Beni Ourain 103 - 135x72 cm “Morrocan Berber Rug”

Beni Ourain rugs are some of the most popular and sought after types of Moroccan rugs. These pieces are known for their minimalist, geometric patterns, neutral colors, and soft wool pile. Handwoven in the Middle Atlas mountains, these Moroccan rugs gained international recognition in the mid-twentieth century, and are easily the most recognizable Moroccan rugs today.

Modernist artists such as Le Corbusier are often credited with popularizing these rugs in the western world, however it is important to remember that the weaving tradition that produces these wonderful pieces was well established long before any Europeans incorporated them into their own art and design. 

Beni Ourain is the name of a collection of Amazigh tribes in the Atlas Mountains east of Fes. The difference in styles of Moroccan rug can almost always be chalked up to tribal differences. This is one of the reasons Morocco boasts such a rich diversity of weaving traditions. The Beni Ourain region is in the Middle Atlas mountains and appears in blue on the map below. 

Thanks to the popularity of Beni Ourain styles and the ubiquitousness of its design language, most weaving cooperatives throughout Morocco now know how to weave a Beni Ourain style rug. But nothing beats the real thing.