Arts and Crafts of Morocco

Arts and Crafts of Morocco
Author: James F Jereb
Publisher: National Geographic Books
Total Pages: 0
Release: 2015-06-30
Genre: Antiques & Collectibles
ISBN: 050027830X

Reveals the dazzling fusion of cultural influences in Moroccan arts and crafts Its unique geographical location established Morocco as a center of cultural exchange, and its remarkable arts and crafts are the product of a centuries-long intermingling of influences from other parts of Africa and the traditions of Islam and from the singular cultural alliance of the Moors and the Spaniards. Superbly illustrated with more than 150 specially commissioned color photographs, Arts and Crafts of Morocco illuminates the wonders of this thriving tradition. Dr. James F. Jereb’s pioneering account, based on his own first hand research, examines an extensive range of media: vibrantly colored textiles; jewelry in a range of exquisite configurations; original leather, wood, and metalwork; and an enormous variety of pottery and ceramics. These marvelous objects derive either from a rural lifestyle, with symbols and patterns that reflect the powerful animistic beliefs of the Berber country artisans, or from the cities, where Islamic tenets compose the cultural foundation. All of these works are thus endowed with a spiritually charged significance that determines their functions and ensures their remarkable beauty. This in-depth study is made complete with guidance on Moroccan arts and crafts from expert collectors and a revealing analysis of the belief systems, festivals, and ceremonies that inform the predominant techniques and visual motifs of Moroccan art.

Arts & Crafts of Morocco

Arts & Crafts of Morocco
Author: James F. Jereb
Publisher: Chronicle Books (CA)
Total Pages: 172
Release: 1996
Genre: Art
ISBN:

The spectacular arts and crafts of Morocco reflect a timeless mingling of influences from Moorish Spain, sub-Saharan Africa, and the Middle East - all the exotic worlds that once congregated at this crossroads of ancient trading routes. Striking in its versatility and diversity, Moroccan art has long influenced artists, architects, and designers. This volume, superbly illustrated with more than 150 original color photographs, brings the dazzling splendor of a thriving artisan tradition to a wider and increasingly appreciative international audience. Vibrantly colored textiles; exquisitely crafted jewelry: finely worked leather, wood, metal; and an enormous collection of pottery and ceramics are all gathered together in this engaging guide by a leading Morroco scholar. These marvelous objects are inspired in form and content by the tribal lifestyle and powerful animistic beliefs of the nomadic artisans, as well as by the compelling aesthetic traditions of the Moslem world, giving each item's utility and remarkable beauty a spiritual resonance. With a lively text describing traditional artistic forms and techniques, and a comprehensive analysis of the belief systems, festivals, and ceremonies to which the arts are linked, Arts and Crafts of Morocco will prove irresistible not only to those intrigued by this fascinating land, but also to collectors, designers, and anyone in search of original decorative ideas.

Amazigh Arts in Morocco

Amazigh Arts in Morocco
Author: Cynthia Becker
Publisher: University of Texas Press
Total Pages: 241
Release: 2014-04-15
Genre: History
ISBN: 0292756194

In southeastern Morocco, around the oasis of Tafilalet, the Ait Khabbash people weave brightly colored carpets, embroider indigo head coverings, paint their faces with saffron, and wear ornate jewelry. Their extraordinarily detailed arts are rich in cultural symbolism; they are always breathtakingly beautiful—and they are typically made by women. Like other Amazigh (Berber) groups (but in contrast to the Arab societies of North Africa), the Ait Khabbash have entrusted their artistic responsibilities to women. Cynthia Becker spent years in Morocco living among these women and, through family connections and female fellowship, achieved unprecedented access to the artistic rituals of the Ait Khabbash. The result is more than a stunning examination of the arts themselves, it is also an illumination of women's roles in Islamic North Africa and the many ways in which women negotiate complex social and religious issues. One of the reasons Amazigh women are artists is that the arts are expressions of ethnic identity, and it follows that the guardians of Amazigh identity ought to be those who literally ensure its continuation from generation to generation, the Amazigh women. Not surprisingly, the arts are visual expressions of womanhood, and fertility symbols are prevalent. Controlling the visual symbols of Amazigh identity has given these women power and prestige. Their clothing, tattoos, and jewelry are public identity statements; such public artistic expressions contrast with the stereotype that women in the Islamic world are secluded and veiled. But their role as public identity symbols can also be restrictive, and history (French colonialism, the subsequent rise of an Arab-dominated government in Morocco, and the recent emergence of a transnational Berber movement) has forced Ait Khabbash women to adapt their arts as their people adapt to the contemporary world. By framing Amazigh arts with historical and cultural context, Cynthia Becker allows the reader to see the full measure of these fascinating artworks.

Art in the Service of Colonialism

Art in the Service of Colonialism
Author: Hamid Irbouh
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
Total Pages: 297
Release: 2013-03-25
Genre: Education
ISBN: 0857725157

In the Moroccan French Protectorate (1912-1956), the French established vocational and fine art schools, imposed modern systems of industrial production and pedagogy and reinvented old traditions. Hamid Irbouh argues that the French used this systematic modernisation of local arts and crafts regulation to impose their control. He looks in particular at the role and place of women in the structures of art production and education created by the French- that transformed and dominated Moroccan society during the colonial period. French women infiltrated the Moroccan milieu, to buttress colonial ideology, yet at critical moments, Moroccan women rejected traditional roles and sabotaged colonial plans. Meanwhile, the contradictions between reformist goals and the old order added to social dislocations and led to rebellion against French hegemony. Irbouh examines and analyses these processes and demonstrates how Moroccan artists have struggled to exorcise French influences and rediscover an authentic visual culture since decolonisation. This book reveals that the weight of colonial history continues to weigh heavily on artistic practice and production.

Art and the Jews of Morocco

Art and the Jews of Morocco
Author: André Goldenberg
Publisher: Somogy Art Publishing
Total Pages: 0
Release: 2014
Genre: Decorative arts
ISBN: 9782757208939

For centuries, the artistry of the Jewish community in Morocco has flourished - as much in urban areas as in the countryside - in metalwork, manuscripts, silks, wool, leather, woodwork. Often, this creativity has given birth to exceptional works that showcase the talent and originality of artists and artisans who have nonetheless remained anonymous. Originally from Morocco, Andre Goldenberg is an ethnologist who has devoted a significant part of his life to collecting the art of the Jews of Morocco, artefacts that show a unique artistic perspective and an extremely fine artistic quality. The extraordinary collection of objects assembled in this volume reveals the multiple facets of the art of Moroccan Jews, while the meticulous research that accompanies the catalogue promises to preserve this culture for future generations. This richly illustrated book constitutes an imaginary museum, carefully detailing hundreds of masterpieces of Jewish Moroccan art gathered from public and private collections in Morocco and abroad."

Artistry of the Everyday

Artistry of the Everyday
Author: Lisa Bernasek
Publisher: Harvard University Press
Total Pages: 144
Release: 2008-12-15
Genre: Architecture
ISBN: 0873654056

"In Artistry of the Everyday: Beauty and Craftsmanship in Berber Art, anthropologist Lisa Bernasek gives an insightful overview of Berber history and culture, focusing on the rich aesthetic traditions of Berber craftsmen and -women. She also tells the stories of the collectors whose generosity enhanced the holdings of the Peabody Museum. In a final chapter, she looks at Berber arts in the present day, examining how traditional arts are being used in new forms by Berber artists in North Africa and Europe."--BOOK JACKET.

Morocco

Morocco
Author: Landt Dennis
Publisher: Clarkson Potter
Total Pages: 0
Release: 1992
Genre: Architecture, Domestic
ISBN: 9780517574201

Morocco celebrates the decorative arts and centuries-old folk traditions of a country in the midst of a cultural renaissance. The glorious photographs make this book a joy for the armchair traveler, while the documentary information about Morocco's houses, arts, and crafts make it invaluable for everyone interested in design. Full-color photographs.

Arts and Crafts of India

Arts and Crafts of India
Author: Ilay Cooper
Publisher: Thames & Hudson
Total Pages: 160
Release: 1996-01-01
Genre: Art
ISBN: 9780500278635

A discussion of each medium, ranging from wood to basketry complemented by an outline of the regional styles, history and the social and symbolic significance of many of the artefacts.

The Fabric of Moroccan Life

The Fabric of Moroccan Life
Author: Niloo Imami Paydar
Publisher: University of Washington Press
Total Pages: 314
Release: 2002
Genre: Art
ISBN:

For centuries, the people of Morocco have been producing magnificent embroideries, pile rugs, and flatweaves. The Fabric of Moroccan Life showcases rare embroideries, hangings, and rugs that reflect the broad range of traditions and cultural influences active in Morocco during the 18th, 19th, and 20th centuries. The book explores the artistic importance of these superb weavings as well as their central role in Moroccan culture.Approximately 150 pieces - and numerous details - are illustrated in colour, and additional photographs (including many that were taken in the 1930s) show how they were once used in everyday life in Morocco. The book includes essays on Moroccan embroidery and its origins, traditional costumes of the cities and rural areas, the weavings of the Berbers and other ethnic groups, and the distinctive characteristics of items made by particular ethnic sub-groups. The contributing writers are eminent scholars and experts in a variety of fields, including Moroccan history and culture; Moroccan rugs, textiles, and clothing; and natural dyes. A wealth of information is included that has never before been available in one volume.Niloo Imami Paydar is curator of textiles and costumes at the Indianapolis Museum of Art. Ivo Grammet is coordinator of a new museum in Nador, northern Morocco. The contributors include Gérard Boëly, Gebhard Blazek, Katherine Dolk-Ellis, Narjys El Alaoui, Mustapha Hansali, Annette Korolnik-Andersch, Marcel Korolnik, Zineb Lehmam, Russell Pickering, Ahmed Skounti, Frieda Sorber, Wilfried Stanzer, and Marie-France Vivier.