One-of-a-kind vintage rug, flatwoven by Beni Ourain tribes in the Middle Atlas mountains of Morocco
Dimensions: 5'5" x 11'1" (166 cm x 340 cm)
Djako has been professionally cleaned; age-related wear and natural inconsistencies are inherent in these unique, handcrafted vintage rugs.
Rug Type:
-
Kilim
Flatwoven, pileless rugs that often have distinctive geometric patterns and contrasting bright colors.
Age:
-
Vintage
Typically between 20-100 years old
Main Color:
- Beige, Cream
- One-of-a-kind vintage rug — only one in stock!
- 100% wool pile on mixed fiber foundation
- Dimensions: 5'5" x 11'1" (166 cm x 340 cm)
- One-sided fringe: measures 3.1" (8 cm)
- Color palette: warm vanilla beige, tan, dusty rose pink
- These rugs are prized for their expressive design and construction. Their freeform edges meander and wiggle, unbound by constrictions of mass production.
- Moroccan rugs don’t come with a key. As with any painting or poem, their motifs have many subjective interpretations. Originally made for personal use, these rugs took months to weave, documenting a shifting tide of events and emotions in the weaver’s life.
- A minimalist, midcentury design with art deco elements
- Stripes—a simple and timeless classic
- A handsome, hand-braided fringe woven from threads of the loom
- The edges of this rug have been hand-finished with a weft-wrapped triple or quadruple selvedge. This natural border, visible on both front and back, is thoughtfully added to reinforce the edge of the rug where it can start to unravel over time, transforming the weakest part into the strongest.
As of 1991, the large Beni Ourain tribal territory was home to nearly a quarter of the Moroccan sheep population. This rather large group of tribes are famous for their fleece-like white rugs, designed for sleeping on and under, with a barely-visible meandering black or brown diamond lattice design.
Material DetailsThis rug is called a boucherouite, which derives from bu sharwit, a Moroccan Arabic term meaning 'piece of cloth'. Reflective of the ever-shifting post-modern, post-consumer landscape, these 'everything rugs' are woven with colorful miscellaneous fiber scraps. In this piece, a wool pile is knotted onto mixed-fiber wefts and textured wool warps.
Moroccan wool is locally sourced and produces a thick, strong flatweave that feels soft and fluffy underfoot.
- Dust and dirt that accumulate in your rug can erode the fibers over time. The best way to combat this is to take your rug outside and give it a good shake once a week. Depending on how large it is, you may need to recruit a friend to help. Also, be sure to get a rug pad—this helps to preserve your rug in spite of dirt.
- If shaking it out isn’t possible, you can vacuum it instead—just be cautious, and don’t use a rotary vacuum, because it can damage the fibers. Once or twice a month, use the suction attachment gently, from side to side. Once or twice a year, flip your rug over and vacuum the back.
- Once a year, let it sunbathe. Hang it in the sun for a few hours when it’s hottest, and flip it over midway through, to expose both sides to direct sunlight. This sun-bleaching helps further sanitize the wool. It’s a natural method to bleach and deodorize it.
- To ensure equal wear and protect against walk patterns, change your rug's direction periodically. You can also flip your rug upside-down once in awhile, and use it like that for a bit. With Moroccan rugs, the back is typically as nice as the front.
- Every 3-5 years, we recommend getting your rug professionally hand-washed with a Moroccan rug expert. Please do not take it to get steam or dry cleaned—this will almost certainly damage the rug! Hand-washing requires the use of a pH-balanced shampoo, worked into the rug by hand with a soft-bristled brush, before being rinsed thoroughly. This process should be repeated a few times.
- In case of spills:
- Blot the spill until it is dry, but do not add liquid. Consult an Oriental rug specialist immediately for cleaning. Adding liquid can make it harder to remove stains, and can even extend them further. This is because moisture travels along the fiber, so in rugs with horizontal fibers (like flatweaves), it can get trapped.
Djako Vintage Moroccan Kilim
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