Description
Wonderful antique Moroccan Zemmour tribal kelim woven from 100% natural wool –including the warp & weft, which is typical for many village weavings.
Overall condition is excellent with only minor signs of use and wear. Some mild color muting from decades of light exposure but nothing significant.
Out of my personal collection.
Very uncommon to find an older Moroccan kelim from the Atlas Mountains. These are woven by Berber women in villages known collectively as the Zemmour.
This originally came out of a New York estate, and the family dated the kilim to the 1930s.
The motif consists of an amazing abstract pattern of lozenges, diamonds, crosses, and checkerboards. Accent colors include gold, cream, black, salmon, and several muted shades of red.
This is a tribal kelim, a type of flat-weave textile, and not a typical pile rug. Since it is more supple than a rug, it would not be ideal for any slippery floor with active foot traffic.
These are woven on traditional wooden looms by hand, and are made for family and local use. Very finely woven from wool, a material which is challenging to render into such refined knots.
It could be placed on the floor in a quiet area such as a bedroom or office or used in a den or playroom, used as a yoga pad, or even mounted on the wall as a tapestry.
Kilims are favored by nomadic tribal people because they are easier to fold and carry than pile rugs. They are placed on the ground and used to sit on, eat, and drink tea.
The exact size is 8 ft. 9 in. by 4 ft. 9 in. 1930s — 1940s.
The design is reminiscent of some Navajo and Southwestern textiles but not through the act of copying; this is a result of the ‘tribal eye’– human aesthetics– crafting similar patterns using related materials and techniques.
Shipping is $34 within the continental U.S.
Please email me with questions. Thank you.
(Ki0036 O44)
