Tibiwlin

Meaning: Butterfly

Category: Hanbel

Origin: This exceptional piece belongs to Oulad Moumen, a tribe nested the Middle Atlas in the Zemmour region 

Weaving Method: In order to to make a Hanbel, the weaver has to use the falt-weaving for the background and the knotted for the decorative symbols.

Flat Weave

Flat weave involves strands of weft yarn laced in and out of the warp threads and beaten down to make a close, even textile. This technique was widely used for the rugs of the hot lowland and desert areas of Morocco. There are no knots, so flat-weave rugs lay thinner than pile carpet but may feature very intricate designs. Stripes and chevrons are common designs, but fine weavers create rugs that almost resemble tapestries in their complexity. The patterns can be varied with the addition of knotted or embroidered sections, and colors range from vivid hues to undyed natural whites, off-whites, grays, browns and blacks.

Colors: Blue, white, red, teal, yellow, and black.

Material: Berber Wool. 

Symbology: 

• Straight and ZigZag lines representing the masculine element between the diamond chains and X forms representing the feminine fertility. The region of Zemmour is known for its Paleolithic models.
• The designs relies on a linear expression for both feminine and masculine symbols. From the center to the top and bottom of the carpet you can notice the enlargement of the red semi-diamond, symbolizing the progression of the pregnancy. 
• To each side of the band you can see the lines representing the masculine element. Further down to each side, several chains with protective elements.   The green represents Mother Nature’s and women’s fertility the reds and shades of orange represent the womanhood and puberty. 

• Knot style: Symmetric 
• Fringe: Thick, plaited and stopped by a simple knot
• Material: Berber Wool
• Wrap: Off White
• Weft: Off White, Orange, Green, and Red.
• Flat-Weave Decorations: Off White, Orange, Green, and Red.
• Bottom end: Finished by an assemblage of threads into braided fringes and a horizontal black thread (chevron style).
• Top end: Finished by an assemblage of threads into braided fringes and a horizontal black thread (chevron style). 
• Decor ideas: This is what we call a "Historical Piece", it should mainly be used as a wall art. It's very rare to come upon such pieces, the middle Atlas tribes don't tend to use green for this rugs hence the name given to these Hanbles: Crazy ones.

Care and Cleaning:

• The kind of rug (Flat-weave, Knotted…etc)
• The foot traffic
• The rugs placement (Floor, sofa, or wall)