Tribal Moroccan and North African Rugs

The West’s current infatuation with Moroccan tribal rugs stretches to the mid-20th century, when designers embraced bold geometric patterns and even bolder palettes as counterpoints to form-follows-function interiors.

Alvar Aalto, Frank Lloyd Wright, and Le Corbusier were among the designers who used these rustic, natural rugs to offset austere interiors. “They even have one at Fallingwater,” Wright’s early modernist masterpiece, says designer and dealer Madeline Weinrib, who travels to far-flung locations to deal directly with the makers of these textile gems.

With bohemian, global, and eco styles on the rise, there’s increased demand for Moroccan tribal rugs, and prices for well-crafted, vintage Moroccan rugs can easily break into the six figures. However, Murat Kupcu, an antique rug specialist and owner of Double Knot, has a word of caution: “With the popularity and seemingly endless supply of Moroccan rugs today, it is important to distinguish between the authentic, made-for-home Berber rugs and those made for the market, or for export.”

Moroccan rugs range from graphically dense to monochrome, incorporating bright, saturated shades as well as natural, muted tones. The dynamic, gestural shapes that are reminiscent of contemporary paintings belie the tedious, time-intensive process required to make them.

The most popular tribal weaving traditions include Azilal, Beni Mguild, Beni Ourain, Boucherouite, kilim and Tuareg mats.

Find extraordinary antique and vintage Moroccan tribal rugs for sale on 1stDibs.