Moroccan rugs are woven by the Amazigh (Berber) peoples of Morocco, especially in the Atlas Mountains. They were made for warmth and comfort in the home, not for the market, and their designs are free, personal and often abstract. Moroccan rugs became famous in the West in the 20th century, when modernist architects and designers admired their simplicity, and they remain a favorite in contemporary interiors.
| Origin | Amazigh (Berber) tribes of the Atlas Mountains and plains of Morocco |
|---|---|
| Knot | Symmetric; often a loose, long pile |
| Materials | Wool, sometimes undyed; recycled textiles in boucherouite |
| Main types | Beni Ourain, Azilal, Boujad, Boucherouite, flatweaves (hanbel) |
| Typical designs | Lozenges and lines, abstract and personal motifs |
Main types
- Beni Ourain: thick, shaggy rugs from the Middle Atlas, in ivory or cream wool with simple dark brown or black lines forming diamonds and lattices. The best-known Moroccan style.
- Azilal: rugs from the High Atlas with an ivory ground and colorful, freely drawn abstract motifs.
- Boujad: rugs from the plains with warm pinks, reds and oranges and loose geometric designs.
- Boucherouite: colorful rag rugs woven from recycled strips of fabric, a 20th-century tradition born of necessity.
- Hanbel (kilim): flatwoven rugs and blankets, often striped or with fine geometric bands. See Kilim Rugs.
Designs and meaning
Moroccan designs are usually built from lozenges, lines, zigzags and small symbols, arranged freely rather than in strict symmetry. Weavers often described their rugs as personal records, and some motifs are said to represent protection, fertility or the weaver's own life, though meanings vary from tribe to tribe and weaver to weaver. See Rug Motifs and Their Meanings.
Construction
Many Moroccan pile rugs are loosely knotted with a long, thick pile and several wefts between rows, giving a heavy, soft, flexible rug, rather like a Persian Gabbeh. Wool is often hand-spun, and natural ivory wool is common. See Gabbeh Rugs.
Moroccan-style rugs
The popularity of Moroccan designs has led to many Moroccan-style rugs woven in India, Turkey and elsewhere, and machine-made copies. A genuine Moroccan rug woven by Amazigh weavers has hand-spun wool, a loose, irregular charm, and designs that are never quite symmetrical. See Flatweaves vs. Pile Rugs.
