Objects

This is yet another example of the appeal of simple things to which the Berber people treat us quite often. Clay earthenware vessels like this henna bowl, take us to the realm of the beauty of humble things. The design and lines of this old Berber handmade artisan clay  vessel from Foum Zguid region, with no enamel and no painted decoration, boost all those aspects to which its undeniable decorative potential and the superb and warm patina due to years and years of traditional use are not but an additional asset.    

An old Berber wooden funnel from Morocco. It was probably used as a means to pour liquids into narrow neck containers such a gourds or bags -guerba- made from the hide of goats from the family's cattle. Superb patina.

An old Berber wooden saucepan from Morocco. It was probably used for milk. Superb patina.

A cute new Moroccan cedar wood artisan tray. Similar like these are used to serve tea as well as by sellers of bread on the street. 

A beautiful Berber plate or tray made of walnut wood from the Atlas mountain range in Morocco. It would have been largely used as a working surface to knead flour dough for bread, couscous, etc.  Great patina.   

A hand-made old Berber  whitish earthenware water jar or vessel from the Rif region in Northern Morocco. Low-fired, it is flat bottomed and both its sides and base are fairly thick. It features a typical Berber simple geometric stylized decoration made drawn with natural pigments obtained from extracts of local plants such as the mastic tree. It will make a great contribution to any patio, garden, veranda or even interior decoration. A true ethnic piece enjoying an undeniable character.

A hand-made old Berber whitish earthenware water jar or vessel from the Rif region in Northern Morocco. Low-fired, it is flat bottomed and both its sides and base are fairly thick. It features a typical Berber simple geometric stylized decoration made drawn with natural pigments obtained from extracts of local plants such as the mastic tree. It will make a great contribution to any patio, garden, veranda or even interior decoration. A true ethnic piece enjoying an undeniable character.

A lovely old earthenware vessel -bukala- from the Rif region in Northern Morocco. It is used to store food. The pottery from the Rif region is handmade by women using the coil technique. Once the piece is molded, it will be polished and a slip (engobe) is applied to it. Traditional tribal designs are painted with natural dyes that, in addition to decorating, have prophylactic and flattering effects. Finally, it is cooked in primitive adobe ovens or buried in embers. Authentic ancestral beauty!

A lovely old earthenware vessel -bukala- from the Rif region in Northern Morocco. It is used to store food. The pottery from the Rif region is handmade by women using the coil technique. Once the piece is molded, it will be polished and a slip (engobe) is applied to it. Traditional tribal designs are painted with natural dyes that, in addition to decorating, have prophylactic and flattering effects. Finally, it is cooked in primitive adobe ovens or buried in embers. Authentic ancestral beauty!

An old wooden footed chest from the Siroua region in Southerneast Morocco. Its shows a rich and nice painted decoration which if very characteristic from the Berber group of the Aït Ouaouzguite. This kind of pieces of furniture or -sunduk- was used by the bride to keep her trousseau and other personal belongings such as jewellery.

Great vintage cedar wood chest or -sunduk- from Morocco. Features high use patina giving it a marked personality.

A great old Senufo bed probably meant for a child due to its size. A wonderful and original piece of African ethnography.

A lovely antique earthenware vessel from the Rif region in Northern Morocco. It was mainly used for the cleansing deemed necessary by the Coran before praying. Rare authentic ancestral beauty. 

A nice and old berber decorated wood box traditionally used to store the rock sugar used to prepare the famous morocan tea. Superb patina.

Old small wood chest from Morocco. So worn by use and superb patina.

Bonita olla  antigua de barro con tapa procedente la región montañosa del Rif, al norte de Marruecos. Este tipo de olla, con formas más sinuosas que la “Guedra”, se emplea para preparar comidas con bastante líquido, como guisos, purés o la famosa Jarera (sopa).

Great old Berber earthenware vessel from the Tata region in Morocco. Superb and warm patina due to years and years of traditional use.

Pequeña botella de cerámica decorada generalmente usada por los campesinos del Rif, a modo de cantimplora de agua cuando salen a sus labores diarias al campo. También utilizada para guardar y servir el licor de higo Ma’a Al Hayat.

A beautiful old earthenware vessel from the Rif region in Northern Morocco used to collect butter, honey or sugar. The pottery from the Rif region is handmade by women using the coil technique. Once the piece is molded, it will be polished and a slip (engobe) is applied to it. Traditional tribal designs are painted with natural dyes that, in addition to decorating, have prophylactic and flattering effects. Finally, it is cooked in primitive adobe ovens or buried in embers. Authentic ancestral beauty!

A lovely old earthenware pot -guedra- from the Rif region in Northern Morocco. Used to prepare food. The pottery from the Rif region is handmade by women using the coil technique. Once the piece is molded, it will be polished and a slip (engobe) is applied to it. Traditional tribal designs are painted with natural dyes that, in addition to decorating, have prophylactic and flattering effects. Finally, it is cooked in primitive adobe ovens or buried in embers. Authentic ancestral beauty!

An old Berber clay funnel from Morocco. It was probably used as a means to pour liquids into narrow neck containers. Superb patina.

Great and heavy old Moroccan Berber high footed old clay dish from the Tata region in Morocco. Superb and warm patina due to years and years of traditional use.

A lovely old earthenware pot -guedra- from the Rif region in Northern Morocco. Used to prepare food. The pottery from the Rif region is handmade by women using the coil technique. Once the piece is molded, it will be polished and a slip (engobe) is applied to it. Traditional tribal designs are painted with natural dyes that, in addition to decorating, have prophylactic and flattering effects. Finally, it is cooked in primitive adobe ovens or buried in embers. Authentic ancestral beauty!

A hand-made old Berber earthenware water jar or vessel from the Rif region in Northern Morocco.  It features a typical Berber simple geometric stylized decoration made drawn with natural pigments obtained from extracts of local plants such as the mastic tree. It will make a great contribution to any patio, garden, veranda or even interior decoration. A true ethnic piece enjoying an undeniable character.

Wood is cherished in harsh enviroments such as the Sahel and the Sahara Desert. It is used in a number of utensils from bowls to camel saddles. A variety of poles is used in the tents -jaima- as mat supports, as hangers for bags, etc. They are often richly decorated and they may then turn into symbols of status. This particular piece is called -ame ssaqqab-. It is used inside the -jaima- and, four of them, are used to set a sort of litter on a camel. Original repairs. Attractive patina, beatifully carved and minutely engraved.

A nice Moroccan glazed ceramic bowl.

A nice moroccan Tadelakt ceramic bowl. So decorative.

An old and fabulous cedarwood box traditionally used for store the tea glasses, which are used to drink the famous moroccan tea. So worn by use and superb patina.

Simply superb big size old wooden mortar and pestle. They are used in the Sahel and vast areas in sub-Saharan Africa to grind the millet by rythmically beating it with the long wooden pestle. Beautiful patina. An outstanding ethnographic piece not to miss. Pestle measure 57 cm.

Simply superb big size old Mauritanian wooden mortar and pestle. They are used in the Sahel and vast areas in sub-Saharan Africa to grind the millet by rythmically beating it with the long wooden pestle. Sometimes two people do that by beating in turn the millet inside the mortar in a captivating cadence. Beautiful patina. An outstanding ethnographic piece not to miss. Pestle measure, 145 cm.

A superb old Tuareg wooden food bowl -tazawat-. It would have been used as a food and liquid container probably for soured milk, the basis of Tuareg diet. Its color and patina are great.

An old hand-made Berber artisan large earthenware water jar or vessel from the area of Taounate in the Rif mountain range to the north-east of the Moroccan imperial city of Fes. Low-fired, it is flat bottomed and both its sides and base are fairly thick. That, together with its somewhat irregular shape, makes us thing that it was entirely hand-made by the artisan without using a potter's wheel which adds up to its charm. It features a typical Berber simple geometric sylized decoration possibly drawn with a small pick or some goat hairs and natural pigments obtained from extracts of local plants such as the mastic tree. The handles are very original and remind somehow the head of a ram. It is in an overall very good general state and will make a great contribution to any patio, garden, veranda or even interior decoration. A true ethnic piece enjoying an undeniable character.

An old and fabulous cedarwood box traditionally used for store the glasses which are used to prepare the famous moroccan tea. So worn by use and superb patina.

A truly great Berber old clary earthenware vessel from the Taliouine-Sous region in Southern Morocco. It features a simple antlers or palm tree motif characteristic from this area. It would have served as cooking pot on open fire for many years, therefore it superb dark patina which enhances its overall appeal as an elegant decorative item.