As can be seen from our discussion page, collectors in America place
a high value on these textiles and it seems likely that European markets
will follow that lead. Some leading London stores such as Libertys have
begun to show Moroccan work, but the market is not over developed and
consequently prices in the UK are much below those in the USA. The hard
edged design of these textiles and the boldness of their style, lends them
a much more modern feel than work from the traditional kilim producing areas.
Good quality work should increase in value. We reproduce below an article
originally published in Auction Watch Daily, (now "Vendio!").
Moroccan Rugs
by Jori Finkel
2.22.01
Persian rugs can be exquisite but expensive. A first-rate
Turkish kilim is hard to find. The market for antique Navajo textiles--as
well as tourist demand for Santa Fe knockoffs--has peaked. But hand-woven
Moroccan rugs are still available for next to nothing.
In fact, the market is so young that these pieces rarely come up for
sale at the major rug auctions at Christie's or Sotheby's, which these days
is more likely to put the occasional piece on Sothebys.com. Better bets
are Cloudband.com, the e-commerce site founded by the editors of Hali magazine,
"world arts" sites novica.com and eziba.com, and the arts and antiques section
of eBay.
Why Not Rabat
"Don't get me wrong: a fine Persian rug is nothing to sneeze at," said
Brooke Pickering, a New York dealer who co-authored Moroccan Carpets (1994).
"But with Moroccan rugs, you can get a real tribal rug that won't break
the bank. And these rugs have a great informality in their geometry, not
that tight floral pattern."
After years of dealing privately in Manhattan, Pickering recently opened
a High Falls, New York, Moroccan import shop (Brooke Pickering Moroccan
Rugs) that handles a range of flat-woven and pile rugs from Morocco's Middle
Atlas region, High Atlas region, and the plains of Marrakesh.
She does not, however, sell commercial Rabat carpets. Although these
rugs are produced in the capital of Morocco, they are derivative in their
origins, borrowing design motifs from Persian and Oriental rugs. As many
specialists see it, Rabat rugs give Moroccan rugs a bad name.
The Flat Weaves
More representative of Morocco is the flat-woven tribal rug, which can
be used as a blanket, floor covering, or, folded up, as seating. Typically
made out of wool (with cotton touches for white highlights), these flat
weaves vary from region to region in design and color. Kilims from the Middle
Atlas region often consist of a red ground with colored design stripes, carrying
a geometric pattern, running length-wise along the carpet. Flat weaves from
the High Atlas region tend to be starker in design, with wider bands of
whites. Some have a zigzag design that recalls the lightning and eye-dazzler
patterns of Navajo weavings.
Susan Davis, an anthropologist who studies Morocco, specializes in the
flat weaves. Her current rug inventory starts around $200 (including shipping)
for Middle Atlas flat weaves and rises to $2,000 for a fine Zemmour piece
that she dates as "maybe 50 or 60 years old."
The Pile Rugs
Weavers in the same above regions also produce pile rugs, made from
adding knots to the warp or weft of a rug. Pickering, who says that 50
percent of her sales are to interior designers, has seen a surge in demand
for these rugs over the last 10 years. "I think the interest in the pile
rug goes along with a '70s acceptance of shag carpeting," she said. "And
the rugs fit with a very retro, mid-century modern kind of decor. There's
a kind of warmth and minimalism that really appeals to people today."
According to Pickering, color is also a draw. Unlike the flat weaves
many pile rugs have an orange or "hot saffron" color that was carefully
avoided several years ago. Now, Pickering says, her buyers seek out the
spicy color, and are willing to pay a small premium for it.
Jori Finkel is senior editor of Art & Auction magazine. She writes
about the art market and e-commerce from New York.
Pricing Dynamics
As for the market as a whole, Pickering says that prices over the last
decade have increased, but slowly. She compares the market for Moroccan
rugs today to that for Turkish rugs in the '60s. "When my father (W. Russell
Pickering) started collecting Turkish kilims and flat weaves from the Middle
East in the early '60s, they were really cheap. Dealers didn't really consider
them to be valuable," said Pickering. "It's hard to believe now, but I don't
think there was an exhibit of flat-woven rugs in a museum here until 1969."
And Moroccan rugs, whether flat weave or pile, are also available for
reasonable prices. "There are so many different types of rugs that it's
hard to generalize," said Pickering. "But I would say that if you're looking
at 5-feet-by-9-feet rugs, you're not talking about something really small,
and you're not talking about something super collectible, prices tend to
fall between $1,100 and $2,800."
Within that range, there are several factors that help determine a rug's
value. At the top of the list is artistry: In such a young market, it is
not a mistake to buy for beauty. One can expect color, the evenness of the
weaving, and the individuality of the design to directly impact the price.
There are also pedantic considerations, such as size. Small rugs of
3 by 5 feet sell for considerably less than the large floor coverings that
measure 5 feet wide and 9 or 10 feet long.
Material is another factor. How fine is the wool? Has any silk been
woven into it? To ensure the material is wool, you can (seller willing)
light a match to the corner of the rug. Burning wool should shrivel when
lit and smell like burning hair; a synthetic, which burns with a flame,
will not. Gauging the quality of the wool is not so scientific, but dealers
say you know it when you see it. The High Atlas region in particular produces
some very good wool, which is said to have "an unmistakable sheen."
Age, though hard to verify, also matters. An early 20th century provenance
or earlier can occasionally boost the price of a Moroccan rug beyond $5,000.
Indeed, Circline.com, a New York-based site that sells art and antiques
on behalf of dealers, recently offered a "large and unusual Moroccan 1940s
wheat ground natural and undyed sheep's wool carpet with brown diaper patterning"
for the whopping sum of $26,500. One might imagine that this rug, which
comes from the Beni Ouarian tribe north of Fez and measures an impressive
6.25 by 17 feet, is sufficiently unique to surpass normal prices.
Or, the price could be a case of wishful thinking on the part of the
seller--a common occurrence in such a young market, where the price ceiling
is still being tested.
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Berber Creations is a Moroccan site with a full range of
art and craft including musical instruments and furniture as well as textiles
Where rug enthusiasts can meet - a fascinating site with discussion
forums and articles for those in search of knowledge
Clive Rogers Oriental Rugs, sells rugs and a lot more -
from 20 th century furniture to oriental ceramics. 
A warehouse of tribal art. Rugs, kilims, tribal bags, costume,
books and jewellery. Bazaar, UK Exhibitions and Rufus Reade Tours