Aviana Vintage Moroccan Runner Rug

• 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 Originally made for personal use, these rugs took months to weave, documenting a shifting tide of events and emotions in the weaver’s life.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 series of repeating medallions create a beautifully complex field or pattern
• An eye motif indicates the power to reflect the evil eye, and thus protect the weaver
• A checkerboard field is playful, geometric, and said to be symbolic of higher realms, worlds beyond, fertility, and the divine.

Boujad was considered a holy town. Boujad rugs were made by a variety of tribes, and thus vary widely in color, composition, and weave. Often described with words like surreal, mystic, and mesmerizing, these rugs depict a world beyond reality. Construction-wise, they have twice as many horizontal as vertical knots, which makes them floppy and easy to move.

Wool, a staple in Moroccan rug design, was considered almost sacred to the Amazigh (Berber) people, whose nomadic lifestyle included sheep and goat herding. In addition to being available, wool is durable, long-lasting, and soft—so it’s super comfy to walk and relax on. In this piece, the wool pile is knotted onto a wool foundation, adding body and helping it hug the floor.

Moroccan wool is locally sourced and produces a thick, strong pile that feels soft underfoot. Having stood the test of time, this hand-processed wool has reacted to its various environments, acquiring an untamed, nubby look and feel.