ideas and inspiration

Talk of Moroccan

• 31 January 2017
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• 2 Min Read
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• By Jaipur Rugs

There’s something about the peace and simplicity of a Moroccan rug that always brings a certain cheer to midweek blues. The magic might lie in the tribal intelligence they present- a way of life that we all aspire to?

A little bit of research showed that buried in this simplicity are tales far more intricate than the delicate weaves that make up each of these rugs. Here’s a quick walkthrough behind this form of storytelling.

MOTIFS

The history of Moroccan rugs draws attention back to the Paleolithic Era, the Berber tribe: these were people of North Africa who inhabited Morocco before it was invaded in the 7th century. Interestingly, many of these tribes still make a living from weaving like their ancestors did centuries ago.

DESIGN SIGNIFICANCE

It is an interesting fact that every motif in a Moroccan rug depicts a story- one seen on old rocks and ancient paintings of those regions. These patterns are combined to tell the story of the weaver’s story and an emblematic language. In fact, the geometrics of those times have significant meanings in femininity, spirituality, and male protection.
 

 

DECODING A MOROCCAN-INSPIRED RUG

From Jaipur’s Zuri collection is the perfect rug to bring home the rich heritage and folklore of Morocco.

INTERESTING STORY BEHIND THE DESIGN:

Lying in the heart of the rug, as a symbolizer of ‘frogs,’ are the diamond-shaped motifs. They come as a part of a tiny tale from the ancient days of enchantment when the frogs were seen as a symbol of fertility because of their capacity to lay many eggs in a solitary effort. Giving birth to new life is a power indeed, and hence came the matter of protecting this blessing.

In this rug, surrounding those frog figures are the criss-cross lines (just like a child’s drawing of grass) illustrating skeletons of fishes and snakes. Skeletons of fishes and snakes, considered holy, were believed to possess entrancing command to keep the community safe from spells and bad omens. So they began protecting the fertility and emerged as the criss-cross border line illustration in this Moroccan Rug!

The use of such decorative language by craftsmen was very thoughtful: primarily asking for blessings and then building a shield of holy people around it, as if protecting the sanctity of life from the outside world. Moroccan rugs are a weaver’s way of sending his or her blessings minted with a language that is easy to decode and presents a rug for the home with simplistic, bold patterns.

DECODE YOUR RUG

Here are a few of the symbols that can help in decoding the motifs on your rug. Evaluate the story your weaver sent home and tell us what you found.