Vintage Moroccan Kilim: Handwoven Wool Pictorial Rug, Oasis Scene

Hand-woven by an Atlas Mountain weaver, this charming pictorial kilim depicts a sun-washed desert scene—kasbah and palms on the horizon with a resting camel along the dune line. Soft, undyed browns and ecru with sandy tans create a beautifully neutral palette that plays well with modern, rustic and boho interiors. Lightweight yet sturdy, it’s a genuine vintage flatweave—full of character, not mass-produced.


Weaving tradition & construction.
Closeups show a true weft-faced tapestry (kilim) weave with slit joins between color areas and subtle heathering from hand-spun yarn. Warps are light (off-white) and uniform—typical of cotton warps—while the thicker colored wefts are hand-spun sheep’s wool. The edges finish in knotted warp fringe; the weft selvedges and the slight waviness of the sides are consistent with Moroccan rural weaving.

Knot structure.
This is a flatweave (no pile), so there are no knots (neither Turkish/Ghiordes nor Senneh). The design is built by interlocking wefts.

Regional origin.
The kasbah architecture, palm motifs, sun disc and camel silhouette are hallmark themes of southern Moroccan / High-Atlas pictorial kilims (often Taznakht or surrounding villages) woven for local use and traveler trade from the mid-20th century onward. The neutral, undyed browns and oatmeal ground seen here are especially common in Atlas workshops.

Age.
Judging by the yarn, palette, cotton warps, and light, even wear to fringe and corners, this piece dates late 20th century, c. 1980s–1990s.

Materials & dyes.

Wefts: hand-spun wool in natural, undyed browns and cream with a few softly dyed tan/chocolate accents.

Warps: cotton (visible in fringe).

Dyes appear to be mostly natural/undyed with low-chroma traditional plant/synthetic browns typical of the period.

Pile height & density.
As a kilim it has no pile. Weft count is approx. 7–8 rows per cm (~18–20 ppi), a medium tapestry density that gives good drape and clarity of the pictorials.

Maker’s marks.
No written signature; the scene itself (kasbah + palms + camel under the sun) is a distinctive southern Moroccan pictorial convention.

Motifs & cultural notes

Kasbah / fortified house: symbol of community, protection and hospitality.

Palm grove (oasis): life in the desert—shade, water, fertility.

Camel: travel, trade caravans and resilience.

Sun disc: warmth and blessing over the landscape.

The naqsha (layout) is horizontally banded like a landscape painting: high sky, middle ground with architecture and palms, then a broad foreground “dune/river” band hosting the camel. The simple ground line frames the narrative; with no heavy borders, the scene reads airy and modern.

Features:

Type: Hand-woven kilim (flatweave)

Origin: Southern Morocco, High-Atlas region

Age: c. 1980s–1990s (vintage)

Size: 102 × 76 cm (approx. 3’4” × 2’6”)

Materials: Hand-spun wool wefts on cotton warps

Weave details: weft-faced tapestry with slit joins; ~7–8 weft rows/cm (~18–20 ppi)

Pile: none (flat surface)

Time to weave (est.): 30–45 hours including spinning and finishing

Condition: Very good vintage—sound foundation; tidy fringes with minor irregularity; light waviness to sides and gentle age patina. No holes or structural repairs noted. See close photos.

Authentic Moroccan pictorial with kasbah, palms, camel & sun

Neutral, natural palette—easy to style in contemporary spaces

Lightweight & reversible flatweave—hang on a wall or use on the floor

Hand-spun wool gives beautiful heathered texture and movement

Compact size—perfect for entry, kitchen, office, or gallery wall

Care & use

Use a rug pad to prevent slip and reduce wear.

Vacuum with suction only (no beater bar).

For spills: blot immediately with a dry cloth; then dab with cool water and mild soap if needed.

Rotate every few months for even sun exposure.

For deep cleaning, choose a professional cleaner experienced with flatweave wool kilims.

If hanging, distribute weight with a sleeve or Velcro strip sewn to a cotton header—avoid clips that stress individual warps.

Style tips

This warm, minimal scene pairs beautifully with Scandinavian, boho, wabi-sabi, desert modern, rustic and coastal interiors. Lovely as a wall tapestry, in a reading nook, layered over jute, or as a welcoming mat in a studio or entry.


Bring home a little desert poetry. If you’d like me to add a hanging sleeve or rug pad cut to size, just say the word—I’m happy to help you get it display-ready the day it arrives.