Vintage Beni Ouarain Berber Rug
This rare and unusual example of an vintage Beni Ouarain Berber rug is distinguished by a completely open field save for a pair of black parallel lines that run close to the sides across the length of the carpet. The off white natural ivory field contrasts very efficiently with this border device as well as with the embellishments at both ends.
The Beni Ouarain confederation, composed of seventeen tribes, inhabits the high mountain region of the northeastern Middle Atlas. Their rugs stand out from other Berber weavings, as they are woven exclusively with an ivory background and decorated with abstract geometric motifs of undyed natural wool. The high quality of the materials, the spontaneity of the designs, and the strong ethnic-minimal feel place these carpets at the forefront of contemporary interior design. Beni Ouarain carpets typically have a large format of approximately 400 cm (13 feet) by 200 cm (6.5 feet). However, we rarely find them in sizes more adaptable to today’s Western interiors, such as in this case.