Beni Ouarain Berber Carpets
The now well-known traditional style and patterns of Beni Ouarain carpets mostly consist of geometric black or brown lines that form abstract and diamond-shaped forms on a cream or whitish background. The carpets are hand-knotted, absolutely timeless and durable.
The Beni Ourain are a Moroccan ethnic group made up of seventeen different Berber tribes, all of whom originate from the country's Atlas Mountains. Morocco has a long history of producing some of the most beautiful carpets in the world.
This ancient craft began before the 7th century with the Berber tribes from North Africa who settled in Morocco. As semi-nomadic people, the Beni Ourain are primarily shepherds who have always kept their livestock high in the mountains and moved their herds from one pasture to the next.
For thousands of years, the women of the tribe have knotted and weaved exquisite, hand-knotted wool rugs inspired by the ceremonies and symbolism of the tribe. The Berber tribe still lives today in the mountainous regions of the Atlas Mountains, where the ancient knotting techniques are preserved and passed down from mother to daughter.
Typically, the designs were created as references to natural events and aspects of daily life such as birth, fertility, nature, femininity, rural life and faith. Today, you can also find very modern designs and bright colors combined in the carpets.
The Beni Ourain are a Moroccan ethnic group made up of seventeen different Berber tribes, all of whom originate from the country's Atlas Mountains. Morocco has a long history of producing some of the most beautiful carpets in the world.
This ancient craft began before the 7th century with the Berber tribes from North Africa who settled in Morocco. As semi-nomadic people, the Beni Ourain are primarily shepherds who have always kept their livestock high in the mountains and moved their herds from one pasture to the next.
For thousands of years, the women of the tribe have knotted and weaved exquisite, hand-knotted wool rugs inspired by the ceremonies and symbolism of the tribe. The Berber tribe still lives today in the mountainous regions of the Atlas Mountains, where the ancient knotting techniques are preserved and passed down from mother to daughter.
Typically, the designs were created as references to natural events and aspects of daily life such as birth, fertility, nature, femininity, rural life and faith. Today, you can also find very modern designs and bright colors combined in the carpets.
Bauhaus artists and Scandinavian design greats such as Alvar Aalto, Marcel Breuer, Le Corbusier, Charles and Ray Eames, Frank Lloyd Wright and Arne Jacobsen already knew about the beauty of Beni Ourain. From the mid-century modernists to today, they have stood the test of time.
