One-of-a-kind lightly used rug, hand-knotted near the small city of Boujad in the Chaouia-Ouardigha region of Morocco

Dimensions: 4’6″ x 9’4″ (136 cm x 284 cm)

Menka has been professionally cleaned; age-related wear and natural inconsistencies are inherent in these unique, handcrafted vintage rugs

One-of-a-kind lightly used rug, hand-knotted near the small city of Boujad in the Chaouia-Ouardigha region of Morocco

Menka has been professionally cleaned; age-related wear and natural inconsistencies are inherent in these unique, handcrafted vintage rugs

• Only one in stock
• 100% wool pile on cotton foundation
• Dimensions: 4’6″ x 9’4″ (136 cm x 284 cm)
• Plush pile: approximately 0.8″ (2 cm)
• Color palette: spiced pumpkin orange, indigo, smokey mauve, cream
• These rugs are prized for their expressive design and construction. Their freeform edges meander and wiggle, unbound by constrictions of mass production

Motifs

• Moroccan rugs dont come with a key. As with any painting or poem, their motifs have many subjective interpretations. Originally made for personal use, these rugs took months to weave, documenting a shifting tide of events and emotions in the weavers life
• A checkerboard field is playful, geometric, and said to be symbolic of higher realms, worlds beyond, fertility, and the divine.

Region of Origin

Boujad was considered a holy town. Boujad rugs were made by a variety of tribes, and thus vary widely in color, composition, and weave. Often described with words like surreal, mystic, and mesmerizing, these rugs depict a world beyond reality. Construction-wise, they have twice as many horizontal as vertical knots, which makes them floppy and easy to move.

Material Details

Wool, a staple in Moroccan rug design, was considered almost sacred to the Amazigh (Berber) people, whose nomadic lifestyle included sheep and goat herding. In addition to being available, wool is durable, long-lasting, and softso its super comfy to walk and relax on. In this piece, the wool pile is knotted onto a strong cotton foundation, prized for its sturdiness.

• Dust and dirt that accumulate in your rug can erode the fibers over time. The best way to combat this is to take your rug outside and give it a good shake once a week. Depending on how large it is, you may need to recruit a friend to help. Also, be sure to get a rug padthis helps to preserve your rug in spite of dirt.
• If shaking it out isnt possible, you can vacuum it insteadjust be cautious, and dont use a rotary vacuum, because it can damage the fibers. Once or twice a month, use the suction attachment gently, from side to side. Once or twice a year, flip your rug over and vacuum the back.
• Once a year, let it sunbathe. Hang it in the sun for a few hours when its hottest, and flip it over midway through, to expose both sides to direct sunlight. This sun-bleaching helps further sanitize the wool. Its a natural method to bleach and deodorize it.
• To ensure equal wear and protect against walk patterns, change your rug’s direction periodically. You can also flip your rug upside-down once in awhile, and use it like that for a bit. With Moroccan rugs, the back is typically as nice as the front.
• Every 3-5 years, we recommend getting your rug professionally hand-washed with a Moroccan rug expert. Please do not take it to get steam or dry cleanedthis will almost certainly damage the rug! Hand-washing requires the use of a pH-balanced shampoo, worked into the rug by hand with a soft-bristled brush, before being rinsed thoroughly. This process should be repeated a few times.
• In case of spills:
  • If the spill is organic and non-oily (e.g., wine), use a paper towel or cloth to blot the liquid. Add some clean water sparingly to the spot to dilute the stain (or wet a paper towel or cloth) and blot. Repeat this process until the stain is removed.
  • If the stain is persistent, resist the urge to scrub. Scrubbing can damage the wool fibers and more easily allow the stain to penetrate. You may try using a mild detergent, such as very diluted dishwashing soap, following the same blot-and-rinse procedure.
  • If the spill is a denser, more oily liquid, try first to scoop what you can from the surface using a spoon or perhaps some heavier paper, and then do the blot-and-rinse. If the spill is significant, non-organic and/or composed of chemical substances, or the above methods dont work, we suggest getting the rug professionally hand-washed as soon as possible.
  • For rugs with deeply saturated color palettes, be sure to spot-clean them in an area that can be hosed down immediately after, as some color bleeding may occur.