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.
$8,128Sale Price|20% Off
19th Century Damascene Mirror With Bone Inlay & Silvered Metal Decoration
Located in Reading, Berkshire
A Beautiful Early 19th Century Highly Decorative Damascene Wall Mirror. Hand Crafted With Bone Inlaid & Silvered Metal Decoration. Would Suit A Modern or Period Home, The Mono...
Metal
Antique South European Mirror with Moorish Influences
Located in Baambrugge, NL
Antique South European mirror with Moorish influences, painted zinc and aged weathered mirror glass, so that it is not really possible to look in the mirror. Dimensions: 159.5 x 7...
Mirror, Wood
Jackson & Graham attributed. A fine quality Moorish over mantle or wall shelf.
By Jackson & Graham
Located in London, GB
Jackson and Graham attributed. A fine quality Moorish mahogany over mantle or wall shelf, with carved floral decoration to the central upper pediment and a display shelf below. Seven...
Boxwood, Walnut
Moorish Style Hand-Carved Wood Mirror, Polychrome Decor, Italy, 1960
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Venetian Moorish Style Hand-Carved Polychrome Mirror, Italy, circa 1960s A striking vintage Italian mirror showcasing an exquisite blend of Ve...
Composition
Moroccan Moorish Mirror Tessellated Stone by Maitland Smith.
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Moroccan Moorish mirror tessellated marble stone by Maitland Smith. Monumental Moroccan style mirror by Maitland Smith, tessellated marble stone...
Travertine, Marble, Stone
$2,108Sale Price|40% Off
H 47.25 in W 35.44 in D 1.97 in
"Red Mirror" by Fratelli Tosi, Murano Glass Mirror, Handmade Made in Italy
Located in Murano Venezia, IT
Contemporary Murano glass mirror, composed of an external beveled band in clear mirror, and an internal beveled band of red color with...
Art Glass, Mirror, Murano Glass
Custom Italian Brass Mirror by Le Lampade
By Gio Ponti
Located in Sag Harbor, NY
Italian brass mirror by Le Lampade. 1950s Italian Gio Ponti style. This mirror can be custom made and several finishes are available.
Brass
$2,520 / item
H 38.19 in W 18.9 in D 1.19 in
Quadris Rectangular Antiqued Mirror with Multiple Panels and Bronze Patina Frame
Located in London, London
Quadris™ rectangular antiqued mirror with a bronze patina finish brass frame made with 12 antiqued mirror panels. Dimensions: H 97cm x W 48cm x D 1.8cm / H 38.1in x W 18.1in x D 0.7...
Brass
$3,931
H 53.5 in W 36.5 in D 1.6 in
Large French Mirror in Hand Carved Solid Nutwood Frame with Flowery Decor
Located in Lisse, NL
Antique, one of a kind and highly decorative mirror. This beautifully hand carved antique mirror frame is in great condition. It is perfe...
Mirror, Nutwood
$1,453Sale Price|44% Off
H 37.41 in W 28.35 in D 4.73 in
Antique Large Fine Quality Early 19th Century Gilt Overmantel or Wall Mirror
Located in Wisbech, England
Antique large fine quality early 19th century gilt overmantel or wall mirror. A very decorative statement piece, with a great look. A charming mirror, that is full of age and char...
Giltwood
Maitland Smith Tobacco Leaf Mirror
Located in Atlanta, GA
Maitland Smith tobacco leaf mirror, hand made in the Phillipines, circa 1990s. It measures an impressive 48.5" in diameter.
Mirror, Wood
French 19th Century Louis Philippe Silver Gilt Mirror
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
A French 19th century Louis Philippe mantel mirror with an understated, silver gilt frame enhanced by dark oxidation and craquelure texture. Etched into the frame is a fluted pattern...
Silver Leaf
Federal Gilt Over Mantle Mirror
Located in East Aurora, NY
A very attractive Federal gilt over mantle mirror in original condition. A classic traditional Neo Classical design with rope twist columns and a continuous row of gilt spheres as c...
Gold Leaf
Antique French Renaissance Hand-Carved Wall Mirror
Located in Dallas, TX
Antique French Renaissance hand-carved wall mirror is a great choice to add Old World ambiance to any room, and with its consistent framework can be mounted vertically or horizontall...
Hardwood
$2,950
H 48.5 in W 31 in D 1 in
Tessellated Green Stone and Jade Wall Mirror in The Manner of Maitland Smith
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Tessellated green stone and jade like gemstone wall mirror with Monstera leaf design in the manner of Maitland Smith.
Stone, Brass
$13,170
H 67.33 in W 51.19 in D 4.34 in
Large Louis XV Style Hand Carved Giltwood Mirror Made by La Maison London
Located in London, Park Royal
An impressive, large mirror, hand carved in the LXV style featuring spectacular and finely carved voluptuous acanthus leaves. The mirror has been hand gilded in 23.5-karat gold leaf ...
Gold Leaf
Antique Brass Federal Round Wall Mirror
Located in Van Nuys, CA
Late 19th century Federal styled round wall mirror featuring a hand-hammered solid brass surround with hand-hammered brass applied decorations, and the original beveled mirror mounte...
Brass
Sold
H 73.63 in W 33.47 in D 4.73 in
19th Century Moorish Mirror from Pierre Bergé and Yves Saint Laurent’s Datcha
Located in Henley-on Thames, Oxfordshire
A fine 19th century French walnut mirror in the Moroccan style France, circa 1870 Provenance: Ex collection Pierre Bergé & Yves Saint Laurent from their house “The Datcha” (the French spelling of dacha, the Russian term for vacation home) in the grounds of the neo-gothic villa, Château Gabriel in Benerville-sur-Mer, near Deauville, France. Ten minutes away from the Château Gabriel (acquired in 1983), Yves Saint Laurent and Pierre Bergé had a little datcha built. Recalling the small country houses in Russia, it was decorated by their friend Jacques Grange, who created an interior reminiscent of the Ballets russes and Léon Bakst, he said that he aspired to create a "pure fantasy" look based on the frilly wood country cottages of the 19th century... More information about the Datcha can be found on the Yves Saint Laurent museum website. Also on Architectural digest, the article "Madison Cox Creates a Fanciful Garden for a Log House...
Walnut
White Mother of Pearl Inlaid Middle Eastern Mirror
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Lebanese Middle Eastern Moorish white mother of pearl inlaid mirror. Antique Middle Eastern Moorish mirror in the Lebanese, Syrian style. Sensational large Levantine finely inlaid ...
Shell, Abalone, Mother-of-Pearl, Walnut
Antique White Mother of Pearl Inlaid Middle Eastern Mirror
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Antique Middle Eastern Moorish white mother of pearl inlaid antique mirror, late 19th century. Antique Middle Eastern Moorish mirror in the Turkish, Syrian ottoman style. Sensational large Levantine finely inlaid with mother of pearl, each piece of mother of pearl is out lined with pewter is out lined with pewter wire. The intricate Moorish Islamic design crown over a rectangular frame surrounded with hand carved boarder, the mirror is flanked by two ornate ornaments, all resting on two inlaid feet. This mirror is one of the best levantine mirror...
Shell, Abalone, Mother-of-Pearl, Walnut
Large Middle Eastern Moorish Wood Wall Mirror
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Large antique 19th century Middle Eastern Egyptian arched mirror inlay could be used as a mantel piece, Intricately and finely hand-carved and incrusted with Arabic calligraphy scrip...
Walnut
Antique 19th c. Syrian Damascus mirror with mother of pearl
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Very Decorative large Antique 19th century Middle Eastern Syrian Damascus arched mirror inlay with mother of pearl, could be used as a Moroccan mantel Piece. Mother of pearl inlay ov...
Walnut
Large Mid-Century Moroccan Mirror
Located in Stamford, CT
Vintage Moroccan mirror having a removable top.
Wood
Pair of Handcrafted Bone Inlay Arched Moroccan Mirrors
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Handcrafted bone and silver arched Moroccan Moorish mirrors. Elegant rectangular shape wall Moroccan mirror decorated with silvered metal delicately engraved and wood and bone overlay. Pair of...
Bone, Wood
Pair of Large Moroccan Handmade Blue Majorelle Mirrors
Located in Plainview, NY
A large pair of Moroccan Moorish style blue mirrors. The design and color of this impressive pair of mirrors are inspired by the blue city (Chaouen) in north of Morocco. Featuring si...
Wood
Pair of Moroccan Mirrors with Silvered Metal Filigree and Leather
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Elegant pair of Moroccan mirrors decorated with silvered repousse metal delicately engraved and wrapped with leather. The inside mirror has a ...
Metal
Oversized Antique Moorish Regal Carved Giltwood over Mantel Wall Mirror
Located in Big Flats, NY
Oversized antique Moorish regal carved giltwood over mantel wall mirror features crown form crest with flanking finials and decorated columns, frame...
Velvet, Mirror, Giltwood
Middle Eastern Mother-of-Pearl Inlaid Mirror
Located in Laguna Beach, CA
Middle eastern mother-of-pearl inlaid mirror, late 20th century.
Bone, Mother-of-Pearl, Glass, Wood
Moroccan Mirror with Silver Filigree and Repousse Metal
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Moroccan mirror decorated with silvered hammered and repousse metal delicately engraved and wrapped with leather. The inside mirror has a Moorish arch in leather and fine filigree silver décor. Handcrafted rectangular Orientalist mirror...
Metal, Silver Leaf