Knotted

Beni Mrirt or Beni M'Rirt handmade artisan knotted rugs are woven in the Moroccan region of the same name in the Middle Atlas mountain range. Sometimes they are mistakenly taken for Beni Ouaraïn rugs, particularly those examples with a cream or white background. However, Beni MRirt rugs have their own distinctive features such as a denser pile and the wonderful and characteristic use of deep colors such as reds, orange or brown for the background. It should also be noted the quality of the wool as well as, when decorated, the originality of the motifs used and of their distribution. Apparently naïve and most charming motifs are then used mixing female and male symbols reflecting the always amazing Berber symbology. These rugs are very original, cosy and show great personality. This particualr rug has an original black narrow stripe at one of its ends.

Among the artisan handknotted rugs woven by the different Berber groups living in the Moroccan Middle Atlas mountains those made by the tribe of the Beni Mguild are, no doubt about it, among the most remarkable and attractive ones. To that contribute the quality of the wool, knotted by means of the so-called Berber knot and, sometimes, the symmetrical knot; 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 beautiful example features an outstanding purple/pink palette and a signature reading Ali Bi l’Arabi.  

A great contemporary artisan made Berber wool knotted rug from the Moroccan city of Tazenakht, Aït Ouaouazguite's tribe commercial capital. Very attratctive checkerboard design.

The Beni Ouaraïn form a confederation of about seventeen Berber groups inhabiting the Northeastern part of the Moroccan Middle Atlas mountain range. Among those tribes we find 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 and admired since long. To that have contributed the dexterity of their artisan weavers (mainly women) and the quality of the wool from a local breed of small sheeps that may still be found in certain areas inhabited by the Beni Ouaraïn. Their rugs use that wool for their warp, weft and knots. Their medium to 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 and their medium to high thickness. However, as an exception, the expert Gebhart Blazek gives account as to how until relatively recent times the Beni bou Zart where still using the loop-knot for some of their textiles. When decorated they use geometrical patterns that reflect the richness of the Berber iconography and simbology with references to feminine and masculine elements as well as to protective motifs. Beni Ouaraïn rugs are not originally meant for decoration. They would serve as mattresses for the family to withstand the freezing cold winter nights at the Atlas and then, turned over onto the other side, during the summer. Rugs with a strong tribal character and extremely decorative.

The Beni Ouaraïn form a confederation of about seventeen Berber groups inhabiting the Northeastern part of the Moroccan Middle Atlas mountain range. Among those tribes we find 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 and admired since long. To that have contributed the dexterity of their artisan weavers (mainly women) and the quality of the wool from a local breed of small sheeps that may still be found in certain areas inhabited by the Beni Ouaraïn. Their rugs use that wool for their warp, weft and knots. Their medium to 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 and their medium to high thickness. However, as an exception, the expert Gebhart Blazek gives account as to how until relatively recent times the Beni bou Zart where still using the loop-knot for some of their textiles. When decorated they use geometrical patterns that reflect the richness of the Berber iconography and simbology with references to feminine and masculine elements as well as to protective motifs. Beni Ouaraïn rugs are not originally meant for decoration. They would serve as mattresses for the family to withstand the freezing cold winter nights at the Atlas and then, turned over onto the other side, during the summer. Rugs with a strong tribal character and extremely decorative.

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 broad lines three main types of Azilal carpets can be described. The first one is the classical  one. Natural undyed white or cream wool is employed for the backgroung whilst natural undyed brown, black wool or, eventually some other color, is used for the decoration. The second type main characteristic is the deep red wool background where the decoration, either geommetrical or abstract, may show a fairly wide range of colors. This model is found among the Aït Bouzid and some experts see there influences from urban carpets from the city of Rabat. The third model appeared around the mid-1980's and its main feature is the use, together with natural or dyed wool, of a broader range of textile materials such as synthetic dyed yarns, reused fibers, etc. In any case the outcome is always spectacular, and exceedingly decorative.    

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.       

The artisan handmade Azilal knotted rugs are yet another sample of Berber endless creativity. 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 broad lines three main types of Azilal carpets can be described. The first one is the classical  one. Natural undyed white or cream wool is employed for the backgroung whilst natural undyed brown, black wool or, eventually some other color, is used for the decoration. The second type main characteristic is the deep red wool background where the decoration, either geommetrical or abstract, may show a fairly wide range of colors. This model is found among the Aït Bouzid and some experts see there influences from urban carpets from the city of Rabat. The third model appeared around the mid-1980's and its main feature is the use, together with natural or dyed wool, of a broader range of textile materials such as synthetic dyed yarns, reused fibers, etc. In any case the outcome is always spectacular, and exceedingly decorative.    

Who ever said that London was the cradle of the punk movement?. The Valley of the Ourika and its surroundings in Morocco in the very heart of the Atlas mountain range from where this awesome comes could have been very well so. A Berber hand-made knotted wool that shows a boldest use of new and re-used materials where the purest Berber tradition produces a serious piece of art like this. The warps has been made using different materials. The weft combines woven undyed natural wool, knotted undyed natural cream and brown wool brightly coloured threads. True art at its best. Otros names: -boucherouite-. 1980's.