Vintage Azilal Berber Rug
The rugs from the Azilal region, located in the Moroccan central High Atlas, have been a relatively recent discovery. Distinguished by abstract, quasi-calligraphic patterns often on an ivory background, they differ from the white ground Middle Atlas carpets of the Beni Ouarain and the Beni Mguild essentially because of their floppy texture, which is closer to that of a flat-weave. The plethora of their design repertoire makes them among the most sought after Berber rugs among discerning collectors. Some of their patterns exhibit a striking modernity, others echo an archaic iconography which links them to the earliest manifestations of the Berber people.The design here changes character as it progresses, as if showing the great abilities of the weaver to produce a relatively large rug by dividing the patterns in various horizontal sections, each containing a pattern that is traditional to the area.