Fabrics and cloths

The word -suzani- derives from the old persian word for needle so that it may be translated as -needlework-. Suzanis are one of the most attractive traditional crafts from Uzbekistan and they have been highly reputed for centuries. They are used as bed covers, as hangings and even as table covers. This beautiful old handmade example is embroidered on cotton and shows a luxurious floral decoration. A piece that will catch everybody's immediate attention.

The word -suzani- derives from the old persian word for needle so that it may be translated as -needlework-. Suzanis are one of the most attractive traditional crafts from Uzbekistan and they have been highly reputed for centuries. They are used as bed covers, as hangings and even as table covers. This beautiful old handmade example is embroidered on cotton and shows a luxurious floral decoration. A piece that will catch everybody's immediate attention.

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 vintage shawl, cape or -handira- from the Moroccan Berber group of the Marmoucha. Its shows a beautiful striped decoration with a great combination of colors. Handwowen in natural wool. Garments like this one are used not only in festive gatherings but also daily as a garment to withstand the freezing winter temperatures in the Atlas. It is fastened with textile straps or with fibula. 

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. 

This captivating example of an old Berber woman's shawl, -takhardit or tahruyt-, from the group of the Aït Atta is likely to be among the most easily recognisable of the garments of that kind worn by the members of this group together with their reputed handiras. The reason for that is probably the appealing colourful and fastastic artisan embroidered decoration usually distributed on both sides of a longitudinal axis or -tananmmast- which constitute yet another wonderful evidence of the awesome and vast Berber iconography. These shalws are equally used as such as wells as to cover the head and tpart of the face and, in case of the Aï Khabbash subgroup of the Aït Atta, are frequently further decorated with pompoms and small sequins.v The large confederation of the Aït Atta inhabits an extense area on the High Atlas from the Draa valley to the Ziz valley. Cotton. Some small tears and old repairs. A superb piece in all senses.

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 Berber handira or shawl from Kelaa M'Gouna, also known as the Valley of the Roses, in Southern Morocco at the doors of the vast Sahara Desert. Handmade. Woven natural wool. The combination of colors as well as the distribution of the stripes are magnificent and grant it an elegant and authentic tribal character. This kind of pieces is usually used as blankets as well as outer garments.

A Berber haïk or shawl from the region of Haouz to the West of the imperial city of Marrakech in Morocco. Handmade. Woven natural undyed wool. The combination of creams as well as the distribution of the stripes are great and confer 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.

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 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 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 vintage girl's shawl, cape or -handira- from the Moroccan Berber group of the Marmoucha. Its shows a beatiful striped decoration featuring typical Berber motifs and a great combination of colors. Handwowen in wool and cotton (part if the decoration). Garments like this one are used not only in festive gatherings but also daily as a garment to withstand the freezing winter temperatures in the Atlas. It is fastened with textile straps or with fibula. 

The area where the Marmoucha Berber clan, belonging to the larger Zenata group, is not far from the imperial Moroccan city of Fes in the southern Middle Atlas. The Marmoucha are neighbours of the Beni Ouarain and that is why some of their pieces remind sometimes of the patterns and designs from the latter. Their flatweaves usually are rich in colors and tend to be quite bright and dense. The use of diamond or lozenge strings lattice of narrow black lines circling white squares is a typical old Marmoucha motif. In their knotted rugs they usually use the so-called Berber knot. 

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. 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. Among those tribes they may be cited the Aït Jelidassen, the Zerarda, the Aït Assou, the Ahl Telt, the Beni bou Zart or the Imrilen. 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 nice Berber fringed -handira-, cape or shawl from M-Tougha in the Moroccan High Atlas mountain range. It is handwoven in both natural undyed and dyed wool. Cotton weft. The distribution of its stripes and the combination of reddish, white and blueish colors is very attractive. This kind of pieces is usually used as blankets as well as outer garments to withstand the freezing nights in the High Atlas. 

A great Berber fringed -handira-, cape or shawl from M-Tougha in the Moroccan High Atlas mountain range. It is handwoven in natural dyed and undyed wool. Cotton weft. The distribution of its stripes and the combination of colors is very attractive. This kind of pieces is usually used as blankets as well as outer garments to withstand the freezing nights in the High Atlas. 

A lovely Berber haïk or shawl from M´Tougha in the Moroccan High Atlas. Handmade. Woven natural undyed wool and coton. Stripes dyed with natural henna extract. 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  woman's shawl, cape or -handira- from the High Atlas, though the use of these capes has extended to some areas of the High Atlas as well. It combines handwoven natural undyed wool and cotton. It features very distinctive decorative stripes and long cotton fringes or pile. Distinctive sequins on cotton threads have been added. Nowadays it would be used during special gatherings and festivities where the women, dancing together, make a magical sound by ratling their jewellery and the sequins themselves!. 

A  woman's shawl, cape or -handira- from the High Atlas, though the use of these capes has extended to some areas of the High Atlas as well. It combines handwoven natural undyed wool and cotton. It features very distinctive decorative stripes and long cotton fringes or pile. Distinctive sequins on cotton threads have been added. Nowadays it would be used during special gatherings and festivities where the women, dancing together, make a magical sound by ratling their jewellery and the sequins themselves!. 

A  woman's shawl, cape or -handira- from the High Atlas, though the use of these capes has extended to some areas of the High Atlas as well. It combines handwoven natural undyed wool and cotton. It features very distinctive decorative stripes. Nowadays it would be used during special gatherings and festivities where the women, dancing together, make a magical sound by ratling their jewellery. 

A  woman's shawl, cape or -handira- from the High Atlas, though the use of these capes has extended to some areas of the High Atlas as well. It combines handwoven natural undyed wool and cotton. It features very distinctive decorative stripes and long cotton fringes or pile. Distinctive sequins on cotton threads have been added. Nowadays it would be used during special gatherings and festivities where the women, dancing together, make a magical sound by ratling their jewellery and the sequins themselves!. 

A  woman's shawl, cape or -handira- from the High Atlas, though the use of these capes has extended to some areas of the High Atlas as well. It combines handwoven natural undyed wool and cotton. It features very distinctive decorative stripes and long cotton fringes or pile. Distinctive sequins on cotton threads have been added. Nowadays it would be used during special gatherings and festivities where the women, dancing together, make a magical sound by ratling their jewellery and the sequins themselves!. 

This captivating example of an old Berber woman's shawl, -takhardit or tahruyt-, from the group of the Aït Atta is likely to be among the most easily recognisable of the garments of that kind worn by the members of this group together with their reputed handiras. The reason for that is probably the appealing colourful and fastastic artisan embroidered decoration usually distributed on both sides of a longitudinal axis or -tananmmast- which constitute yet another wonderful evidence of the awesome and vast Berber iconography. These shalws are equally used as such as wells as to cover the head and tpart of the face and, in case of the Aï Khabbash subgroup of the Aït Atta, are frequently further decorated with pompoms and small sequins.v The large confederation of the Aït Atta inhabits an extense area on the High Atlas from the Draa valley to the Ziz valley. Cotton. Some small tears and old repairs. A superb piece in all senses.

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 beautiful woman's shawl, cape or -handira- showing the arrangement of stripes and colours of the Berber tribe of the Aït Brahim belonging to the group of the Aït Haddidou, in the Moroccan High Atlas. Handwoven wool. Natural dyes. It is used not only in festive gatherings but also daily as a garment to withstand the freezing winter temperatures in the Atlas. It is fastened with textile straps or with fibulae. If the woman is married then she would also combine it with a very distinctive pointed headgear.

An appealing woman's shawl, cape or -handira- featuring the distinctive colours and stripes of one of the three fractions of the Berber tribe of the Aït Morrhad in the High Atlas mountain range in Morocco. Handwoven wool. Natural dyes. It is used to withstand the cold winter temperatures in the Atlas and during festive gatherings.

An appealing woman's shawl, cape or -handira- featuring the distinctive colours and stripes of one of the three fractions of the Berber tribe of the Aït Morrhad in the High Atlas mountain range in Morocco. Handwoven wool. Natural dyes. It is used to withstand the cold winter temperatures in the Atlas and during festive gatherings. 

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. Fringed. 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. Among those tribes they may be cited the Aït Jelidassen, the Zerarda, the Aït Assou, the Ahl Telt, the Beni bou Zart or the Imrilen. 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 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. 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. Among those tribes they may be cited the Aït Jelidassen, the Zerarda, the Aït Assou, the Ahl Telt, the Beni bou Zart or the Imrilen. 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 great woman's shawl, cape or -handira- showing the arrangement of stripes and colours of the Berber tribe of the Aït Brahim belonging to the group of the Aït Haddidou, in the Moroccan High Atlas. Handwoven wool. Natural dyes. Check the lovely green!. It is used not only in festive gatherings but also daily as a garment to withstand the freezing winter temperatures in the Atlas. It is fastened with textile straps or with fibulae. If the woman is married then she would also combine it with a very distinctive pointed headgear. 1950´s-60's.

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. 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. Among those tribes they may be cited the Aït Jelidassen, the Zerarda, the Aït Assou, the Ahl Telt, the Beni bou Zart or the Imrilen. 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 stunning woman's old ceremonial veil or headscarf from the Berber Ida tribes, most likely from the Ida ou Kensous or the Ida ou Zeddoute, inhabiting areas of the Moroccan Central Anti Atlas in the region of the Jbel Siroua. Hanndwoven in wool by artisan weavers and painted and dyed in three shades with henna in averu characteristic U-shaped pattern. Fringed at the bottom. It would have been used in special gathering by the women of the tribe as veils or to cover their heads and shoulders. A superb piece with truly captivating design and colors. A genuine true ethnographic jewel.

A nice 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 in this kind of garments and group. 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. Among those tribes they may be cited the Aït Jelidassen, the Zerarda, the Aït Assou, the Ahl Telt, the Beni bou Zart or the Imrilen. 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 lovely old 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. This particular example comes from the area of Msemrir where the Aït Atta sub-group of the Aït Oussikis lives. A beautiful piece.    

A lovely Berber fringed -handira-, cape or shawl from M-Tougha in the Moroccan High Atlas mountain range. It is handwoven in natural undyed wool. The distribution of its black and white stripes yet simple is very apealling. This kind of pieces is usually used as blankets as well as outer garments to withstand the freezing nights in the High Atlas.