continental still life p...
Canvas, Paint
Spanish Still Life Oil on Canvas Painting
Located in London, by appointment only
Spain, 19th century. A Spanish 17th century style rustic still life. Depicting wittles from everyday life. Measures: Height 19 ins (48cms). Width 27 ins (69cms).
Canvas
Large Surrealist Oil Painting. English, Mid 20th Century
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Wonderful surrealist painting Amazing colours. I particularly like the dog Oil on canvas. Artist unknown. Painted over an old canvas so difficult to date precisely. I have estima...
Canvas
$325Sale Price|20% Off
H 14.97 in W 12.6 in D 1.58 in
Flowers in Vase Still Life Painting Oil on Canvas Framed Signed
Located in Poperinge, BE
Vintage painting, still life of flowers in a vase, oil on canvas, framed in a cream and gold pine frame, signed Scheers Theo at the bottom right, circa mid-20th century. Nice and co...
Canvas, Wood
$2,908
H 34.65 in W 57.09 in D 0.79 in
African Ethiopian Tribal Folk Art Painting 20th Century Battle Scene on Canvas
Located in Milano, MI
African Ethiopian painting imported to Italy by a diplomat during the Italian occupation of Ethiopia, in the late 1930s. This tribal folk art painting depicts a battle scene and the canvas is mounted on a parallelogram-shaped frame. It is a large battle painting...
Canvas
A young vendor in the Orient, Emile CHARLET (1851-1927)
Located in PARIS, FR
A young vendor in the Orient, Emile CHARLET (1851-1927) Jean Joseph Emile Charlet, born on 7 June 1851 in rue des Dominicains 3, Brussels, was the son of Guillaume Charlet (1822-190...
Canvas
Sold
H 26 in W 44.5 in D 4.5 in
19 C. Orientalist Oil on Canvas 'Prince and Princess in the Harem" Antonio Rivas
By Antonio Rivas
Located in New York, NY
An Incredible 19th Century Orientalist Oil on Canvas 'Prince and Princess in the Harem" signed by Antonio Rivas. Antonio Rivas (1845–1911) was a Spanish painter active in Rome, know...
Canvas, Giltwood
Story of Moslem Art Price, Christine Book, 1964
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
The Story of Moslem Art Hardcover – June 1, 1964 by Christine Price (Author) Release Date: June 1964 Publisher: E P Dutton Edition: 1st Edition 1964 Hard Cover. 160 pgs Illustr...
Paper
Sold
H 17.25 in W 15.25 in D 1.25 in
1950's Still Life of Mixed Flowers Oil Painting Signed and Framed
Located in Plainview, NY
A vintage Mid Century 1950's still life oil on board painting Signed by the artist Simone in the bottom left. Featuring vibrant colors, the painting is presented in a custom fame wit...
Wood, Paint
Sold
H 11.25 in W 9.75 in D 1.75 in
"Andy Warhol A Retrospective" HardCover Coffee Table Book 1st Ed. 1989
By MOMA Museum New York, (after) Andy Warhol
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Andy Warhol A Retrospective hardcover coffee table book, 1989 This is a Collectible book, an '80s Late-20th century 'Andy Warhol A Retrospe...
Paper
19th Century Style Painting of Moorish Orientalist Market Scene
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
19th century style painting of Moorish orientalist market scene. 19th century style oil on canvas style painting with Moorish men and women wearing period caftans and turbans, women seating on rugs. Probably Morocco or Maghreb showing medieval style North African architecture...
Canvas
Balla by Maurizio Fagiolo Dell'Arco Coffee Table Book
By (after) Giacomo Balla, Rizoli International Publications
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Balla by Maurizio Fagiolo Dell'Arco coffee table art book. Giacomo Balla: The Futurist. Traces the life and career of the Italian artist, describes his connection with the futurist...
Paper
Antique Orientalist Moorish Watercolor on Paper, Signed, Circa 1900
Located in Big Flats, NY
An antique Orientalist Persian Moorish-themed watercolor on paper depicts city scene with structures and figures, artist signed lower right, flag a...
Paper
Sold
H 14.75 in W 14.75 in D 3 in
Oil on Board Painting "Circassian Beauty" by Benjamin Constant, circa 1870
By Jean-Joseph Benjamin-Constant 1
Located in Big Flats, NY
An antique oil on board portrait painting by Benjamin Constant titled "Circassian Beauty" depicts seated and barefoot Circassian woman in silk dress ...
Wood, Giltwood
19th Century Orientalist Painting of a Young Boy
Located in Rochester, NY
19th century orientalist watercolor painting on artist board, portrait of young boy wearing a fez. Set in a nice vintage giltwood and glass tabletop frame with linen mat. Nice little...
Linen, Glass, Wood, Paper
Sold
H 14 in W 16.25 in D 2.5 in
1930s Morocco, Marrakech Street Scene, Framed Orientalist Oil on Wood Painting
Located in Miami, FL
Fine 1930s Framed orientalist painting of Marrakech or Morocco. A street scene, in oil painted on board (wood). Signed lower left. Appears to be DoSousa and Marrakech but is however ...
Wood, Paint
Moorish Orientalist Oil Painting of Men on Horses Framed
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Framed Moorish orientalist oil on wood painting. 19th century Moroccan men riding on horses. Contemporary French oil on wood orientalist painting. Wooden...
Wood