Minneapolis Institute of Art

Belt

Morocco

Date

19th-20th century

Medium

Silk, metal threads, lampas weave

Department

Arts of Global Africa

Institution

Minneapolis Institute of Art

Weaving technology used by urban Arab weavers was very sophisticated. A belt such as this, with its complicated and diverse patterning would probably have involved at least five specialists: a dyer to create the four warp colors, three coordinated weavers (one handling the weft thread and ground structure, and two developing the pattern), and a passementerie craftsperson to finish the braided warp ends and tassels. Fine wool weaving was made throughout North Africa and generally this production was used regionally, but urban Arab silk weavers frequently produced specialized textiles for a variety of communities in quite diverse locations. Morocco

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