Textiles

A lovely Berber woman's shawl, cape or -handira- from the group of the Aït Atta. It features the very characteristic distribution of stripes and colors of this group. The large confederation of the Aït Atta inhabits an extense area on the High Atlas from the Draa valley to the Ziz valley. Capes like this would be worn on special gatherings and ocassions by the women of the group and from some other neighbouring group as the Aït Hadiddou, fastened by silver fibula or brooches. This handmade handira has been woven in wool and it combines the use of natural dyes in a design that mixes the three traditional colors, red, black and green against a white or cream background and the combination of stripes of equal width in its central part. The traditional design is completed by a fringe bordering the side edges.

A lovely Berber woman's shawl, cape or -handira- from the group of the Aït Atta. It features the very characteristic distribution of stripes and colors of this group. The large confederation of the Aït Atta inhabits an extense area on the High Atlas from the Draa valley to the Ziz valley. Capes like this would be worn on special gatherings and ocassions by the women of the group and from some other neighbouring group as the Aït Hadiddou, fastened by silver fibula or brooches. This handmade handira has been woven in wool and it combines the use of natural dyes in a design that mixes the three traditional colors, red, black and green against a white or cream background and the combination of stripes of equal width in its central part. The traditional design is completed by a fringe bordering the side edges.

Piece of An appealing Berber haïk or shawl from M´Tougha in the Moroccan High Atlas. Handmade. Woven natural undyed wool. The combination of browns and creams as well as the distribution of the stripes are magnificent and grant it an elegant and authentic tribal character. A -haïk-, -hayk-, -haik- or -tahraoukht-, is an outer garment used by the different Berber tribes as part of their attire. It may come in many sizes and the way to wear it can vary a lot depending on the are and the needs of the wearer, for example, as a cape or as a sort of veil to cover head and face.

A lovely Berber woman's shawl, cape or -handira- from the group of the Aït Atta. It features the very characteristic distribution of stripes and colors of this group. The large confederation of the Aït Atta inhabits an extense area on the High Atlas from the Draa valley to the Ziz valley. Capes like this would be worn on special gatherings and ocassions by the women of the group and from some other neighbouring group as the Aït Hadiddou, fastened by silver fibula or brooches. This handmade handira has been woven in wool and it combines the use of natural dyes in a design that mixes the three traditional colors, red, black and green against a white or cream background and the combination of stripes of equal width in its central part. The traditional design is completed by a fringe bordering the side edges.

A lovely Berber woman's shawl, cape or -handira- from the group of the Aït Atta. It features the very characteristic distribution of stripes and colors of this group. The large confederation of the Aït Atta inhabits an extense area on the High Atlas from the Draa valley to the Ziz valley. Capes like this would be worn on special gatherings and ocassions by the women of the group and from some other neighbouring group as the Aït Hadiddou, fastened by silver fibula or brooches. This handmade handira has been woven in wool and it combines the use of natural dyes in a design that mixes the three traditional colors, red, black and green against a white or cream background and the combination of stripes of equal width in its central part. The traditional design is completed by a fringe bordering the side edges.

Bogolan textiles are amongst the most interesting textiles from Western Africa. Their amazingly avant-garde design should not make us think that we are in front of a recent evolution of African art but we are rather facing an ancient craft. The name would come from the Bambara language and linked to the use quite often of mud in the process of making. The variety of designs is almost endless. It is made from narrow strips of cotton woven by dexterous artisans, which are then sewn together to make larger pieces of cloth. Those are then dyed and decorated in a serie of different stages using natural substances. True pieces of tribal art not to be missed.  

Bogolan textiles are amongst the most interesting textiles from Western Africa. Their amazingly avant-garde design should not make us think that we are in front of a recent evolution of African art but we are rather facing an ancient craft. The name would come from the Bambara language and linked to the use quite often of mud in the process of making. The variety of designs is almost endless. It is made from narrow strips of cotton woven by dexterous artisans, which are then sewn together to make larger pieces of cloth. Those are then dyed and decorated in a serie of different stages using natural substances. True pieces of tribal art not to be missed.  

A cushion from the Berber tribe of the Zaïan. The group of the Zaïan inhabits areas of the Middle Atlas mountain range in Morocco. Their textiles are well-known for their quality and design and the richness of their palette. Hand flatwoven -hanbel- in wool and cotton. Beautiful and very decorative.

Filling not include.

A cushion from the Berber tribe of the Zaïan. The group of the Zaïan inhabits areas of the Middle Atlas mountain range in Morocco. Their textiles are well-known for their quality and design and the richness of their palette. Hand flatwoven -hanbel- in wool and cotton. Beautiful and very decorative.

Filling not include.

A cushion from the Berber tribe of the Zemmour. The group of the Zemmour inhabits areas of the Middle Atlas mountain range in Morocco. Their textiles are well-known for their quality and design and the richness of their palette. Hand flatwoven -hanbel- in wool and cotton. Beautiful and very decorative.

Filling not include.

A cushion from the Berber tribe of the Zemmour. The group of the Zemmour inhabits areas of the Middle Atlas mountain range in Morocco. Their textiles are well-known for their quality and design and the richness of their palette. Hand flatwoven -hanbel- in wool and cotton. Beautiful and very decorative.

Filling not include.

A cushion from the Berber tribe of the Zaïan. The group of the Zaïan inhabits areas of the Middle Atlas mountain range in Morocco. Their textiles are well-known for their quality and design and the richness of their palette. Hand flatwoven -hanbel- in wool and cotton. Beautiful and very decorative.

Filling not include.

An artisan handmade Moroccan vegetal fibre or reed mat. Partially dyed in a lovely strawberry color and featuring an attractive lozenge pattern decoration. Very light and as versatile as the uses you may give it.

An artisan handmade Moroccan vegetal fibre or reed mat. Partially dyed in a lovely dark purple color and featuring an attractive lozenge pattern decoration. Very light and as versatile as the uses you may give it.

An artisan handmade Moroccan vegetal fibre or reed mat. Partially dyed in a lovely green color and featuring an attractive lozenge pattern decoration. Very light and as versatile as the uses you may give it.

Moroccan Handwoven  cushion from the silk of a cactus plant, called the Sabra Cactus, only found in Morocco. This material creates a silky texture and shiny colours.

Filling not included.

Moroccan Handwoven  cushion from the silk of a cactus plant, called the Sabra Cactus, only found in Morocco. This material creates a silky texture and shiny colours.

Filling not included.

Moroccan Handwoven  cushion from the silk of a cactus plant, called the Sabra Cactus, only found in Morocco. This material creates a silky texture and shiny colours.

Filling not included.

Moroccan Handwoven  cushion from the silk of a cactus plant, called the Sabra Cactus, only found in Morocco. This material creates a silky texture and shiny colours.

Filling not included.

Moroccan Handwoven  cushion from the silk of a cactus plant, called the Sabra Cactus, only found in Morocco. This material creates a silky texture and shiny colours.

Filling not included.

Moroccan Handwoven  cushion from the silk of a cactus plant, called the Sabra Cactus, only found in Morocco. This material creates a silky texture and shiny colours.

Filling not included.

Moroccan Handwoven  cushion from the silk of a cactus plant, called the Sabra Cactus, only found in Morocco. This material creates a silky texture and shiny colours.

Filling not included.

Moroccan Handwoven Rug from the silk of a cactus plant, called the Sabra Cactus, only found in Morocco. This material creates a silky texture and shiny colours.

Moroccan Handwoven Rug from the silk of a cactus plant, called the Sabra Cactus, only found in Morocco. This material creates a silky texture and shiny colours.

Moroccan Handwoven Rug from the silk of a cactus plant, called the Sabra Cactus, only found in Morocco. This material creates a silky texture and shiny colours.

Moroccan Handwoven Rug from the silk of a cactus plant, called the Sabra Cactus, only found in Morocco. This material creates a silky texture and shiny colours.

Moroccan Handwoven Rug from the silk of a cactus plant, called the Sabra Cactus, only found in Morocco. This material creates a silky texture and shiny colours.

A Mauritanian wowen reed mat from the Sahara Desert and the Sahel. It features a beautiful decoration made of strips of leather forming geometrical patterns. They are commonly used as screens, as a dividers or as a mats. Very decorative.

A Mauritanian wowen reed mat from the Sahara Desert and the Sahel. It features a beautiful decoration made of strips of leather forming geometrical patterns. They are commonly used as screens, as a dividers or as a mats. Very decorative.

A great woman's vintage shawl, cape or -handira- from the Berber group of the Beni or Aït Ouaraïn in the Middle Atlas mountain range in Morocco. It combines handwoven natural undyed wool and cotton with natural dyes. It features the very distinctive striped decoration used by this group with typical geommetrical decorative motifs full of meanings and symbology. Usually fringed and with two straps to knot it round the chest. Lovey cream and camel colors. The Beni Ouaraïn are a confederation formed by about seventeen Berber groups inhabiting primarily the northeastern part of the Moroccan Middle Atlas mountain range.The quality of the Beni Ouaraïn textiles has been acknowledged admired since long and to that have contributed the dexterity of their mainly women artisan weavers.

A newly hand-made Berber knotted undyed wool rug from the tribe of the Beni Ouaraïn inhabiting the Western part of the Moroccan Middle Atlas mountain range. Their long pile and silky touch rugs have become well-known worldwide for the use of the very characteristic so-called -Berber knot- on two or three warp threads, the lovely cream palette of the natural undyed wool used, their usually plain or lozenge-based decoration and their thickness. That latter is no doubt attributable to the fact that it would have served as a mattress for the family to withstand the freezing cold winter nights at the Atlas and then turned over onto the other side during the summer. Grey design.

A newly hand-made Berber knotted undyed wool rug from the tribe of the Beni Ouaraïn inhabiting the Western part of the Moroccan Middle Atlas mountain range. Their long pile and silky touch rugs have become well-known worldwide for the use of the very characteristic so-called -Berber knot- on two or three warp threads, the lovely cream palette of the natural undyed wool used, their usually plain or lozenge-based decoration and their thickness. That latter is no doubt attributable to the fact that it would have served as a mattress for the family to withstand the freezing cold winter nights at the Atlas and then turned over onto the other side during the summer. Black design.

Boujad Berber rugs come from the plains east of the imperial city of Marrakech in Morocco. The artisans would travel to the souks of this city to sell their carpets. The better known Berber group inhabiting the area from which these carpets come from are the Beni Moussa. These handmade medium wool pile knotted rugs bear some resemblance to those from the region of Haouz. They made use a wide variety of colors and loose geometric patterns or play with different shades of the same palette such as reds, pinks and any other colours. In any event always a pleasure for the senses.

Boujad Berber rugs come from the plains east of the imperial city of Marrakech in Morocco. The artisans would travel to the souks of this city to sell their carpets. The better known Berber group inhabiting the area from which these carpets come from are the Beni Moussa. These handmade medium wool pile knotted rugs bear some resemblance to those from the region of Haouz. They made use a wide variety of colors and loose geometric patterns or play with different shades of the same palette such as reds, pinks and any other colours. In any event always a pleasure for the senses.

Boujad Berber rugs come from the plains east of the imperial city of Marrakech in Morocco. The artisans would travel to the souks of this city to sell their carpets. The better known Berber group inhabiting the area from which these carpets come from are the Beni Moussa. These handmade medium wool pile knotted rugs bear some resemblance to those from the region of Haouz. They made use a wide variety of colors and loose geometric patterns or play with different shades of the same palette such as reds, pinks and any other colours. In any event always a pleasure for the senses.

The artisan handmade Azilal knotted rugs are yet another sample of the endless creativity of the Berber mind. They are mainly woven in the the Moroccan province of Azilal, a mountainous region that lies between the High and Middle Atlas range. Among the Berber groups inhabiting that area we may cite the Aït bou Oulli, the Aït Bouguemez or the Aït Sokhmane. Sheep wool is used for the pile, warp and weft but in the last decades some other materials have been introduced. They are knotted using a symmetrical knot on two warps though sometimes the so-called Berber knot is used as well. The are usually medium-piled. In any case the outcome is always spectacular, and exceedingly decorative.