"Amal" Ait Zaiane Marriage Kilim

A fine example of Zaine/Berber design, this impressive flatweave marriage kilim was created by a woman to be part of her dowry. Typically, women are the weavers of these textiles, assisted by their daughters or young girls learning the craft. In lieu of selling their land, the Berbers invest in rugs, the art form being most respectful and prestigious. The finished textile also provides a protective power for the weaver and her family.

The overall design of lozenges, zig zag diamond patterns and a myriad of Berber tattoos are woven with soothing colors derived from dyes from local vegetable and mineral sources which the women gather themselves ~ indigo for blues, madder root for red, pomegranate skins for the brown or black and white from natural sheep’s wool.

Size: 7' x 4'5"

Materials: wool, cotton and natural vegetal dyes

Condition: Excellent

Care instructions: Spot clean with cold water. Professional cleaning recommended. Avoid vacuuming edges and ends of rug, especially fringed end.