Moroccan Decorative Rugs - A Look at the History of Berber Rugs
Beni Ourain rugs come from Morocco, where they have been manufactured for centuries. They are woven on looms, rather than on hand looms like other types of rugs. Many of these rugs have names that are closely related to the region in which they were produced, such as azilal, or Beni Ourain. One of the reasons why these rugs are so sought after is their beauty. Their intricate design, beautiful colors, and high quality fabrics have helped them gain a reputation as one of the most popular handmade home flooring products today.
The majority of these rugs come in two basic styles. Both styles are geometrical in design. Geometric Berber rugs are constructed from 100% natural and organic wool. Many imitations of expensive, authentic Moroccan Berber rug , though, are typically made from synthetic materials like nylon, kilim and wool .
Some of the most unique features of these rugs include their unusual round patches. These are called "tetra" patches, which are stitched onto the surface of each patch. Each patch is made by a distinct type of moroccan berber tribeswomen. These patches are not simply there as a decorative touch, but are used to help identify the individual person who made the rug.
Some of the more common colors of these beautiful rugs include red, blue, gold, green, silver, black, white, and ochre. Of all the colors, black and white remain to be the most popular. They are considered to be more traditional colors and they fit in well with the Moroccan culture. Another unusual trait of the moroccan rugs is that the male members of the tribe often wear them, while the women mostly decorate the floors with carpets.
As stated before, the basic purpose of the berber rugs was to be able to make an easily-shaped floor covering. During the times of the earliest, this purpose was served by the creation of geometric designs. The earliest examples are figures that resemble birds, fish, dogs, cats, and other animals. It is believed that these designs were passed down through generations among the Berber people, because the shapes of some of these animal-like figures resemble the Arabic writing alphabets.
One of the reasons why the rugs have retained their popularity over the years is due to their incredible durability. Most berber style rugs use wool fibers, which can withstand wear and tear for decades without losing their beauty. However, the wool fibers are woven closely together to create a stronger material than normal carpets, making them tougher. In addition, the tightly woven wool threads are highly durable, so they will not start to unravel or fall apart prematurely.
Because of the resilience and durability of the berber rugs, they are often passed down from one generation to another. Unlike some other types of floor coverings, they can be handed down from one generation to another. This is made possible when the individual strands of the carpet are properly hand-weaved, which is what happens in many households in Morocco. For example, during the tradition of Beni Ourain, when elders from the family build a house, they cover it with carpets that are hand-woven to cover the walls and the doors.
Many modern day Berber rugs utilize modern day designing techniques to create geometric designs. Many of these rugs use repetitive geometric designs to produce a beautiful effect. The texture of the rugs may be varied and many come in an almost endless variety of colors and patterns. Some of the most common geometric designs include stripes, ovals and rectangles. This type of rug adds a sense of beauty and elegance to any room in the home, giving it a classic look.
