Detail of an Algerian Jebel Amour rug, 19th century or earlier. 1.65 x 5.50 m (5′ 5″ x 18′). Unlike the carpets of Morocco, which have become increasingly popular over the past twenty years, Algerian carpets remain little known. However, it is worth taking a closer look at them, as the rural textile culture of eastern Morocco and the eastern Middle Atlas is strongly linked to that of Algeria. Indeed, that specific region’s heritage is in some aspects more closely related to Algerian carpets than to those from southern Morocco or the Arab groups between the Middle Atlas and the Atlantic.

This is especially true for carpets that were made under the guidance of a male master weaver, an approach that is widespread in Algeria. In Morocco it is encountered mainly in parts of the Middle Atlas, the Moulouya Valley, and some eastern areas near the Mediterranean coast.

Rugs from Jebel Amour in Algeria had a particularly strong influence on the rural weaving culture in eastern Morocco. They were made in the high plateaus of the mountain range between the urban centres of Aflou and El Bayadh. They served the nomadic groups there mainly as sleeping underlay and blankets. The designation frâch (Arabic for bed) underlines this type of use.

The aforementioned male master weavers (Arab. reggâm) were responsible for the patterning, while female weavers had the task of filling in the pile in the specified colours within the marks set by the reggâm. The masters’ marks were set with white knots, which appear as white contour lines in the pattern of the carpet. In many eastern Moroccan carpets, where the influence of Jebel Amour carpets is plain, such white contour lines also appear as a decorative element; but they have quite obviously lost their function as design markers.

In the culture of their origin, the rugs were usually laid with the pile facing downwards—the primary importance of the high pile was in its insulating function. The ‘beautiful’ side was understood to be the easily readable back of the weaving. This fact is made quite clear by the overall conception; the typically richly decorated kilim ends show their design on the back as well.

In some weavings from the Jebel Amour region, the connection to western Anatolian kilims or carpets seems overt. Algeria was under Ottoman administration from 1574 to 1830, and the influence of eastern Mediterranean designs is also reflected in urban embroideries. A more in-depth study would certainly also be worthwhile with regard to the productions further north in Guergour, near Constantine, or in the west at Tlemcen.