Beni Ourain Carpets
vintage beni ourain rug
Beni Ourain rugs are traditionally made by women with no formal training and are woven from memory. Often improvised and asymmetrical, in the context of an austere, modernist interior they provide much-needed warmth. In the High Atlas Mountain region, where Mount Toubkal stands as the highest peak in North Africa, they were traditionally used as blankets and shawls. “One of the weavers I know, Miriam, puts her rug over her shoulders like a robe when she wakes up in the morning,” says Elad-Echariti.
beni ourain area rug
The rugs from the Azilal region of the Atlas Mountains are quite a bit more expressive. Using the same creamy wool as the Beni Ourain, the free-moving abstractions and crawling patterns are dense with symbolism. Each rug tells its own story. “They incorporate symbols like the Hand of Fatima or an evil eye for protection,” says Elad-Echariti. The tints of wool are dyed using locally available plants and berries.
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