Anti-Atlas Rugs: Weaving on the Edge of the Sahara

The rugs of the Taznakht area are among the most carefully made in Morocco. They include pile rugs with fine geometric lattices, flat weaves in bands, and mixed-technique pieces that combine both. Yellow is a signature colour, used with black, red and white.

The wool of the Siroua sheep is often mentioned in connection with these rugs, and is described as long and fine. Sizes tend to be moderate. Compared with the loose, improvised rugs of the Middle Atlas, the drawing is close and controlled.

In the drier country further south and west, thick pile has less purpose, and flat-woven textiles are more usual: covers, cloaks and rugs in bands of black, white and red. The black and white banded weavings sold as Zanafi are associated with this southern area.

These pieces are thin and light, and many were made to be worn or to cover a bed as much as to lie on a floor. In a house they suit warm rooms, walls and layered floors.

A rug from the Taznakht area is a rug of detail. It rewards a place where it can be seen closely: a study, a bedroom, a hall. Yellow and black are strong together, so give the rug plain surroundings in white, sand or dark wood.

Flat weaves need a non-slip pad and gentle use. Fine pile pieces are vacuumed with suction only. Any rug with strong reds or yellows should be tested for colour running with a damp white cloth before wet cleaning.

We do not stock rugs from the Anti-Atlas or from Taznakht. Our collection is 275 hand-knotted pile rugs from the Middle Atlas, the central High Atlas and the plains: 119 Beni Mrirt, 120 Azilal, twenty-two Beni Ourain, eleven Beni Mguild, two Boujaad and one vintage piece.

For the banded southern look, our bespoke studio includes a Zanafi pattern. For yellow, the collection has seven rugs in amber and gold. The rugs shown on this page come from the whole collection. Each rug is one of a kind, with its exact measurements on its own page. Delivery is free worldwide, duties and taxes included.