Aït Zayane Hanbel — Saffron Festival Bands

Monumental hanbel flatweave from the Aït Zayane of the Middle Atlas. A radiant saffron field is organized into processional bands—green, claret, and ivory diamonds, talismanic chevrons, and lattice medallions— framed by plush tufted registers studded with reflective shell-like accents. The result is a celebratory textile that reads as both ceremonial garment and architectural runner.

Weave & Touch

Handwoven kilim base in tightly beaten Atlas wool with tufted pile bands and hand-applied embellishments for depth and movement. The handle is supple yet robust, suitable for floor use or dramatic wall display along galleries and corridors.

Provenance & Specs

• Lineage / Region: Aït Zayane, Middle Atlas, Morocco
• Type: Hanbel (decorated flatweave with tufted registers)
• Epoch: Contemporary (heritage continuation)
• Dimensions: 460 × 125 cm (approx. 15'1" × 4'1")
• Construction: Flatweave kilim with tufted pile bands and sewn embellishments
• Materials: 100% wool weft on cotton warp; shell-like reflective accents
• Palette: Saffron ground with emerald, claret, ivory, and onyx patterning
• Profile: Slim flatweave with raised decorative bands
• Finish: Fringed ends; reinforced selvedges
• Condition: New; artisanal irregularities and slight waviness consistent with handweaving
• ADA-ID: ADA-AIT-ZAYANE-HANBEL-460x125-saffron-bands-01

Styling & Care

• Powerful statement for long corridors, galleries, or along dining/kitchen runs; equally compelling as a wall hanging.
• Use a premium rug pad. Vacuum with suction only (no beater bar), taking care around tufted/embellished bands. Rotate periodically; blot spills promptly; professional flatweave cleaning recommended.
• For wall installation, use a sleeve or Velcro® conservation strip to support weight evenly.

A ceremonial runner from the Atlas—saffron light, jeweled bands, and ancestral geometry in motion.