Moroccan Pottery Tour in Safi and Fez

When I think of Morocco, I think of beautiful multi-patterned blue tiles, ornate architecture, and pottery.Morocco's varied geology and rich mineral deposits make it one of the world's largest exporters of phosphates. They have also inspired the production of traditional ceramic tiles and pottery -- a craft industry which is still thriving today.

The potters' quarter is just outside of the city walls of Safi, Morocco. As strange as it might seem, life here goes on as always, even with several tour groups stopping by every day. All around this area, chimneys form large beehive-kilns.

"Fez is famous for the production of its typical blue pottery, known as Fakhari by the locals and Bleu de Fez by the French. Today, Fez is one of the most intriguing cities of the Islamic world, celebrated for its prolific output of hand-crafted items -- leather goods, woolen carpets, carved wood, and gold, brass and silver objects as well as pottery."

"The predominance of blue in the ceramics and pottery of the Fez region is originally due to the presence of cobalt in the rocks and stones swept down by rivers into the narrow gorge of Wadi Mellih. When ground, certain of these rocks produced beautiful coloured glazes, which were once much prized by the pottery industry. In recent years, however, the traditional and highly-skilled craft of selecting the cobalt-rich rocks has completely died out, and glazes are now imported from overseas, particularly from Germany."

Jim Miller's Images of Daily Life in Morocco is one of the first websites I found when I first started learning how to use a computer. More images of Moroccan markets are here, as well as images of the Berbers, Marrakech, and farming in the Atlas Mountains.

Pottery of Morocco

The Kingdom of Morocco is renown for its pottery, covered with complex geometric, arabesque and beautiful, rich  patterns. Moroccan art  has been influenced by a diversity of cultures due to being occupied by Romans,Vandals, Visigoths, Byzantine Greeks ( 278AD to 429AD ) and the conquering Arabs who introduced  their Islamic civilization in the late 7th century. The indigenous Berber tribes were generally converted to Islam around this time.The intricate hand-painted ceramics  of Morocco usually reveal designs that have been influenced by Islamic culture. Some tribes in Morocco have been painting the same design for over 200 years.
As the “wild west” of the Islamic world, Morocco quickly became a haven for many dissidents, rebels and refugees from the eastern caliphate. Among these was Idris ibn Abdallah, who with the help of the local Awraba Berbers, founded the Idrisid Dynasty in 788. His son Idris II erected a splendid new capital at Fez and launched Morocco as a centre of learning and a major power. The Imperial city of Fez is one of the kingdom’s most beautiful places. It offers uniquely designed and colored Moroccan ceramics with an Islamic influence viewed in the intricate pattern, colors, design and production. For over six centuries Fez has proudly created the finest Moroccan pottery. Its beauty comes from the complex knowledge of geometry passed on from father to son. Fez is renowned for the choice of cobalt oxide that permits to obtain every shade of blue. Polychrome enameled ware is more respected in Morocco.
In 1660, Morocco came under the control of the Alawite dynasty. It is a sherif dynasty—descended from the prophet Muhammad—and rules Morocco to this day. During the 17th and 18th centuries, Morocco was one of the Barbary States, the headquarters of pirates who pillaged Mediterranean traders. Morocco was colonized by both the French and the Spanish.
The floral and geometric Moroccan designs are available in cobalt blue and multicolour. This  highly decorative ceramic style was greatly influenced by the Moorish and Spanish culture. The main centers for ceramics are Safi, which produces pottery inlaid with metal , and Fez, which produces the very distinctive blue and white fassi pottery.

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Moroccan decor is incredibly warm right now so far as inside design tendencies are concerned, and there are many explanation why this is the case. Many of these reasons include the intricate styles used, the lavish materials included, the vivid hues that put together exceptionally effectively, the reality that these decorations equipment will go effectively with some other kinds, as well as in incontrovertible fact that The attraction of Moroccan decor won't fade in excess of time like numerous other home decorating kinds do.

Moroccan furniture and decor will suit with any other decorating kinds you may have in your home, to be able to build an eclectic search and truly feel that may be extremely desirable and really welcoming to guests concurrently. There are a few prevalent Moroccan decor accessories that ought to be regarded or used in your home if you prefer an authentic Moroccan appearance and really feel.
Equipment To think about With Moroccan Decor
Moroccan Furniture Table Tops - Tabletops employed in Moroccan decor are really intricate and very nicely created. These equipment include things like possibly hand carving, mosaic tile patterns, or the two, in addition to a make a fantastic addition for almost any area in your home. Lots of of such parts are looked at as artwork, and earning create a focal point in the home that is remarkable and convinced to attract interest.
Genuine Moroccan Rugs - Properties in Morocco contain area rugs that may include gorgeous hues and patterns which can be intricate. Whether your floors are hardwood or carpeting these rugs can make levels of texture and elegance for any incredibly distinctive seem and really feel. Also these rugs can be placed on the wall is perfectly, as the elegance and elegance of those equipment make them excellent as wall decorations moreover to flooring possibilities, particularly when you have a large wall room to go over.
Ceramics And Pottery - Moroccan pottery and ceramics can include elegance to any home in your home, but these parts aren't just equipment and decorations. In addition they enjoy a critical part within the tradition of Morocco, and in the lives in the people who are living there. Each piece of Moroccan pottery is hand made and is supposed to be a certainly one of a kind work of art. Moroccan pottery employs only all-natural clay, and will be located in many hues and styles which will definitely stand out in your home.
Moroccan Home Lighting Selections - Lights is often the one particular component of Moroccan decor that is overlooked or overlooked, which is usually a large mistake. Moroccan lighting can include things like wall sconces, lanterns, lamps, chandeliers, and other people. Most Moroccan lamps have shades which are made out of genuine bestial leather-based, that's painted and stained or henna tattooed. Moroccan household lights options give you operate and also magnificence and secret in your home.
Mirrors - Mirrors participate in an integral role in any Moroccan decor, and these wall decorations are utilized not merely to incorporate beauty for your house but additionally to raise the appearance on the room dimensions. These add-ons is usually discovered with frames that include bone or steel filigree, and in all kinds of measurements, forms, and appearances. Mirrors normally price much less than paintings, but this isn't always the case and when you have an interest in carved pieces are those who include henna stains then you definately could fork out a bit more for these equipment. Any home in your home can be lightened up and enlarged with the utilization of mirrors, especially when they may be placed amongst Moroccan wall sconces.
Area Dividers - Home dividers will also be vital parts in relation to Moroccan decor, which Moroccan furniture will section off an area with screening to make sure that more compact parts are more private plus more personal. When your target with Moroccan decor is flair or secret then you can include things like Moroccan lanterns and lamps in these places at the same time. Place dividers enable you to individual one space into numerous spaces, and also the appeal of the is undeniable.

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Back with Deco

Orange Black and Cream Vase –Boch

The curvaceous and sensuous lines of Art Nouveau  morphed into the polar opposite of more  straight and angular lines which defined the commanding style of Art Deco in the 20′s and 30‘s. Art Deco’s ornamental style, and its lavishness is attributed to the reaction to the forced austerity imposed by World War I. At the same time the Deco’s rigid and regimental lines embraced  the austerity.  Germany definitely adopted and influenced Art Deco design. The curved lines of Nouveau were more inclusive and Feng Shui positive then the exclusive and more hostile sharp angles that followed with Deco.

 Architecturally Art Deco was easier to adopt in building design then Art Nouveau, a match made in heaven with the emergance of the skyscaper age.  Art Deco was of the Machine Age and it adopted its streamline technologies such as modern aviation, electric lighting, radio, ocean liners and skyscrapers for inspiration. Art Deco was used extensively in the United States for railway stations during the 1930s, being designed to represent the modernity and efficiency of railway trains.
 The foundation of Art Deco :
The foundation of Art Deco was based on mathematical geometric shapes. The ability to travel easily and the numerous archaeological excavations during this period; the tomb of Tutankhamun, Pompeii, Troy, etc., influenced both artists and designers who integrated several foreign elements in their work. At its best, art deco represented elegance, glamour, functionality and modernity

Art Deco became the first truly international style, spreading quickly around the world during the 1920s and 1930s.  A myriad of artists beutifully interpreted Art Deco and made it a higly distinctive and memorable era of design.

Art Deco decorative themes  :

( from ArtDecoNapier )

◊     Sunbursts and fountains – representing the dawn of a new modern age.
◊    The Skyscraper shape – symbolic of the 20th century.
◊     Symbols of speed -  power and flight – the exciting new developments in transport and communications.
◊     Geometric shapes – representing the machine and technology which it was thought would solve all our problems.
◊    The new woman – revelling in her recently won social freedoms.
◊     Breaking the rules – cacophonous jazz, short skirts and hair, shocking dances.
◊     Ancient cultures – for oddly enough, there was a fascination with the civilizations of Egypt and Central America.

ceramic decor designs

of various ceramic decorative pieces and furniture.

Ifat Shterenberg ceramic furniture : 

 Ifat uses slab rolled clay combined with various textiles and metals and uses both industrial and handmade techniques to achieve her art personified functional furniture. In 2011 she debuted at the ” 100%design ” exhibition in London . Ifat studied at Tel Aviv in Israel where she gained a BA in business administration and an MA in communication, then went on to study pottery, sculpture and glazing. In 2006 she established her own company where she pursued her dream of creating aesthetically pleasing and functional ceramic sculpted furniture. One of her objectives has been to  develop techniques that maintain structural strength while keeping the weight to a minimum

MEDINA SOUVENIRS, ARTISANAT MAROCAIN

L'artisanat marocain ne cesse de fasciner le monde entier par sa beauté et par le talent des artisans maroains.

Actuellement de nombreux shops et magasins ont ouvert leurs portes en Europe pour exposer à la vente des articles de l'artisanat marocain.

Au Maroc, nombreux sont aussi les vendeurs grossistes de l'artisanat maorcain. Parmi ses exportateurs figure MEDINA SOUVENIRS.

MEDINA SOUVENIRS est une société de vente et exportation des produits artisanaux marocains, voire les épices et l'huile d'Argane.

MEDINA SOUVENIRS a noué de bonnes et étroites relations avec les artisanas marocains surtout dans les régions du sud.

Que vous soyer un acheteur particulier ou un revendeur en Europe, Medina Souvenirs vous accordera des prix intéressants pour tous ses produits ( tapis marocains (morocco carpets) babouches berberes (slippers) caftans, tissus, jabador, tuniques, cuir (leather) fossiles (morocco fossils) décorations en bois (wood decorations), poterie (pottery), les huiles d'argane cosmétique et alimentaire (argane oil), le fer forgé (wrought iron) , les lampes et lanternes de Marrakech (lanterns), les épices (spices), les bijoux (moroccan jowellery) voire des tableaux de peinture (paintings)...

Moroccan style decor

POTTERY FROM FEZ
Fez is one of Morocco's most beautiful cities. It offers uniquely designed and colored pottery. For over six centuries Fez has been proud to produce the finest Moroccan pottery. The beauty of this pottery comes from the complex knowledge passed from father to son. All the pottery is hand crafted in the centuries old traditional way.
If you spend some time gazing at the pottery of Fez, you will of course notice that there are two major groups. Shapes that are decorated with blue and those where several colors are used. Both groups consist of decorative or practical objects with a white background. The more this white (obtained from lead and tin oxide) is pure and brilliant, the more shows off the high technical and aesthetic quality of the object.
Of course, Fez is mainly known for the blue that decorates its various dishes.
This shade is no longer nowadays what it was as recently as the XIXth century, that is to say a soft shade with a metallic reflection curiously reminiscent of the Delft blue.

The Imperial city of Fez is one of the kingdom's most beautiful places. It offers uniquely designed and colored Moroccan ceramics with an Islamic influence viewed in the intricate pattern, colors, design and production. For over six centuries Fez has been proud to produce the finest Moroccan pottery. Its beauty comes from the complex knowledge of geometry passed on from father to son. Fez is renowned for the choice of cobalt oxide that permits to obtain every shade of blue. Polychrome enameled is more respected in Morocco.

The floral and geometric Moroccan designs are available in cobalt blue and multicolor. It is a highly decorative ceramic and was greatly influenced by Moorish and Spanish culture.

.: How to care for your Moroccan handicrafts