Where do Berber rugs come from?
Berber rugs and carpets are very popular these days, but where exactly do they come from? The original inhabitants of North Africa are often called Berbers, but the word Berber also means hand-knotted rug. As early as 622, women of the Berber peoples learned the various weaving techniques from their mothers at a young age.
History of Berber rugs
The rugs were used for various purposes, such as a rug, prayer mat or blanket. In winter, residents used rougher rugs to stay warm in the mountains and slept on finer rugs. Most Berber rugs come from Morocco where they are made from sheepswool from sheep in the Atlas Mountains. Nowadays, Berber rugs are also made in Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, Mali and Nigeria.
What is a Berber rug?
Original Berber rugs are made of pure wool and are therefore hard-wearing. The colour of an original Berber rug is usually the original colour of sheepswool or camel wool. The wool is undyed and most rugs are therefore broken white in colour. These days you can also buy Berber rugs with different colours and patterns. These wool rugs are coloured using natural products such as henna, saffron, indigo and mint. The rugs are made in both high-pile and low-pile versions.
The most famous Berber rugs
There are three favourite Berber rugs, including the Beni Ouarain, which comes from the Middle Atlas Mountains region from the village of the same name Beni Ouarain. This rug features distinctive asymmetrical patterns on an ivory-white background and is finished with beautiful fringes. The rugs are high-pile rugs and made of 100% wool.
A more colourful Berber rug is the Beni Mguild. This rug is also made in the Moroccan Atlas Mountains and is a somewhat thicker rug because winters in this part of Morocco can be very cold. The Beni Mguild rug is characterised by striking colours and is a real eye-catcher in any interior. Unfortunately, this type of rug is no longer produced and has therefore become very rare.
Finally, we have the Azilal rug, which comes from the Moroccan province of Azilal. They're made of 100% wool and are therefore of very good quality. The Azilal rug is often seen with different bold colours on a white background. These rugs are nice to use, for example, in a child's bedroom.
Buy a Berber rug!
An authentic Berber rug is quite pricey, which is why Volero has designed unique look-alikes at a reasonable price. These rugs are made from synthetic material so they're easy to keep dust-free and feel wonderfully warm!
The Berber rugs come in different rug colours and patterns so there's always a variant that fits perfectly into your interior. You can combine lots of styles with these rugs. Think for example of a Scandinavian/industrial interior where lots of natural tones are used in combination with wood and metal for a bold look. Or a more classical look by also using some gold and silver accessories.
Are Berber rugs not quite your thing? Then check out the other Oriental rugs, such as Persian carpets!
