Vintage Beni Ouarain Berber Rug
This vintage Beni Ouarain Berber rug showcases an extraordinarily unique design. Horizontal compartments, each containing a chain of half lozenges, compose the pattern. As a result, the design resembles cracked ice, with asymmetrically aligned half lozenges. Moreover, this piece stands out as one of the earliest Beni Ouarain carpets available. Its wonderful surface patina and multiple, irregularly numbered weft shoots visible on the aged back further attest to its antiquity. Consequently, this rug serves as both a collector’s item and a masterpiece of nomadic design.
The Beni Ouarain confederation comprises seventeen tribes inhabiting the northeastern Middle Atlas mountains. Their rugs distinguish themselves from other Berber weavings through exclusive use of ivory backgrounds adorned with abstract geometric motifs in undyed natural wool. Furthermore, these carpets lead contemporary interior design trends due to their high-quality materials, spontaneous designs, and strong ethnic-minimal aesthetic. While Beni Ouarain carpets typically measure around 400 cm by 200 cm (13 by 6.5 feet), this particular piece offers a rare size more suitable for modern Western interiors.