Moroccan Rugs

By: john alis

Moroccan weaving began before the 17th Century by the Berbers,
an indigenous tribe that occupied the Middle and High Atlas
around the Plains of Marrakesh before the Arab invasion. The
weaving, done by Moroccan women, produced rugs, blankets and
fabric wall-coverings, for domestic purposes. Berber tribes
continue to preserve the techniques of their ancestors handed
down from mother to daughter.

Moroccan rugs can be divided into two groups: urban and tribal.
The main difference between the urban rugs and traditional
tribal rugs is that in tribal rugs there is less symmetry in the
overall design, and many times no borders exist. However,
because tribal rugs were influenced by urban rugs, similar
designs can be seen in newer tribal rugs.

Urban rug designs, such as those produced in Rabat, are
characterized by their long and narrow fields, which typically
include double-ended medallions or all-over diamonds with two
large and side-by-side stepped triangles at each end of the rug.
The background is typically red and the motifs, which are often
tulips, are in various bright colors. After World War I, the
colors became softer and consist of floral motifs on a plain
field. Other urban designs are produced in Mediouna, near
Casablanca, and typically have a wider field with three or more
octagonal medallions.

Tribal designs from the Plains of Marrakesh are very diverse.
Pile rugs from the Chiadma area and the Oulad Bou Sbaa tribes
have a unique mixture of medallions, borders, and motifs
characteristic of Rabat or the traditional tribal bands with
geometric motifs. The rugs of the Rehamna tribe, on the other
hand, have unique free-form designs.

Tribal rugs made in High Atlas have symmetrical designs. The
field contains a square, rectangular or diamond medallion. There
also can be one or more diamond shapes within the medallion. The
rest of the field can consist of diamond lattices, all-over
motifs in rows or columns, or bands of geometric motifs. The
older rugs tend to have no borders or a very narrow border, and
even in the flat weaves, the designs are created with knots.
Tribal rugs from the Zemmour Confederation are often symmetrical
in the design. The pile rugs often have geometric motifs on a
red background. Flat weaves frequently consist of bands of
stripes ��" either plain or using geometric patterns. The flat
weaves are very colorful and use white cotton to create
contrast. The pile rugs and flat weaves of the Middle Atlas are
very similar to the rugs of Zemmour Confederation with the
exception of their asymmetrical designs. Also the designs are
more crowded.

Article Source: http://collectibles-articles.com

john alis was born in long island in 1970. he write articles and childern books. he now lives in holand.

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