Vintage Moroccan Aït Bou Ichaouen Carpet TS08

An extraordinary antique Moroccan Aït Bou Ichaouen (Talsint) carpet expressing the pure creative freedom and imagination found in Berber weavings from this isolated tribe. An intricate network of motifs include chevrons, lozenges, and squares is woven in horizontal interlocked bands. Several pile height shifts occur, indicating an intended use as a sleeping carpet. Various knot and ply techniques add to the texture and personality of the piece. The incredibly vibrant palette includes violet, magenta, brick, red/orange, mustard, olive, celadon, cobalt, navy, charcoal, ivory and black with multicolored warp and fringe. The flat weave selvedges have an irregular black sawtooth pattern. 100% wool.

Close it

tribe.

Aït Bou Ichaouen

Carpets of this tribe are also known as Talsint, the most remote of the Berber tribes, settled between the High Altas Range and close to the edge of the Sahara. This tribe and their work were undiscovered by the outside world until the mid 1990's. Baring this in mind, Talsint carpets are legendary for their vibrant colors and exotic patterns, perhaps due to the lack of an outside influence or the need for color in the monochromatic world of which they reside. Many of their motifs and techniques have not been found elsewhere in Morocco...these archaic designs reflect an older tradition of weaving history dating back thousands of years in Northern Africa.

tribe.Aït Bou Ichaouen
region.High Atlas Mountains, Morocco
circa.1930-1940
dimensions.13'4" x 6'11" / 4.06m x 2.11m
pile height.Varies (medium to high)
fringe length.6"
condition.Excellent
rug no.TS08
rug no.