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The Berber tribe and the ancient Moroccan carpet-weaving heritage
The Berber tribe and the ancient Moroccan carpet-weaving heritage
In the Moroccan city of Marrakech, Moroccan carpet stores for floors and walls are spread in a place called the “carpet market”. Each Moroccan carpet tells a different story, from the wonderful Klim Zemmour carpet to the luscious Beni Oriens carpet of colors inspired by the colors of nature. Continue reading the current article and learn about the types Moroccan carpets and what the Berber carpets are
Types of Moroccan carpets
Carpets can be classified into Moroccan and Berber carpets, each of which differs in appearance, colors, motifs, and all the details of weaving. Below we will talk about the advantages of each over the other:
Urban Moroccan carpets
1. These carpets are distinguished from the Berber ones in that they are in the form of pink motifs, soft and dense in texture
2. In this carpet, the eastern knot (called the knot: Geordis) is used on two threads from the sudwa.
3. It is known that its manufacture is centered in Rabat and Salé, including the carpets of Casablanca, known historically in the Mediouna region, and it is characterized by a wide floor filled with large granaries, often consisting of eight corners, and the carpets of Casablanca are distinguished by their multicolored and prominent decoration on each tapestry separately, and from The colors strongly present in Mediouna's carpet are red, blue, yellow, orange, black, white and green.
Moroccan Berber carpets
Multiple tribes have produced Moroccan carpets since the Paleolithic era. They were traditionally woven by the Berber tribes who needed carpeting for various practical purposes, and to protect themselves from the harsh climatic conditions in those areas, as the snow-covered heights of the Atlas Mountains had to resort to heavy carpets and thick blankets. For beds, while the harsh heat conditions in the Sahara Desert led to the manufacture of light, flat-woven shawls, the tribe lived a semi-nomadic lifestyle, which affected the sizes of carpets, so all types of Moroccan carpets and the loom tool were portable, as most sizes did not exceed two meters.
The Moroccan Berber carpet drew attention to it, especially in the way it was woven free from the constraint of regularity in its edges (its edges), and the diversity and randomness of the spread of elements and shapes in its fabric, indicating the absence of a center and its adherence to the freedom of weaving in a non-loom, an embodiment of the movement of the hand in weaving the warp and tying the knots, representing In its identity and belonging to the state of Morocco, it is distinguished in its industry, which helps it to survive.
The Berber carpet is distinguished in particular by the presence of geometric drawings in the form of lozenges of various importance, and in some cases we find drawings of human or animal beings (marmousheh, boys with seven hookahs), and the most prominent types are
1. Carpets of the Middle Eastern Atlas
White and black wool-blend knit with simple red, yellow and orange wool accents
2. Carpets of the Western Middle Atlas
It is predominantly red, then yellow-brown and yellow.
3. Carpets of the High Atlas
Multiple colors such as blue, green, orange, black and white.
4. Carpets of Haouz Marrakech
It is dominated by the color red to the extent that it is sometimes the only feature of the carpet, and in general it is dotted with variously organized and multi-colored motifs, in which strange geometric shapes of human beings or strange animals.
5. Carpets of eastern Morocco
It is distinguished by the predominance of dark blue and olive green mixed with scarlet red, and is enhanced by the beauty of the orange or yellow and white nodes. The drawings are in the form of a large network consisting of lozenges surrounded by a simple frame.
Moroccan carpets for need, not for luxury
The need was the main factor in motivating and pushing the people of the Berber tribe in weaving Moroccan carpets, or what is also called "Amazigh carpets", but in the end it exceeded that and became an integral part of the trade because its weaving was very carefully for a long time at the hands of the women of the tribe, and one of the most prominent advantages Moroccan carpets:
1. It is interspersed with a group of complex motifs and delicate designs, which is the added value to it and distinguishes it from other types of known carpets. It also contains a form of masculine language that can only be understood by members of the Berber tribe.
2. Hand-knotted and woven by the women of the tribe, the rugs would take more than a year to complete. The subtlety and smoothness of these mesmerizing geometric designs show many details. From masculine protection and spirituality to femininity, these symbols interact and shed light on the lifestyle and aspects of the women who participate in the weaving. other task in their lives.
3. These rugs have a distinctive style; Their combination of handcrafted details, simplicity of forms, and bold innovation at the same time, has been a huge success in Western societies.
Moroccan carpet journey in the West
During the 1930s, many architects and designers, such as Alvar Alto, Ray Eames, and Le Corbusier, began to incorporate luxurious soft carpets into interior designs to balance the different and elegant home furnishings. Frank Wright was famous for traveling to Morocco to import carpets, and his house contains many black carpets Al-Abyad from the Bani Orin tribe in every room of his house, among these carpets:
1. Taznakht rug in a modern home
It is not surprising that the presence of the Taznakht Berber carpet in Western homes, during those years, the scattered black and white designs made by the women and weavers of the Beni Ourain tribes greatly impressed Westerners, and the most impressive of these tribes is the Azilal tribe, a Berber tribe that created a unique system and style Signature weave.
Like the Beni Ourine pieces, the Azilal rugs are also unique in their design, as they are made of dyed and undyed sheep’s wool. These rugs are made by Ait Bougumez, Ait Bou Ouli, Ait Chakmane and Ait Bouzid in the Tadla-Azilal Province in the Moroccan Atlas Mountains, and they are very rare compared to Beni rugs. Orines, featuring ebony and natural ivory designs printed against neutral white backgrounds and featuring abstract accents that can't be ignored.
2. Moroccan Kilim rug
The dyes of madder root, saffron, indigo, and henna are used to make the various motifs of the carpets. According to the Berbers, red symbolizes protection and strength, green symbolizes peace, blue symbolizes wisdom, and yellow symbolizes eternity.
This effective combination of practical use and magical symbolism gives Berber carpets their special appeal. Weavers have woven each carpet to defend human souls against evil forces and protect the body from various dangers. Whether we hang these pieces of art on the walls or place them on the floor, carpets play an important role in influencing our daily lives.
In conclusion, the traditional carpet industry in Morocco did not exist only because of the need for warmth and other living purposes, but rather extended and became an integral part of the industrial crafts that established an important and influential place for the state of Morocco in the world and through which it was able to spread its ancient heritage in the details of the decorations, woven history in the most creative way . . We hope that we were able to satisfy your desire to know more about the history of Moroccan carpets. You can shop online and order the finest carpets of all kinds available in the market at the Wift store .
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