The History of Moroccan Wood Furniture.
How do the intricate designs and vibrant colors of Moroccan wood furniture tell stories of a rich cultural heritage?
As a local insider I get asked this question a lot, and today I’d like to share with you the story behind the beauty of our cultural background and how it can be seen through the furnishings.
The wood furniture industry in morocco have evolved over hundreds of years and affected by numerous societies and artistic customs and styles. such as the Berbers, the Arabs, the Persian, the moorish and the French influences, each added their unique perspectives combining to create a distinctive and captivating design tradition that continues to fascinate people worldwide.
In ancient times, nomadic Berber tribes crafted practical pieces from simple materials that could easily be transported as they roamed the land. As permanent settlements took hold and communities grew more stable, the complexity and artistry of woodworking and other crafts also grew and became more diverse.
However, the beginning of new design influences started when Islamic beliefs and customs took hold in the region, during the time of the Abbasids, who ruled over a huge area including Entire old Persia and North Africa that used to be part of the Umayyad state.
The Abbasid period was a golden age for Islamic culture, with big advances in fields like translation, medicine, chemistry, philosophy and physics.
During this time, Moroccans Amazigh started creating their own unique designs, They mixed ideas from old Persian art, new Arab styles, and their own Berber traditions. The result was something truly unique to Morocco. A mix of geometric patterns, Quranic calligraphy, and Arabesque motifs, all with a distinct Amazigh touch.
This wasn’t just happening in Morocco – same things were happening in historical Turkey, certain Muslim regions of India, and all other territories under the he Abbasids control. They all had the same starting point, but each place developed its own special style.
That’s why you might today notice similarities in handmade art from Turkey, Morocco, and certain regions of India—they all experienced influence from the same governing powers in ancient times. However, our handmade Moroccan furniture continues to stand out from the crowed.
But, by the failure of Andalusia and the Expulsion of Moorish muslims and Jews (many of them was jews) who chose to settle within Fez’s bustling walls, bringing their refined aesthetic sensibilities earned over centuries to our land.
They immediately set to practicing their intricate joinery and their crafting techniques like the marquetry technique, the mother-of-pearl inlays technique, the marbling technique, and the use of sumptuous textiles techniques. all beloved by the jews of Al-Andalus.
Local woodworkers were in awe of these new styles and quickly began collaborating with the jews masters. Over time, Fez became renowned as a vibrant center where Andalusian-Islamic patterns merged harmoniously with Moroccan Berber forms. And to this day, if you get a chance to visit the old city of Fez, you will see these established influences and diverse contributions in buildings, streets, shops, and furnitures.
As many of you know Morocco lived under French protection for several decades in the early 20th century.
During this time, there was much cultural exchange between our lands and those of Europe.
Craftsmen found themselves experimenting with unfamiliar Europeans furniture styles, which encourage them to began merging age-old joining and carving techniques with these novel aesthetics, wondering what innovative designs could emerge.
During that period artisans adapted thuya wood bedspreads, engraved cedar chests and sleek seats accented with brass tack.
Moroccan handmade craftsmanship steadily assimilated foreign inspirations, threading them into the imagery prized for era upon era, giving birth to what we now refer to as Moroccan modern furniture style that continues to showcase the remarkable nimbleness of our handmade crafts heritage.
May these glimpses into how myriad contributions have shaped our handmade crafts inspire your own willingness to learn endlessly from diverse lands as our artisans have done.
In Part B, discover more of what combinations allow such brilliant works.
Hassan “Berber, Moorish, Indigenous” Boutabaa
PS: Do you have a desire to add a beautiful Moroccan piece of wooden furniture to your house interior but do not know how to start?
Use the chat box below to message our team and they will help you through out the entire process.
Click here to read part B.
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