A small pile rug, 1980s, from the eastern High Atlas, with an informal drawing-like composition. It is woven and knotted of undyed wool featuring very few purple knots. The design is quite interesting considering that it looks more like a freehand drawing than a design that was built up row on row on a loom. Certainly a nice example of an abstract lozenge design with a free flow.

The attribution AZILAL is given to rugs that are made by Berber tribes living in the province Azilal. The province extends north of the main chain of the High Atlas to the southern foothills of the Middle Atlas. Most important tribal groups in the area are the Ait Atta Noumalou, Ait Bouguemez, Ait Shokhmane and Ait bou Oulli. Their expressive weavings were originally made with undyed wool and primarily found in the area around the Ait Bouguemez valley and among the Ait Boulli. The considered typical Azilal rug has a black or brown geometric design on a white background. Rugs with a red background come from the eastern part of the region, from the Ait Shokhmane and the Ait Bouzid, bordering the southern Boujad region. Most of the Azilal rugs one can find in today’s market were being produced between the 1980s until today. Their characteristics are slightly different incorporating colorful, industrial yarns and recycled textile scraps.