This vintage geometric Beni Ouarain Berber rug showcases an extremely unusual design. A series of horizontal, chequered compartments form the pattern, each containing a chain of half lozenges. The resulting design resembles a knotted rendition of cracked ice, as the half lozenges lack precise symmetry with each other. This rare and unusual piece, in excellent condition, stands out as both a collector’s item and a masterpiece of nomadic design.
Seventeen tribes make up the Beni Ouarain confederation, inhabiting the northeastern Middle Atlas mountains in Morocco. Their rugs stand apart from other Berber weavings. Weavers create them almost exclusively on an ivory background and decorate them with abstract geometric motifs using undyed natural brown/black wool. Typically, an all-over grid of lozenges with little or no variation composes the pattern.