OLD ORIENTAL CARPET

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MEDIUM RUGS 1

HERE YOU WILL FIND rugs of the size 181 to 275cms., or 6ft. to 9ft. long. with various width sizes.

Please send any questions or enquiries to me at ldrowcroft@gmail.com

BUYING OLD RUGS in the Medina in Marrakech.

AN OLD FORT near the town of Sidi Mokhtar is used as a collection point and co-operative for rugs woven in homes in the surrounding villages. Sometimes - with luck - a few old pieces are still available.

BERBER DESIGNS ARE OFTEN based on the world around them, in this case a life-size portrayal of the water seller who is a vital part of every market day. He wears the broad hat to protect against the scorching sun. Around his neck is his long chain holding his bell and the metal cups he dispenses water in. From the right shoulder his personal old goatskin bag contains money and his daily provisions, while the left bag contains the water. This is a primitive, fascinating expression of Berber life. The foundation is wool and the pile a mixture of wools and shredded textiles. It is from the Middle Atlas. Reference 2678. Size 228 x 145 cm., 7ft. 6ins. x 4ft. 9ins. Euros 420. THIS RUG HAS BEEN SOLD.

I took this photo in Khemisset market. Berber designs are often based on the world around them, in this case a life-size portrayal of the water seller who is a vital part of every market day. He wears the broad hat to protect against the scorching sun. Around his neck is his long chain holding his bell and the metal cups he dispenses water in. From the right shoulder his personal old goatskin bag contains money and his daily provisions, while the left bag contains the water. This is a primitive, fascinating expression of Berber life. The foundation is wool and the pile a mixture of wools and shredded textiles. It is from the Middle Atlas.

MOROCCAN BERBER MIXED TECHNIQUE RUG known as a handira. It is a mixture of piled woven sections and bands of embroidered kilim weave. This is a common mix for Berber rugs of the cold High Atlas where they act as seating rugs during the day and bed covers at night. This is a very good example with rich saturated colours and interesing design, especially the main border on all four sides. The use of the same colour wool for the wefts which is also used for the overcasting shows that it is from the Ait Tamassin Berber group. The excellent text book "Taznacht" has extensive notes on construction and dyes and shows 8 full colour examples of their work. Reference 3354. Size 247 x 154 cms., or 8 x 5 ft. Euros 875.

CLOSE UP shows rich coloured knotted pile sections separated by bands of plain kilim with floral designs.

MOROCCAN HIGH ATLAS BERBER CARPET. This old carpet is from the region of Ait Ouaouzguite in the High Atlas mountains south of Marrakech. The dyes include colours taken from henna, saffron and curcuma. It is in good original condition with full pile, complete ends and overcasting. There is a small reweave in the top kilim end border. A similar piece with these panel designs is shown in "From Sign to Image - The Moroccan Carpet" pages 169 to 171. Reference 2078. Size 270 x 160cms, 9ft x 5ft 3ins, Euros 1785.

MOROCCAN HIGH ATLAS BERBER CARPET. This old carpet is from the region of Ait Ouaouzguite in the High Atlas mountains south of Marrakech. The dyes include colours taken from henna, saffron and curcuma. It is in good original condition with full pile, complete ends and overcasting. There is a small reweave in the top kilim end border. A similar piece with these panel designs is shown in "From Sign to Image - The Moroccan Carpet" pages 169 to 171. Reference 2078. Size 270 x 160cms, 9ft x 5ft 3ins. CLOSE UP.

Only 13 miles separate my home in southern Spain from Morocco. It is only a 35 minute ferry to the northern city of Tangier. From there it is four wheel driving to the edge of the Sahara.

Traditional kilims, cushions and pillows provide a relaxing Moroccan interior. See the sections on Kilims/Flat Weaves and also Woven Bags and Artifacts for many similar examples.

MOROCCAN HIGH ATLAS BERBER RUG A gifted weaver has created an almost 3 dimensional look by contrasting central medallions of deep charcoal with lustrous undyed white wool in the field. There is minor use of a very light apricot highlight. This rug is from the region of Azilal in the foothills of the High Atlas, east of Marrakech. Reference 2553. Size 227 x 142cms. 7ft.5in. x 4ft.8in. Euros 865.

MOROCCAN HIGH ATLAS BERBER RUG A gifted weaver has created an almost 3 dimensional look by contrasting central medallions of deep charcoal with lustrous undyed white wool in the field. There is minor use of a very light apricot highlight. This rug is from the region of Azilal in the foothills of the High Atlas, east of Marrakech. Reference 2553. Size 227 x 142cms. 7ft.5in. x 4ft.8in. CLOSE UP.

MOROCCAN BERBER MIDDLE ATLAS RUG from the Berbers of the Boujad region. It has a great depth of colours and lustrous wools. It is old with woollen warps and wefts and wide original overcasting. Reference 2285. Size 230 x 125cms. 7ft.7in. x 4ft.1in. Euros 480.

MOROCCAN BERBER MIDDLE ATLAS RUG from the Berbers of the Boujad region. It has a great depth of colours and lustrous wools. It is old with woollen warps and wefts and wide original overcasting. Reference 2285. Size 230 x 125cms. 7ft.7in. x 4ft.1in. CLOSE UP:

MOROCCO BERBER RUG which is old but in outstanding unblemished condition and is complete with its embroidered kilim ends. The pile is full and the wools very lustrous. The colors appear to be natural and many shades of the local henna dyed wool have been used. The unique use of bands of different colored weft threads and their use in overcasting show that it is the work of the At Tamassin Berber group north of the major centre of Tazenacht. There is substantial information on this region and its weavings in the excellent text book "Tasnacht" by Kurt Rainer and Hassane el Yakine on pages 80 and 84 to 86. Reference 3350. Size 250 x 138 cms., or 8ft. 3ins. x 4ft. 7ins. Euros 1150.

CLOSE UP OF the deep, dark background upon which designs and motifs stand out sharply.

MOROCCAN BERBER HIGH ATLAS RUG. The simplistic designs have been achieved by using only various shades of undyed local Berber wools. The pile is knotted with the unique Berber overlapped knot which is shown in the book "From Sign To Image" on page 33.This is an old piece from the region of Azilal which lies in the foothills of the eastern High Atlas. It is intact and original with interesting braided ends. Rugs from this region are well documented in the textbook "Tapis de Tribus" and an example using similar combinations, although for a different design, is featured in Plate 38. Reference 2714. Size 200 x 103cms. 6ft.4in. x 3ft.5in. Euros 390.

MOROCCAN BERBER HIGH ATLAS RUG. The simplistic designs have been achieved by using only various shades of undyed local Berber wools. The pile is knotted with the unique Berber overlapped knot which is shown in the book "From Sign To Image" on page 33.This is an old piece from the region of Azilal which lies in the foothills of the eastern High Atlas. It is intact and original with interesting braided ends. Rugs from this region are well documented in the textbook "Tapis de Tribus" and an example using similar combinations, although for a different design, is featured in Plate 38. Reference 2714. Size 200 x 103cms. 6ft.4in. x 3ft.5in. CLOSE UP.

BEHIND THE DOOR AT THE END of this un-named alley in old Marrakech is a big surprise.....

HUNDREDS OF RUGS, piled floor to ceiling. This is just one of many hidden rug stores in the old Medina.

MOROCCAN MIDDLE ATLAS BERBER RUG. The use of squares and rectangles, as shown here, is peculiar to Berber work from the region of Boujad in the western Middle Atlas. There is a rug in "Marokko" by Kurt Rainer on plate 110 which has identical shades of the red, green and yellow as in this piece. It is attributed to the Beni Mussa Berber sub-tribe. It would make a dramatic wall hanging. Reference 2333. Size 188 x 125cms. 6ft.2in. x 4ft.1in. Euros 355.

MOROCCAN MIDDLE ATLAS BERBER RUG. The use of squares and rectangles, as shown here, is peculiar to Berber work from the region of Boujad in the western Middle Atlas. There is a rug in "Marokko" by Kurt Rainer on plate 110 which has identical shades of the red, green and yellow as in this piece. It is attributed to the Beni Mussa Berber sub-tribe. It would make a dramatic wall hanging. Reference 2333. Size 188 x 125cms. 6ft.2in. x 4ft.1in. CLOSE UP.

MOROCCAN BERBER RUG from the region of Tazenacht which lies in the High Atlas and is a long, twisting, climbing road south from Marrakesh. The wools are undyed and the dark squares are shades of the deepest, rich chestnut brown. The rug is in perfect condition and has intricate decorative weaving on the kilim ends. A similar piece is shown in the important text book "Taznacht" as plate 2 on page 125. Refrerence 2710. Size 195 x 108 cms., or 6ft. 5ins. x 3ft. 7ins. CLOSE UP.

MOROCCAN BERBER RUG from the region of Tazenacht which lies in the High Atlas and is a long, twisting, climbing road south from Marrakesh. The wools are undyed and the dark squares are shades of the deepest, rich chestnut brown. The rug is in perfect condition and has intricate decorative weaving on the kilim ends. A similar piece is shown in the important text book "Taznacht" as plate 2 on page 125. Refrerence 2710. Size 195 x 108 cms., or 6ft. 5ins. x 3ft. 7ins. Euros 685.

CLOSE UP of the traditional curved acanthus leaves which form part of the central design of most Lilihan rugs. The ones portrayed here are relaxed and graceful.

PERSIAN LONG RUG which has the main central design used by the weavers in the small town of Lilihan in the western province of Hamadan. The design in this rug is more simplistic and it is probably from a nearby village where the weaver used the Lilihan design as inspiration. The rug is in excellent condition and the original dense pile, end finishes and overcasting make it both durable and long lasting. Many different floral forms are to be found throughout the rug. The four borders represent a vine covered surrounding wall. Reference 2981. Size 215 x 100 cms., or 7ft. x 3ft. 3ins. Euros 185.

ROAD SIGN ALL OVER MOROCCO. Often seen but seldom obeyed.

ALMOND TREE IN BLOSSOM in the late winter on the foothills of the High Atlas near Azilal.