14 x 19 Vintage Rabat Moroccan Rug 77201

77201 Oversized Vintage Rabat Moroccan Rug, 13'10 x 18'07.

Representing an exclusive category of Moroccan carpets and a sign of wealth, this palatial Rabat Moroccan rug is a captivating vision of woven beauty. The detailed tribal design and vibrant colorway woven into this piece work together to. Cleverly composed and colorfully curated, this oversized vintage Moroccan rug features six superimposed stepped diamond-shaped medallions in bright lime, sunflower yellow and tomato red spread across a creamy-beige field. A variety of ambiguous tribal symbols decorate the field between the medallions, including combs and burdocks. Combs and darts grace the corner spandrels, while stepped hexagons with diamond centers line the edges. The attractive border echoes the graphic designs of the central area and features fetter motifs in alternating colors separated by thin bars with diamond end-caps. Fetters traditionally symbolize family union, while combs, diamonds, and burdocks are seen to protect against evil. Not exactly subtle but enough to make a statement, this colorful Moroccan rug is charming and fun.

Unlike most other Moroccan rugs, Rabat city rugs exhibit Anatolian designs and influence, though it is unclear how these designs came to Morocco many centuries ago. According to the Indianapolis Museum of Art's 'The Fabric of Moroccan Life,' the women weavers of Rabat recount a legend: one day, a stork dropped a piece of rug into the courtyard of a house. The rug's colors and design, previously unknown in the land, were seen by the women weavers of the house as a divine gift—a talisman and a good omen that inspired them deeply. The people of Rabat consider wool to be as precious as gold and a variety of rituals surround the making of their rugs. They are known to be able to create bright and saturated polychromatic color schemes with a narrow palette.

• Rendered in variegated shades of beige, red, blue, green, amethyst, and yellow with other accent colors.
• Tag on the back reads: Morocco, Rabat.
• Made by the Rabat Village Women.
• Abrash.
• Hand knotted wool.
• Made in Morocco.
• Berber Tribes of Morocco. Rabat.
• Measures: 13'10 x 18'07.
• Hotel Lobby Size Carpet 14 x 19 Rug.
• Date: 1970s to 1980s. Late 20th Century.