Beautiful vintage Moroccan Berber rug

Description

Traditionally, Moroccan Berber carpets were made only by women to be used in their own homes, to decorate the floors and to serve as seat covers, bedspreads or blankets during the coldest months. The carpets are full of symbolism and often tell the story of the woman who created each piece. Each rug takes about 20-30 days to be woven by hand and the design is always completely original – no two rugs are ever the same.

Handicraft is still very important for Amazigh communities. Generally, while the men work in the mountains or on the farms, the women work in their huts, creating beautiful handmade ceramics or weaving carpets. All the finished products are then taken down to the big cities like Marrakech, where people auction their products to souk owners. The buyers then sell the carpets, ceramics and other pieces in their stores to other locals and tourists. This process provides income to Amazigh villages, and is often their main source of livelihood.

Moroccan  carpets represent the most characteristic aspect of the country’s cultural heritage. The soul of the carpet seems to reflect the landscape of the Atlas Mountains. These carpets are like books filled with signs and symbols. One discovers there a universe of thought based on a palette of exuberant colors. These women living in rural villages have appropriated their textile creations as a space of freedom where they have developed a personal creativity and a surprising artistic expression. The carpet becomes essential, it is a link between past and present, between earth and sky. These magnificent carpets could be presented in different art museums.

The culture and traditions of each Amazigh community can be very different from one region to another. Thus, depending on the tribe, the carpets may have different styles, colors and weaving techniques, or even belong to the same generic type. The origin of the Moroccan Berber rug can be found in the Atlas mountains of Morocco, the populations used different techniques from those used for oriental or Persian carpets.

Boujaad Moroccan carpets are named after the breed of sheep traditional of this region. The Zayan tribes who live in the mountains of the Middle Atlas, around Khenifra, weave carpets with long wool, golden reflections and usually warm tones in shades of red, purple and sometimes yellow. These exquisite carpets are rare and difficult to find.