Rug with Polychrome Brushstrokes
The iconic rug before us showcases polychrome brushstrokes, a hallmark of Arab weaving. Horizontal blocks of pattern layer across the surface, reminiscent of painterly strokes. Rich red fields serve as a canvas for ancient motifs, creating a powerful abstract landscape.
Unlike their Berber counterparts, Arab weavers weren’t bound by traditional pile-weaving constraints. This freedom allowed them to express a more primitive and abstract iconography (Hufnagel, Adam 2013). Consequently, their style reflects a unique artistic liberation.
Nestled between the Jbilet range and the Rehamna massif lies the Bahira plain, home to the Rehamna tribes. These groups consist of Arab tribes from Sudan, who settled in the 14th century, as well as those of Saharan origin.
Rehamna rugs stand out due to their distinctive features. For instance, an additional selvedge wrapping in black wool or goat hair creates typical sawtooth indentations along the sides. Furthermore, their weavings fall into two distinct categories:
- The qtifa, characterized by red or orange open fields
- The zarbiya, featuring fields punctuated by abstract motifs similar to neighboring Boujad weavings (Korolnik, 1998)
This diversity in style and technique showcases the rich weaving tradition of the Rehamna tribes.