Marrakesh Express
Women Weavers OnLine
N'kob
Piece 2.11432 is a small flatwoven rug or kilim that is locally called an akhnif. It is a pink-red, with some abrash or color variation in the blue part. This variation is one way you know a piece is probably handwoven (as all of my pieces are). If you click here you can see the detail. The size is about 2' x 3 1/2' and the price is $130. It is SOLD but can be remade to order, including as 4' x 6' (1.2 x 1.8 meters) for $245.
This is Fatima Wahman, who made both the rug above and the one below. She is now 17, and made the rug above to learn weaving. She said it took her about two weeks. The rug below is larger, and she made it with her sister and a cousin. The money from the rugs goes to her father, who spends it for family needs, for example to take Fatima's mother to the doctor. Men rather than women shop at the markets, so they handle the money.
Piece 2.11429 reminds a friend of a Native American flatweave, and there is some speculation that Berber designs on Spanish saddlebags and rugs reached the Southwestern US hundreds of years ago. The main colors are red and an orang-gold, with a bit of blue in the center. You can see the detail, including the finely-woven designs, if you click here. It measures about 4' x 6'9" and costs $345. SOLD, but you can have the same piece woven to order.
You don't see many men in these photos, but this item is a travel bag traditionally used by men, so a man is demonstrating how it is worn. It was woven by Fadma Buhassi, the mother of Fatima, the young woman above. You can click on the photo to see it more clearly. Although it looks like an antique, it was woven about 3 years ago.
Piece 2.11434 is the number of the bag above. In this close up you can see the fine weaving and the soft colors more clearly, especially if you click to enlarge it. The bag is about 1' x 2' and the strap is about 46" long. The price is $100.
