Moorish Planters and Jardinieres
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.
Early 20th Century Moroccan Moorish Planters and Jardinieres
Metal, Brass, Bronze, Copper
Early 20th Century Unknown Moorish Planters and Jardinieres
Terracotta
Late 18th Century Spanish Antique Moorish Planters and Jardinieres
Copper
20th Century Italian Moorish Planters and Jardinieres
Ceramic, Paint
Mid-20th Century Indian Moorish Planters and Jardinieres
Brass
Early 20th Century Moroccan Moorish Planters and Jardinieres
Mahogany
Early 19th Century Belgian Antique Moorish Planters and Jardinieres
Granite
1980s Indian Vintage Moorish Planters and Jardinieres
Brass
19th Century French Antique Moorish Planters and Jardinieres
Iron
Mid-20th Century French Moorish Planters and Jardinieres
Marble, Brass, Steel
20th Century French Moorish Planters and Jardinieres
Iron
21st Century and Contemporary Canadian Moorish Planters and Jardinieres
Soapstone
1970s Vintage Moorish Planters and Jardinieres
Ceramic, Paint
Mid-20th Century Spanish Moorish Planters and Jardinieres
Terracotta
Mid-20th Century French Moorish Planters and Jardinieres
Steel
19th Century French Antique Moorish Planters and Jardinieres
Brass
1930s American Vintage Moorish Planters and Jardinieres
Copper, Iron
1890s Japanese Antique Moorish Planters and Jardinieres
Copper
Early 19th Century Asian Antique Moorish Planters and Jardinieres
Brass
Late 19th Century Moroccan Antique Moorish Planters and Jardinieres
Terracotta
19th Century Indian Antique Moorish Planters and Jardinieres
Copper
20th Century Syrian Moorish Planters and Jardinieres
Metal, Pewter
20th Century Spanish Moorish Planters and Jardinieres
Early 20th Century Syrian Moorish Planters and Jardinieres
Brass