Moroccan weaving began before the 17th century and was carried out by the Berbers - an indigenous tribe that occupied the Middle and High Atlas around the Plains of Marrakesh. The weaving, carried out by women, produced rugs, blankets and fabric wall-coverings, for domestic purposes. Berber tribes continue to preserve the techniques of their ancestors handed down from mother to daughter.
Moroccan rugs can be divided into two groups: Urban and Tribal. The main difference between the two is that in tribal rugs there is less symmetry in the overall design, and in many cases no borders exist.
Urban rug designs, such as those produced in Rabat, are characterized by their long and narrow fields, which typically include double-ended medallions or all-over diamonds with two large and side-by-side triangles at each end of the rug. The background is typically red and the motifs, which are often tulips, have bright colors. After World War I, the colors became softer, with floral motifs on a plain field. Other urban designs are produced in Mediouna, near Casablanca, and typically have a wider field with three or more octagonal medallions.
Tribal designs from the Plains of Marrakesh are very diverse. Pile rugs from the Chiadma area and the Oulad Bou Sbaa tribes have a unique mixture of medallions, borders, and motifs characteristic of Rabat or the traditional tribal bands with geometric motifs. The rugs of the Rehamna tribe, on the other hand, have unique free-form designs.
Tribal rugs made in High Atlas have symmetrical designs. The field contains a square, rectangular or diamond medallion. There also can be one or more diamond shapes within the medallion. The rest of the field can consist of diamond lattices, all-over motifs in rows or columns, or bands of geometric motifs. The older rugs tend to have no borders or a very narrow border, and even in the flat weaves, the designs are created with knots. Tribal rugs from the Zemmour Confederation are often symmetrical in the design. The pile rugs often have geometric motifs on a red background. Flat weaves frequently consist of bands of stripes – either plain or using geometric patterns. The flat weaves are very colorful and make use of white cotton to create contrast.
The pile rugs and flat weaves of the Middle Atlas are very similar to the rugs of Zemmour Confederation, with the exception of their asymmetrical designs.
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