Vintage Mauritanian Tuareg
This vintage Mauritanian Tuareg weaving is a stunning example of the Tuareg people’s intricate art. The Tuareg, cattle-herding nomads inhabiting the vast Sahara desert, create some of the most captivating weavings available today. These pieces are crafted by binding fine straw reeds from the Panicum turgidum plant with strips of camel leather, often adorned with light green and yellow pigments to enhance the intricate patterns.
Known as “eseber” by the Tuareg, these large mats serve as tent screens and dividers. Labelle Prussin, in her book “African Nomadic Architecture” (1995), describes these mats as essential for defining an interior space enriched with color, texture, memory, and meaning, creating a closed system of imagery.
The designs typically feature Tuareg iconography, with star and cross-like motifs alternating with abstract geometric figures common in African art. This particular pattern includes vertical rows of polychrome embroidered leather interspersed with orderly rhombuses. The embroidered motifs, highlighted with red, soft yellow, and green pigments, stand out against the natural reed color.
The rare square format and excellent condition make this piece a perfect addition to contemporary living spaces.