We Are Now Importing Gorgeous Vintage Moroccan Rag Rugs
Boucherouite rugs are bold, bright, beautiful and now at Green Front!
The story of these vintage Moroccan rag rugs begins thousands of miles away in the mountain villages around Morocco with, of all things, rags. But in the hands of skilled Berber artisans, the rags were destined to become beautiful works of art.
Ranging in size from two to nine feet in length, we now carry these rugs in our Farmville, Manassas and Raleigh, NC locations. Larger rugs begin at $249. (In Farmville, they can be found in Building One.)
Boucherouite (pronounced boo-shay-REET) comes from a Moroccan Arabic phrase which means clothing that is torn and reused. The hot vivid colors and free-wheeling designs of these hand made rugs are not the only thing that makes them exciting—they represent a new shift in Berber rug making. Though typically known for and associated with producing heavier wool rugs (Berber carpet, anyone?), this type of nomadic culture has been disappearing for years. However, since demand for Berber rugs has remained high; the culture has responded by using the materials and talent at hand to create uniquely beautiful pieces. Boucherouite rugs are upcycling at its best!
These rugs, like many in Moroccan culture, are crafted almost exclusively by women. Each Boucherouite rug is a one-of-a-kind
creation because their very existence depends on what materials were available to the artist, as well as her individual style and taste. The rugs are hand loomed and, depending on size, can contain over a thousand pieces of various fabrics, including nylon, cotton and occasionally wool.
They are a striking departure from the hand-dyed earth tones of the traditional wool Berber rugs. Boucherouite rugs are bright, almost garish, in their brilliance, reflecting the modern age of the materials from which they are made.
These rugs are gaining more and more attention of late and were even featured as an art installment in a Chelsea art gallery, of which the New York Times observed, “Surfaces fill up with fat lozenge and chevron shapes that melt and ooze, Dalí-clock style. Top-to-bottom zigzag bars form gawky, out-of-synch chorus lines. Dense passages of pointillist speckling suggest plates of couscous or Jackson Pollock paintings. Boucherouite rugs make the tough art of weaving look like fun.”
But all fun aside, these rugs bring with them so much more than a beautiful covering for your floor or even a stunning piece of handmade art. These rugs are the story of a changing culture, of resourceful creativity, and, above all, beauty from the humblest of circumstances.
And now, you can have a part of that story in your home. A part of that story to join with your own. Book a trip to Manassas today and find out for yourself!
