Antique Ceremonial Head Scarf
One striking example of this artistry is a finely woven wool ceremonial head scarf, distinctive in both format and design. Used as a head covering in Ait Abdellah Berber’s wedding ceremonies, this piece showcases sparse yet elegant embroidery. The veil’s pattern emerges through a resist technique, employing henna pigments in two characteristic shades: burnt orange and aubergine purple. Now preserved on a black cotton backing and mounted on a wooden stretcher, this veil is a testament to minimalist tribal art.
Henna has been a vital traditional dye plant for centuries, only declining in use during the 20th century. Farmers still cultivate this prized plant in the oases of southern Morocco’s arid regions, whose leaves yield the famously intense, deep orange hue.
In Morocco’s Anti-Atlas region, henna transcends mere pigment to become a sacred plant. It plays a crucial role in wedding ceremonies and rites of passage, acting as a protective talisman.
Carrying on this long-hidden ancestral tradition, women weavers breathe life into textiles. As guardians of this heritage, they pass down their unique veils and creation methods from mother to daughter, preserving the craft through generations.