What Makes Vintage Berber Rugs Unique?

Often, when people have not researched the full picture, they don't understand what makes them vintage Berber rugs unique. However, Morrocan rugs don't just look beautiful, they are truly special and one-of-a-kind as well.

In this article, we're going to take a look at why that is the case to help you get a better understanding of the story behind Berber rugs.

Rugs from our store at cococarpets.com

What Makes Vintage Berber Rugs Unique?

Vintage Berber rugs are unique for several reasons. Not only, of course, are they all one-of-a-kind, but they all also tell their own story and are extremely high-quality.

Each piece was carefully handmade and has therefore received more attention than most other pieces of furniture. Additionally, each Berber tribe has its own style, which also makes the rugs more unique and special.

By taking a look at Berber rugs, you can tell based on the style which tribe it's from. This adds more to the special and unique story, they already have.

Take a look below at the details of what makes Moroccan Berber rugs so special.

One-of-a-kind, Unique Story

Each vintage Berber rug was handmade. This means each piece is a true one-of-a-kind rug that you will not find anywhere else. If you own an authentic Berber rug, you can be certain that it's the only one on the planet.

Knowing that, makes your rug more valuable and special. It also makes you think about the story behind the rug and where it came from and why it was woven. Most Berber rugs were woven by women who wanted to craft the rugs for their personal use.

Quality

Something that also makes Berber rugs unique is their quality.

Berber tribes are known for weaving extremely high-quality rugs that are resistant, long-lasting, and beautiful. As mentioned earlier, most of the rugs you will find from the Berber tribes were woven by women for their personal use. This means she would have carefully crafted it full of pride.

You can also tell the quality by how many knots there are in the rug. If a rug has more knots, it will last longer and there has also been more attention given to the rug. Most Berber rugs you will find have quite a lot of knots compared to other handmade rugs and carpets.

As a rug with more knots also lasts longer and has received more attention, it is also more valuable. If a Berber rug was made from high-quality material and has a large number of knots, then it can usually last up to a lifetime.

There are hardly any (if any) other types of handmade carpets and rugs around the world that can compete with the quality and beauty of Berber rugs.

This is also why they are so popular and admired around the entire world, not just in the Middle East.

Origin & Style

The Berber tribes live in communities primarily in Morocco, but also other countries across North Africa.

Knowing that your rug originated from such a beautiful cultural place like Morocco, and has withstood the test of time to still be here today, also makes it special. If you have a Berber rug today in the US or Europe, you know that it has traveled from Morocco.

Combined with the other special characteristics like how they were handmade years ago, it adds to their unique and special story.

Plus, each Berber tribe has its unique style of weaving rugs. Each tribe has a different way of telling their own story using the patterns of the rug and other characteristics such as the thickness.

In the future, we will have a more detailed post on the different styles of the Berber tribes, but below you can also see some information on the different types of Berber rugs.

• Azilal - High Atlas

  Azizal Rugs originate from the high atlas mountains and are known for their extensive use of bold colors. Usually, the base of the rug is cream or white which means, Azizal rugs are usually a light color.

• Boujad - Central Plains

  Boujad rugs usually have beautiful warm colors like red, pink, or orange. The colors used for Boujad rugs are created through natural dyes such as berries or flowers. In Morroco, many smaller communities make Boujad rugs, instead of one specific location.

• Beni Ourain - Middle Atlas

  Beni Ourain rugs have lighter colors like white or cream. They originate from the middle atlas and are known for their geometric patterns.

• Beni Mguild - Middle Atlas

  The Beni Mguild rugs that also originate from the Middle Atlas have a thicker weave than some of the other Berber rugs. These rugs usually come in deeper shades like purple-brown and red.

• Boucherouite - All Tribes

  The Bouchaerouite rugs are woven by all tribes. Visually, Boucherouite rugs look beautiful, but originally they were made for warmth. The rugs are often made from the fabric of old clothing, which makes them very strong and durable if there are a lot of knots.

• Kilim - All Tribes

  Last, but not least there are also the Kilim rugs that have a lighter weight and can easily be transported. They are woven by all tribes, typically in warmer seasons.

Final Words

As you have seen throughout this article, Berber rugs are very special. Each rug has its own unique story and is one-of-a-kind, while the Berber tribes have their styles of creating rugs.

At Coco Carpets, I see many rugs come from Morocco, and each one is unique. That's why sometimes, I almost get a little upset when some rugs, leave us, as I know it's the only one there is. However, I do feel blessed to be able to experience so many Berber rugs that all have their own special and unique story.

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