Vintage Moroccan Beni Ouarain Carpet BO73

A strikingly bold vintage Beni Ouarain displaying an ornate belted style lozenge network outlined with a step motif. The lozenges are contained within side borders, a variation on a male branch symbol. A nice example of ' infinite rapport', the pattern appears to continue beyond the composition at the top of the carpet. Woven in 100% wool in ivory, a mixture of dark brown and black, with a few knots of indigo at one corner. A flatweave band with indigo finishes the piece.

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tribe.

Beni Ouarain

This nomadic Berber tribe produces some of the finest quality rugs in all of Morocco. Usually made of natural ivory and black or brown wool as the pattern, these rugs show an archaic symbolism that dates back to the earliest forms of art and writing. Known for their simplistic lozenge patterns, these motifs are a link to some of the oldest discovered human artifacts, including the ancient Venus figurines of Europe. The Beni Ouarain weave with a double knot technique which allows for a thicker pile construction and added insulation from the cold. These rugs are used for family beds and could be folded over to provide protection from frigid temperatures.

tribe.Beni Ouarain
region.Middle Atlas Mountains, Morocco
circa.1960's
dimensions.10'6" x 6' / 3.2m x 1.83m
pile height.Low
fringe length.2"
condition.Very Good
rug no.BO73
rug no.