For too many the origins of the magnificent pieces of various art forms hailing from Morocco are clouded in mystery, and for the uninformed buyer this could spell a bad investment. In the interests of discerning collectors and decorators alike, Out Of Morocco, has taken this opportunity to educate both existing members, as well as the newly initiated in the market.
It is worthy of note that given the areas of speciality of each region, pieces claiming to be from an area other than their renown, are not likely to carry the mark of superior quality that their roots afford them. Naturally this translates into the fact that you can rest assured you are not going to come across a replica of that which you have lovingly picked out to reflect that very essence of you.
FES, often identified by the traditional hat worn by eastern servants, is duly renowned for its tactile art pieces, namely pottery and ceramics. All leather proceeding out of Morocco onto the international market must first pass through Fes, where all dying and tanning is conducted.
This area boasts a particularly refined quality of clay which has earned it this deserved reputation. Regarded by both the international and local community as being “Home of the original artisan”, the raw materials have consistently proven to be superior in their moulding attributes, and hold the strength and wear-with-all demanded by those of refinement. Indeed it could be said that the Fesian clay is in global demand.
Fes is indeed the only region that holds the mastering of both pottery and ceramics, offering a vastly and diversely aesthetic range of original designs. The truly amazing ceramic mosaic pieces produced by the gifted crafters, who populate Fes, are individually filed and placed by the artist’s hand, to create the end marvel. No other area in Morocco produces clay that is of a standard high enough to enable the production of pieces that are so very unmistakably FES!
MARRAKECH, whose romantic tales are timelessly relayed by adventurous voyagers, also holds a worldwide reputation for its incredible pieces produced by the gifted silversmiths that constitute part of these colourful people. It would be on oversight to not acknowledge the great Medina, central to the Moroccan shopping experience, a place of true wonder where it is common to see celebrities freely walking about.
Using sourced silver, the Marrakechian artists continue to amaze and delight their captive markets with original silver works found lavishly wrapped around mirrors, the necks of beautiful women everywhere, and pots shipped in from Fez requiring that elegant finish.. Indeed shopping in this “gateway to the desert” one would be forgiven for believing that there are over a billion residents. We have chosen to regard this great city as one of true reflection, for its looking glasses adorn the shopping sectors in abundance, reflecting the warmth of the city and its people.
Furniture pieces clad in shimmering silver, as for example dressers, servers and other fine works fit for entrances and dining rooms of palaces and the homes of other true connoisseurs, are the other speciality significance for which Marrakech is fast gaining repute. Add to this their phenomenal lamps and light fittings, which could never be replicated, and it becomes clear that Marrakech is truly the silver Mecca.
ESSAOUIRA host of the annual great music festival which has become a global tradition in its own right, is also the source of Moroccan seafood, so frequently found in West African dishes. This is the dwelling place of Morocco’s most esteemed carpenters. To behold these great artists at work is indeed an honour, as their completed art reflects poetic accolades to this fine medium.
The raw material is sourced from lemon trees grown solely in this area. Marry this with the wealth of verbally instructed knowledge, from father to son that teaches the art of discerning between different sections of the same tree. Resulting in a symphony of wooden shades that morph into masterpieces under the skilled hands of the visionary artists who lovingly carve out every imaginable piece of solid furniture.
Diversity being a major player in the modern market, the carpenters of Essaouira easily satisfy this demand by producing furniture ranging from chests in all dimensions, to vases and lamps, boxes for jewels, chairs and occasional tables. These timeless folk inlay the wood with mother of pearl, silver and fossil materials, to generate a truly unique art synomous with this region alone. This is a skill passed from generation to generation, and herein lies the mystique.
The Art of Fusion
Whilst it is a fact, that pots originating from Fes alone are of distinguished character, noted by their glazing, intrinsic designs and heavy solid composition. One is able to acquire a particularly unique piece that depicts a fusion, a melding of skills exalting the best of both specialities. Since Marrakech is the silver quarter, one is able to source pots from Fes, that upon completion of casting have been sent to Marrakech for fine silver and fossil finishes. The result is a superbly pottered and richly adorned masterpiece, and a true original. It is not uncommon to find the mark of Essaouira amidst this glorious tapestry, and pots carrying encasings of mother of pearl would be among the many examples.