Boucherouite Moroccan Carpet

 

Some low-income families could not afford to buy wool, but kept a large loom as a family treasure. Used tunics and any other unused cloth were then washed, cut and recycled into carpets. This is how the first Boucherouites appeared. They are also used when a family wants to sit down to prepare food or lend an ear to the storyteller. If there are young children at home, this carpet is perfect to have at home.

Women often follow the freestyle style to sew these rugs with an asymmetrical pattern that adds an extravagant touch with lots of bright and vibrant colours. The colours and patterns of Moroccan Boucherouite rugs have nothing to envy to Paul Klee or Gustave Klimt. 

In an article entitled "Wild, Not Woolly, Berber Rugs", written by Holland Cotter and published by The New York Times, the journalist describes the Amazigh Boucherouite carpets in the following terms:

"The style in question is called Boucherouite, a word derived from a Moroccan-Arab expression for torn and reused clothing. The carpets he describes, made by women for domestic use, are essentially variations of the humble rag rug, without the humility. With their wacky patterns and bright colours, these household items look as if they were made for a party; they seem more suitable for framing than trampling.

This style has developed quite recently, following socio-economic changes. Since the mid-20th century, nomadic life in Morocco has seriously declined and the production of wool from sheep farming has been greatly reduced. However, during the same period, Berber culture attracted the attention of the world market and Berber carpets were increasingly in demand. “

And goes on to describe this wacky and innovative style as follows:

"Beautiful isn't exactly the word for these things; I'm not sure what it is. Some are gaudy and weird, but their exuberance is irresistible. Much more resistant is part of the promotional discourse surrounding them, a sort of high-end version of the hard sell souk, most of them deriving from a slim catalogue produced by Austrian dealer Gebhart Blazek, who was the first to put butchery on the map, and with whom Cavin-Morris collaborated on the show. “

                                                     Moroccan Boucherouite Rugs