Understanding Moroccan Rugs

Understanding Moroccan Rugs: A Beginner's Guide to Styles, Materials, and Craftsmanship

For a beginner, the world of carpets, like any other hobby, may be scary and enormous. Granted, rug aficionados have to start somewhere, but it's understandable that there should be some guidelines, particularly for styles. You've certainly heard or seen exquisite Moroccan carpets utilized in homes, resorts, hotels, restaurants, and business places to provide an amazing appeal. But do you know why they're so popular, where they come from, or how they're made?

For a novice, the world of carpets may be scary and overwhelming. Rug collectors have been specializing in this subject for quite some time. As a result, practical instructions are required, particularly when it comes to premium fashions. Regardless of the rug style category you choose, the purpose it serves (transitional rug, area rug, outdoor rug, as a coverlet), or the location it will be used (kitchen, dining room, entryway, living room), a significant amount of information must be clearly understood before dealing with the style.

When Buying a Rug?

There are a few things to keep in mind. Area to region, and even tribe to tribe, varied in terms of materials and colors. The majority are made of wool, although others are made of camel hair or synthetic materials. Weave, on the other hand, might not be as important. "Unlike Turkish and Persian carpets, Berber carpet quality does not always equate to the number of threads," Mlouki explains. "It's more about the style, the material, and the place," says the author. Furthermore, because most Moroccan rugs are made of wool, you may check for authenticity by taking a strand from the carpet and burning it on fire. Synthetic fibers melt like plastic, whereas wool sizzles like hair. You may also dab a carpet with a moist towel to ensure that the fibers have been dyed properly—a bleeding carpet is the last thing you want on your home floor.

What is the Moroccan Rug Style?

Moroccan type rugs are textile floor coverings that are produced by Morocco's indigenous traditional people. The rug's primary function in Morocco is to provide maximum functionality; yet, many individuals all over the world enjoy collecting and utilizing this rug design for pure aesthetics. Wool is the fundamental component of its construction. As a result, you'll find it to be extremely soft, comfortable, and full of high piles. It differs from Moroccan hand-knotted wool rugs because of its unique orderly patterns and soothing colors.

Moroccan Rugs' Characteristics:

Moroccan rugs are a significant source of inspiration for traditional people's history and culture. Colors and patterns are usually used to distinguish the carpets. This makes identifying which tribes manufactured certain carpets much easier. Furthermore, each tribe had its own culture, which their use would reflect. Let's take a look at some of the most prevalent traits to keep in mind.
- Thickness : Morocco's peculiar environment necessitated the creation of thicker carpets for colder areas at higher heights, such as the highlands. Furthermore, in hotter climates with low elevations, such as the Sahara desert, thinner and flat-weave cloaks were used. The Beni Ourain tribe, for example, utilized sheep wool to construct a thicker Moroccan rug. The cold of the Atlas Mountains forced the construction of this one-of-a-kind rug to keep them warm. Moroccan carpets are lighter and thinner to deal with the scorching environment of the Sahara Desert.
- Size : The sizes of woven carpets were significantly impacted by the movement of Moroccan tribes from one location to another. Rug sizes typically vary from 5-7 feet wide and 3-10 meters long to ensure convenience and comfort when traveling, but they can generally be adjusted to fit specific spaces.
- Patterns and Colors : Moroccan-style carpets are all one-of-a-kind, with no two rugs appearing identical. They are hand-woven by tribal expert women who incorporate symbolic languages and personal experiences into the rugs with their hands. The ultimate goal is to tell the stories of the creators. "Over 50 locations produce carpets," Mlouki adds, adding that some are naturally more well-known than others. "Each region has its style, dominant colors, and patterns, and weaver-to-weaver differences are widespread." Beni Ourain carpets are well-known and come from the same Atlas Mountain tribe. These are the most popular carpets right now, according to Mlouki, because of their black-and-off-white crisscross patterns (along with kilims, which are pileless, tapestry-woven rugs). Beni Mguild carpets, which are generally more vivid than their Beni Ourain counterparts, often have diamond patterns (which are often more detailed than those manufactured by their Beni Ourain counterparts), but with richer hues, such as deep reds and purples.

Moroccan Carpets Materials:

Moroccan carpets were traditionally produced from pure sheep wool, with varied piles and thicknesses depending on the location. Rugs with thicker heaps of wool were manufactured for the Atlas Mountains, which are colder and snowier. Lighter flatweave carpets, on the other hand, are designed to withstand the harsh environment of the Sahara desert. The majority of Moroccan carpets are now mass-produced in massive amounts, using a range of materials such as nylon, cotton, and olefin, as well as wool.

How to Determine Whether a Moroccan Rug is Genuine?

Moroccan carpets may be highly expensive, making them one of the most expensive works of art for home décor and fashion. To avoid future disappointments, it's critical to understand tell-tell signals that the rug design you're going to buy is genuine. The following tips will teach you how to authenticate a Moroccan rug:
Cleaning Tips for Your Moroccan Rug:
- Vacuuming the rug regularly to maintain it gleaming and dust-free.
- Dusting with baking soda to get rid of any smells.
- Spray a little amount of vinegar on the rug to protect it from your cat's claws.

When Browsing for Moroccan Rugs Online:

Moroccan carpets may be found in a thousand different locations on the internet. Are all websites or shopping malls, however, the same? No, no. You might get a greater feel of a rug's genuineness when you see it in person. Many carpets today are manufactured on machines but are designed to appear handcrafted. A hand-knotted rug will always have minor flaws. It might be a few loose knots or another visible sign that it was created by a person rather than a machine. Rugs that are completely geometric, perfectly linear, or exactly the right size are either machine-manufactured or custom handcrafted.
There's nothing wrong with carpets that are manufactured to order, but if a rug is being passed off as 6ft x 9ft when it's an antique rug, it's worth investigating. Moroccan carpets are designed to match Moroccan-style interiors, not western-style dwellings. Rectangular rugs are usually always more common than square carpets. Carpets in the rug sizes that most American rugs are marketed in are far more difficult to come by. They're designed to fit into considerably larger, rectangular areas. None of these factors are deal breakers in and of themselves, but they are something to consider when you look for your Moroccan rug online.

To Summarize:

Moroccan-type rugs are textile floor coverings that are produced by Morocco's indigenous traditional people. The rug's primary function in Morocco is to provide maximum functionality, yet, many individuals all over the world enjoy collecting and utilizing this rug design for purely aesthetic purposes. Moroccan-style carpets are all one-of-a-kind, with no two rugs appearing identical. Each region has its style, dominant colors, patterns, and weaver-to-weaver differences. The ultimate goal is to tell the stories of the creators. Moroccan carpets were traditionally produced from pure sheep wool, with varied piles and thicknesses depending on the location. The majority of Moroccan carpets are now mass-produced in massive amounts using a range of materials such as nylon, cotton, and olefin.