The decorative patterns of the different weaves

 

The decorative patterns of the different weaves are very significant and differ from tribe to tribe, making this art a true mosaic. The Amazigh carpet is a long-standing tradition in southern Morocco, and in the High and Middle Atlas, where it flourished under the name of tazarbit. 

The Ait Ouaouzguit Centre, in the province of Ouarzazate, is one of the main cradles of this craft production of high cultural significance. This world-renowned centre is located in the High Atlas Mountains, where carpet-making has been predominant for thousands of years. As a center of craftsmanship in general and Berber carpets in particular, Ait Ouaouzguit is in turn composed of several points of production including : Tamassin - Ait Semgane - Ai Waya - Ait Ougharda - Tidili - Taznakht - Ait Ouchen - Ait Ameur, Znaga and Sektana as contiguous points.

The carpet of Amazigh tradition is the most important and most representative category in the world of Moroccan carpets. It is a typical Atlas production with exceptional decoration and patterns, specific to each tribe. It can be subdivided as follows:

- Carpets from the Middle Atlas (Meknes region, Rabat): Zemmour, Zaer, Zaiane, Bani Mtir, Ait Sgougou and Beni M'guil ;

- Middle Atlas carpet (Fez-Taza region): Beni Ouarain, Ait Ighezzrane, Beni Alaham, Ait Halli, Ait Youssi, Ait Seghrouchène and Marmoucha; and

- Tapi des Ait Youb, Ait Izdeg and Ait Yaâcoub.

The carpets of the Haouz of Marrakech are part of the rural Amazigh carpets, there are the Rehamna carpets, the H'mar carpets, and the Bousebaa carpets. In these three tribes, the knot used is the symmetrical knot. The warp threads are made of goat hair or a mixture of goat hair and black wool, the rows of knots are separated by four to twelve weft threads, the weft is often made of red wool. The weave of these carpets is loose, there is the same number of knots in length and width. One of the characteristics of the Amazigh carpets of Haouz is their saw-toothed edge, penetrating the knotted velvet, these edges are woven of goat hair. In general, their artistic composition uses simple motifs that take all possible forms.

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