19th century
Cerralbo Museum
Madrid, Spain
The Moorish style and pattern books inspired architecture, interior decoration and the manufacture of objects in Europe. This chair, in the form of a traditional Spanish jamuga, its decoration imitating Arab motifs and marquetry. The inscription is illegible, however, having been copied meaninglessly by the maker of the chair.
19th century
Benaki Museum
Athens, Greece
The influence of Islamic and Ottoman art in the applied arts is seen not only in the decoration, but also in the shapes of objects and in the related manufacturing techniques. The shape of this sprinkler imitates Ottoman prototypes.
Thebes. Hypogea. Pictures drawn after the covering of the mummies
1809–1822
National Library of France
Paris, France
Napoleon was accompanied on his expedition to Egypt (1798–1801) by a group of scholars and draughtsmen charged with the task of documenting the country’s history. The publication of their work in Description de l’Egypte resulted in the rise of Egyptomania, the effects of which can be seen in early 19th-century fine and applied arts.
1815–20
The British Museum
London, United Kingdom
The Napoleonic expedition to Egypt generated significant interest in the art from this country, inspiring the creation of objects with Egyptian motifs, such as scarabs, crocodiles and lotus flowers, which were used to decorate all manner of objects including this tea set.
1840–60
The British Museum
London, United Kingdom
Decanters are European, but the shape of the stopper and the decoration appear to be inspired by Ottoman pieces.
1840–60
The British Museum
London, United Kingdom
The glass pieces were decorated with different motifs in revivalist styles. Although the form is European, the golden and floral decoration probably refers to Ottoman pieces.
The Palace of Porto Trade Association Headquarters, the Arabian Room
1842
Porto, Portugal
The Moorish style is a trend in Orientalism inspired by Islamic art from Spain and North Africa, in particular the Alhambra. The rich decoration in gilded and painted plaster was evoked in the interiors of palaces, private and public buildings and theatres, such as this Arab lounge, considered the best example of the Moorish style in Portugal.
Second third of the 19th century
National Museum of Romanticism
Madrid, Spain
The manufacture of small porcelain figures increased exponentially during the 19th century. These small figures represented “quaint” types; people such as this pair of “Turks”, which are drawn with great detail and provide details of their attire. Figures like these were used to decorate European homes from the beginning of the Orientalist trend.
Details and ornaments from the Alhambra by Owen Jones, Architect
1845
National Museum of Decorative Arts
Madrid, Spain
Between 1836 and 1845 the British artist and designer Owen Jones published 12 volumes entitled Plans, Elevations, Sections and Details of the Alhambra. Jones’ work, with its numerous precise architectural drawings and detailed speculations regarding the Alhambra’s original colour schemes, was to exert a revolutionary influence on the European artists of his time.
1852
The British Museum
London, United Kingdom
Another source of inspiration during the 19th century was the major archaeological discoveries made in the Middle East. The publication and exhibition of the Assyrian winged lions from Nimrud, discovered by British archaeologist Austen Henry Layard, had an impact on the decoration of fine and applied arts.
2nd half of the 19th century
Cerralbo Museum
Madrid, Spain
The fascination for the Nasrid Palace of the Alhambra was such that small plaques of painted plaster reproducing parts of the palace began to be produced. One of the most important workshops belonged to Rafael Contreras, who was a conservator/decorator at the Alhambra. These models were used by architects and designers as inspiration for the decoration of so-called Moorish smoking rooms and for other types of Orientalist-inspired room.
c. 1855
Museum of Costume, Ethnographical Heritage Research Centre
Madrid, Spain
The Islamic influence also appears in fashion and footwear, such as the increased use of slippers in European dress during the 19th century.
Moorish Kiosk in Linderhof Palace Park
1867
Ettal, Germany
This building, known as the Moorish Kiosk, was the Prussian pavilion at the Paris-based International Exposition of 1867, and shows the influence of the Alhambra upon European 19th-century architecture.
Rose sprinkle flask in Persian style
Before 1867
MAK – Austrian Museum of Applied Arts / Contemporary Art
Vienna, Austria
Théodore Deck was a well-known French ceramicist active in the mid-19th century. He was interested in Islamic ceramics, and the objects he made inspired by his interest were known as “Persian style”. This rose-sprinkler flask is one such object. Deck’s pieces received awards at several World Fairs.
1875
MAK – Austrian Museum of Applied Arts / Contemporary Art
Vienna, Austria
Before 1873
MAK – Austrian Museum of Applied Arts / Contemporary Art
Vienna, Austria
This lidded cup was made using a new industrial technique (galvanoplastic gilding and enamelling), which partially imitates the mediaeval techniques of enamelling and damascening. The English factory Elkington & Co. was known for its pieces inspired by different art forms, such as Islamic art in this case.
c. 1878
National Museum of Decorative Arts
Madrid, Spain
Decorations derived from Arab and Ottoman motifs were used on both ceramic and glass objects, and in interior decoration. The decoration on this pair of glasses reveals the taste for arabesques and floral decoration during the Orientalist period.
Bought in 1895
MAK – Austrian Museum of Applied Arts / Contemporary Art
Vienna, Austria
The influence of Ottoman ceramics, in particular ceramics produced at İznik, was very important. Objects inspired by Ottoman ceramics were produced in several European countries, such as in the United Kingdom, France, Belgium and the Austro-Hungarian Empire.
1905-1910
National Museum of Decorative Arts
Madrid, Spain
The decorative patterns for lace were influenced by Islamic art, as can be seen in the pointed arches and arabesques that decorate the lace of this fan.