Flat woven

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.

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.

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 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.  

Beni Mrirt or Beni M'Rirt handmade artisan flatwoven rugs and blankets are woven in the Moroccan region of the same name in the Middle Atlas mountain range. In their making the Beni Mrirt artisans show their mastery in the weaving of wool and cotton as well as an oustanding creativity in the dense and intricate decoration combining traditional Berber motifs full of meanings. This one in stunning colors is full of character and extremely decorative piece.

Beni Mrirt or Beni M'Rirt handmade artisan flatwoven rugs and blankets are woven in the Moroccan region of the same name in the Middle Atlas mountain range. In their making the Beni Mrirt artisans show their mastery in the weaving of wool and cotton as well as an oustanding creativity in the dense and intricate decoration combining traditional Berber motifs full of meanings. This one in black and white is a full of character and extremely decorative piece.

A new artisan handmade flatwoven rug or -hanbel- from Morocco. Natural Wool and beautiful black decorative motifs.

A fancy flat woven rug or Shadoui from the Jbel Siroua range, in the Moroccan southwest. Made entirely of natural white and brown undyed wool, and orange of vegetal dye. 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. 

A beautiful flat woven rug or Shadoui from Jbel Siroua, in the Moroccan southwest. Originally used as a saddlebag or riding blanket by members of the Berber tribe Aït Ouaouazguite. Made entirely of natural white and black undyed wool and red of vegetable dyes, mixed with goat hair, which makes it specially strong and durable

Spectacular flat woven rug or Shadoui from the Jbel Siroua range, in the Moroccan southwest. Made entirely of natural undyed brown 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.

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. 

A beautiful flat woven rug or Shadoui from Jbel Siroua, in the Moroccan southwest. Originally used as a saddlebag or riding blanket by members of the Berber tribe Aït Ouaouazguite. Made entirely of natural white, black, grey and brown undyed wool and red of vegetable dyes, mixed with goat hair, which makes it specially strong and durable.

Yet another gorgeous example of the creativity and skill of the female weavers of the Jbel Siroua region in southwestern Morocco is this unique piece locally called Shadoui and used as a saddlebag or as a riding blanket. It is made of undyed natural color wool in the range of white to brown and vegetal colored decorated fringes. It combines the flat fabric of the base with the knotting of the horizontal stripes. Authentic collector piece!

These Berber artisan handmade flatwoven kilim-type textiles or -hanbel- from the Valley of the Ourika in the Moroccan High Atlas are quite a discovery. That is so not only because of their beauty and originality but also because they were quite unknown to most about little more than a decade ago. They are locally known as -lahmal- or -sachou- and they are made of sheep wool.  Their most characteristic features are the horizontal stripes and, most of all, that sort of lentil or protective eye decorative motif, called -ayyour-. The oldest examples use natural undyed wool covering most of the brown palette whilst later ones introduce a richer variety of colors. But again the most distinctive element is the -ayyour- which is woven using the eccentric weft technique. That means that the warp and the weft lines do not cross perpendicularly. This technique is very seldom found in Morocco but for some rare traditional male garment used among the Aït Ouaouzguite and in some areas of the Valley of the Ourika called -akhnif-.

A superb handmade Berber rug from Talsing in Figuig, one of the eastern provinces of Morocco. Flatwoven using wool of a vast variety of vibrant colors. The outcome is as modern looking as you can see. 

A handmade artisan Berber flatwoven wool blanket or -shadoui- from the Berber group of the Aït Ouaouzguite inhabiting the region of the extinct volcano of the Siroua between the Moroccan High and Middle Atlas mountain range. Among the very characteristic pieces from this group there are this flatwoven striped blankets that in the local Berber dialect are called -lahmal i shadoui-. The weft-twining technique used for the weawing of these wool blankets, though certain examples such as those coming from the Aït Ouarda may mix wool and cotton for decoration, is called -shadaoui- and it can barely found anywhere else in Morocco. True ethnic textile treasures. 

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.

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 colors 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 plains surrounding the imperial city of Marrakech is an important source of rugs and flatwoven textiles alike. The vastest region in that area is the Rehamna, to the north and east of Marrakech. Different weaver groups inhabiting the area produce them. There are two main types of textiles in the area, namely, fairly plain red hand-knotted pile rugs and flatweaves or -hanbels- and those which seem to find their inspiration in the motifs and patterns found in some other flatweaves. This beautiful artisan flatwoven wool rug -hanbel- falls within that first category. Its beautiful red tone should not be missed.    

An artisan handmade flatwoven vintage rug or -hanbel- from Oued Zem in the region of Chaouia in Morocco. Wool and cotton. This pieces is outstanding for its beautiful decorative motifs, its incredibly rich colours and the wonderful apparente chaos particularly in the central part. The vast variety of horizontal and vertical decorative motifs used evidences the amazingly rich Berber symbology combining male, female and life elements. Very decorative and a true piece of art.

A simply wonderful old Algerian flatwoven textile or -hanbel-. Wool and natural dyes. It features superb colors in a most appealling combination of stripes. Fringed. A truly rare piece worth-having in any North African textiles collection. Do not miss it!.

A handmade artisan flatwoven rug or -hanbel- from the Berber tribe of the Beni M'tir or the Beni Mtir, inhabiting areas of the western Middle Atlas mountain range in Morocco. Their flatwoven textiles made of wool and cotton evidence an oustanding mastery of weaving techniques as well as a  worth-admiring decoration, minute, precise and full of motifs that, as if it were a book, reflect the vastness and richness of Berber symbology.

These Berber artisan handmade flatwoven kilim-type textiles or -hanbel- from the Valley of the Ourika in the Moroccan High Atlas are quite a discovery. That is so not only because of their beauty and originality but also because they were quite unknown to most about little more than a decade ago. They are locally known as -lahmal- or -sachou- and they are made of sheep wool.  Their most characteristic features are the horizontal stripes and, most of all, that sort of lentil or protective eye decorative motif, called -ayyour-. The oldest examples use natural undyed wool covering most of the brown palette whilst later ones introduce a richer variety of colors. But again the most distinctive element is the -ayyour- which is woven using the eccentric weft technique. That means that the warp and the weft lines do not cross perpendicularly. This technique is very seldom found in Morocco but for some rare traditional male garment used among the Aït Ouaouzguite and in some areas of the Valley of the Ourika called -akhnif-.  

The textiles from the different Berber sub-goups of the Aït Ouaouzguite Confederation in the region of the Siroua between the Moroccan High and Anti Atlas mountain ranges, such as the Aït Ouarda, the Aït Tamassine, the Aït Ameur, the Aït Khezama, the Ait Oubial or the Aït Abdallah, are traditionally among the most reputed in Morocco. To that end contribute not only the quality of the materials employed, the dexterity of the artisan weavers but also the originality of the techniques used in their flatwoven textiles such as capes or –akhnif- or bags and shepperd and mount blankets –shadoui-, -l´rhomd- or -adil-. For their knotted piled rugs they commonly use the so-called symmetric knot and local sheep wool. In earliest examples the predominant colours are natural undyed white, cream, brown and black sheep wool. Natural black wool is still very highly esteemed due to the top quality of that wool coming from a local sheep breed and because according to Berber’s beliefs it is very effective to ward off evil eye and other bad influences. In not that old examples the colour palette is wider. As to decorative patterns those are clearly tribal though we can find sometimes some resemblance with those found in city examples from Rabat or Salé. That has very much to do with the old and long-lasting links between the Jewish communities of those cities and Aït Ouaouzguite’s ones. When it comes to flatwoven textiles the degrees of quality, originality and excellency are certainly outstanding, particularly among the Aït Ouarda and the Aït Tamassine, being the combination of white and black stripes of different width  and the use of the –shadaoui- or  weft-twining technique some of the more remarkable features. True pieces of tribal art at its best not to be missed.