Flat woven

A Magnificent flat woven rug or Shadoui from the Jbel Siroua range, in the Moroccan southwest. Made entirely of natural undyed black and white wool. Originally used as saddlebags or riding blankets by members of the Berber tribe Aït Ouaouazguite.

Among the very characteristic pieces from this group there are this flatwoven striped textiles that in the local Berber dialect are called -lahmal i shadoui-. The weft-twining technique used for the weaving of these wool blankets, though certain examples may mix wool and goat hair for decoration, is called -shadaoui- and it can barely be found anywhere else in Morocco. True ethnic elegance, as this one. 

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Magnificent saddle blanket -Shadoui- from Jbel Siroua, in southwestern Morocco. Specifically from the Berber group of Aït Mzangan, belonging to the confederation of the Aït Ouaouazguite. Made entirely of natural wool, white and black without dyeing for the stripes, and natural dyes for the symbols. Masterfully crafted, features an extraordinary definition of its designs. Without a doubt a collector's item.

Originally used as saddlebags or horse blankets by members of the Berber tribe Aït Ouaouazguite, these flat weaves, which in the local Berber dialect are known as -lahmal i shadoui-, employ the technique known as -shadoui-, that is, weaving the weft over the warp in a characteristic way that, in a certain way, resembles embroidery despite being woven and decorated with black and white stripes, sometimes also mixed with goat hair, which they call Zanafi. This technique is very rare to find anywhere else in Morocco.

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A handmade artisan flatwoven rug or -hanbel- from the Berber group of the Zaïan. The Zaïan inhabit certain areas of the Moroccan Middle Atlas mountain range. Their textiles are well-renowned for their outstanding quality and design as well as for it rich use of colors, combining wool and cotton. The outcome is very often espectacular and a real pleasure for the eye.

Sensational vintage Berber hand-made hambel from the Middle Atlas region near the city of Azrou. This flat-woven rug made of wool and cotton, features a masterful decoration that combines traditional motifs and colours from this area and which, unfortunately, is difficult to find today. Unique!

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A handmade flatwoven rug or -hanbel- from the Berber tribe of the Zemmour. The Zemmour inhabit areas of the Middle Atlas mountain range in Morocco. Their flatwoven textiles are among the most reputed ones in Morocco. That is attributable not only to the quality of the materials, wool and cotton, but also to their skill, their beautiful use of reds and the vast variety of horizontal and vertical decorative motifs used that evidence the amazingly rich Berber symbology combining male, female and life elements. Very decorative and true pieces of art.

If you are interested in purchasing the piece, you can request a high-definition image to better appreciate the details. Click on +INFO

A handmade flatwoven rug or -hanbel- from the Berber tribe of the Zemmour. The Zemmour inhabit areas of the Middle Atlas mountain range in Morocco. Their flatwoven textiles are among the most reputed ones in Morocco. That is attributable not only to the quality of the materials, wool and cotton, but also to their skill, their beautiful use of reds and the vast variety of horizontal and vertical decorative motifs used that evidence the amazingly rich Berber symbology combining male, female and life elements. Very decorative and true pieces of art.

If you are interested in purchasing the piece, you can request a high-definition image to better appreciate the details. Click on +INFO

A handmade flatwoven rug or -hanbel- from the Berber tribe of the Zemmour. The Zemmour inhabit areas of the Middle Atlas mountain range in Morocco. Their flatwoven textiles are among the most reputed ones in Morocco. That is attributable not only to the quality of the materials, wool and cotton, but also to their skill, their beautiful use of reds and the vast variety of horizontal and vertical decorative motifs used that evidence the amazingly rich Berber symbology combining male, female and life elements. Very decorative and true pieces of art.

If you are interested in purchasing the piece, you can request a high-definition image to better appreciate the details. Click on +INFO

A handmade flatwoven rug or -hanbel- from the Berber tribe of the Zemmour. The Zemmour inhabit areas of the Middle Atlas mountain range in Morocco. Their flatwoven textiles are among the most reputed ones in Morocco. That is attributable not only to the quality of the materials, wool and cotton, but also to their skill, their beautiful use of reds and the vast variety of horizontal and vertical decorative motifs used that evidence the amazingly rich Berber symbology combining male, female and life elements. Very decorative and true pieces of art.

If you are interested in purchasing the piece, you can request a high-definition image to better appreciate the details. Click on +INFO

A handmade flatwoven rug or -hanbel- from the Berber tribe of the Zemmour. The Zemmour inhabit areas of the Middle Atlas mountain range in Morocco. Their flatwoven textiles are among the most reputed ones in Morocco. That is attributable not only to the quality of the materials, wool and cotton, but also to their skill, their beautiful use of reds and the vast variety of horizontal and vertical decorative motifs used that evidence the amazingly rich Berber symbology combining male, female and life elements. Very decorative and true pieces of art.

If you are interested in purchasing the piece, you can request a high-definition image to better appreciate the details. Click on +INFO

Attractive Berber shawl, cape or -handira- for girls from the Aït Atta group in the Moroccan High Atlas. It has the characteristic distribution of stripes and colours of this group.

The Handira is the traditional Berber shawl worn by women, whose design is unique to each clan or tribe, so that they can be identified in the weekly or annual souks and fairs, where people from different origins meet. On special occasions they wear them pinned with the characteristic set of silver brooches -fibulae- so typical of Moroccan goldsmithing.

The Aït Atta confederation inhabits an extensive territory that extends from the Draa valley to the Ziz valley in the Moroccan High Atlas mountain range.

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Authentic -handira-, Berber cape or shawl from M'Tougha in the Moroccan High Atlas. It is handwoven on cotton warp in natural, undyed wool, except for the orange stripe characteristic of this area.

The Handira is the traditional Berber shawl worn by women, whose design is unique to each clan or tribe, so that they can be easily identified in the weekly or annual souks and fairs, where people from different origins meet.

If you are interested in purchasing the piece, you can request a high-definition image to better appreciate the details. Click on +INFO

Authentic -handira-, Berber cape or shawl from M'Tougha in the Moroccan High Atlas. It is handwoven on cotton warp in natural, undyed wool, except for the orange stripe characteristic of this area.

The Handira is the traditional Berber shawl worn by women, whose design is unique to each clan or tribe, so that they can be easily identified in the weekly or annual souks and fairs, where people from different origins meet.

If you are interested in purchasing the piece, you can request a high-definition image to better appreciate the details. Click on +INFO

Beautiful vintage blanket -batani- with a cheerful combination of colours. Woven in wool and cotton on a warp made of reused materials. Very versatile.

It comes from the Ourika region, in the Moroccan High Atlas.

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Beautiful vintage blanket -batani-. It presents a very original combination of colors and propitiatory Berber symbols. Woven in wool on cotton warp on a high warp loom using the flat weaving technique, its versatility has no limits since due to its consistency, it could also be used on the floor as a rug.

It comes from the Ourika region, in the Moroccan High Atlas.

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A most beautiful vintage blanket - batani - with a very original combination of colours. Woven in wool on cotton warp on a high warp loom using the flat weaving technique, its versatility has no limits since, due to its consistency, it could also be used on the floor as a rug.

It comes from the Moroccan province of Azilal, a mountainous area located between the High and Middle Atlas. Among the Berber groups that inhabit it, the Aït bou Oulli stand out.

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Beautiful storage bag, saddlebag or -tagarart- made of old wool from the Berber tribe of Aït Bou Oulli. Made of natural, undyed wool. The asymmetry of its horizontal stripes gives it a delightful harmony.

These pieces are sewn together lengthwise, folded in half, to form a bag. They are used for transporting grain or horse blankets.

Among the Berber groups that inhabit the Moroccan province of Azilal, a mountainous area located between the High and Middle Atlas, the Aït Bou Oulli stand out.

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Beautiful storage bag, saddlebag or -tagarart- made of old wool from the M'Tougha region in the Moroccan High Atlas. Made of natural undyed wool. The asymmetry of its horizontal stripes gives it a delightful harmony.

These pieces are sewn together lengthwise folded in half to form a sack. They are used for transporting grain or horse blankets.

If you are interested in purchasing the piece, you can request a high-definition image to better appreciate the details. Click on +INFO

A handmade artisan Berber flatwoven saddlebag or -tagararth-. Woven in wool it combines a traditional stripe background made of cream and brown colour natural undyed wool with beautiful Berber tribal decoration in livelier colors and cotton. The motifs show female and masculine symbols as usual in Berber textiles. A superb ethnographic textiles piece.    

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 great woman's 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 great woman's 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 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.

The area where the Marmoucha Berber clan, belonging to the larger Zenaga 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. 

Among the artisan textiles, knotted and flatwoven (hanbel) alike, woven by the different Berber groups living in the Moroccan Middle Atlas mountains those made by the tribe of the Beni M’Guild are, no doubt, among the most remarkable and attractive ones. To that contribute the quality of the wool, the dense decoration that plays not only with the motifs, full of meanings and symbolism, but also with superb contrast of warm colors. The result is what we may define as almost irisdecent extremely lustrous medium pile rugs,elegant, full of character and that, sooner or later, end up becoming the focus of everybody's attention. This particular vintage hanbel features a wonderful combination of colors and shades and lozenge, fish bone and zig-zag pattern. Beautiful.  

A handmade Berber flatwoven rug or -hanbel- from the area of Azrou in Morocco. Wool and cotton. It is an oustanding example that also features a wonderful, dense and intricate decoration that combines many traditional Berber motifs.  Superb.

A handmade flatwoven rug or -hanbel- from the Berber tribe of the Zemmour. The Zemmour inhabit areas of the Middle Atlas mountain range in Morocco. Their flatwoven textiles are among the most reputed ones in Morocco. That is attributable not only to the quality of the materials, wool and cotton, but also to their skill, their beautiful use of reds and the vast variety of horizontal and vertical decorative motifs used that evidence the amazingly rich Berber symbology combining male, female and life elements. Very decorative and true pieces of art.

A handmade flatwoven rug or -hanbel- from the Berber tribe of the Zemmour. The Zemmour inhabit areas of the Middle Atlas mountain range in Morocco. Their flatwoven textiles are among the most reputed ones in Morocco. That is attributable not only to the quality of the materials, wool and cotton, but also to their skill, their beautiful use of reds and the vast variety of horizontal and vertical decorative motifs used that evidence the amazingly rich Berber symbology combining male, female and life elements. Very decorative and true pieces of art.

The area where the Marmoucha Berber clan, belonging to the larger Zenaga 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 handmade flatwoven rug or -hanbel- from the Berber tribe of the Zemmour. The Zemmour inhabit areas of the Middle Atlas mountain range in Morocco. Their flatwoven textiles are among the most reputed ones in Morocco. That is attributable not only to the quality of the materials, wool and cotton, but also to their skill and the vast variety of horizontal and vertical decorative motifs used that evidence the amazingly rich Berber symbology combining male, female and life elements. Very decorative and true pieces of art.

A vibrant and captivating artisan flatwoven rug (hanbel) from Morocco. It has been made using the boucherouite technique, that is, using bits of different pieces of materials (wool, cotton, etc) of bright colors to this pop result. So nice and soft.

A Berber hanbel from Zaer-Zemmour region in the Moroccan Middle Atlas. The textiles from tid region are reputed for their quality, design, the richness of their palette and the dense decorative motifs using lozenges and zig zag lines. Hand flatwoven -hanbel- in wool and cotton.

A handmade artisan flatwoven rug or -hanbel- from the Berber group of the Zaïan. The Zaïan inhabit certain areas of the Moroccan Middle Atlas mountain range. Their textiles are well-renowned for their outstanding quality and design as well as for it rich use of colors, combining wool and cotton. The outcome is very often espectacular and a real pleasure for the eye.

Among the artisan textiles, knotted and flatwoven (hanbel) alike, woven by the different Berber groups living in the Moroccan Middle Atlas mountains those made by the tribe of the Beni Mguild or Beni M’Guild are, no doubt, among the most remarkable and attractive ones. To that contribute the quality of the wool, the dense decoration that plays not only with the motifs, full of meanings and symbolism, but also with superb contrast of warm colors (brown, camel, gold, red, cream, etc.) without renouncing to brighter ones. The result is what we may define as almost irisdecent extremely lustrous medium pile rugs,elegant, full of character and that, sooner or later, end up becoming the focus of everybody's attention. This particular vintage hanbel features a wonderful combination of colors and shades and lozenge, fish bone and zig-zag pattern. Beautiful.