Page 336 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Morocco

334  tr a veller S ’ need S

What to Buy in Morocco

Souks in Morocco present the visitor with a vast
choice of jewellery, leather goods, wrought-iron
work, brass and copper, pottery, carpets, basketry
and fabrics. But the quantity, colours and sheer
diversity of the items on offer can be bewildering
and it can be difficult to distinguish quality pieces
from inferior ones. Before deciding to buy, it is best
to take some time to compare what is on offer in different
shops. Country craft items offered for sale in markets Pouffe
are genuine and utilitarian, ranging from the baskets Like other leather goods, this
carried by donkeys and combs for carding wool to pouffe is made of good-quality
goatskin or sheepskin, which, after
terracotta coolers for keeping milk or dried meat fresh. tanning, is dyed and embroidered.
Ceramics
The place of origin of ceramics can
be identified by their colours and decoration.
Pottery from Fès is the most refined, that
from Salé is glazed in pale colours, and that
from Safi features polychrome colours and
Berber motifs. Potters also devise new
designs, such as that on the vase shown
on the left.

Vase from Safi

Vase
Ashtray
This is an example
of Fès blue-glazed
ware. The Fassi
pottery industry
goes back to the
10th or 11th Decorated tajine Plate with a modern
centuries. dish design
Wood and Stone Carving
Fès, Tetouan and Azrou are renowned for their carved cedar. In
Essaouira, craftsmen work with thuya wood (see p126), making
boxes in various shapes, statues, trays, frames and other pieces.
In Taroudannt, objects are carved from soft stone, and in Erfoud
trinkets and other small items are fashioned from marble.

Thuya Camel
Small pieces like this figure
Inlaid Wood of a camel are easier to
Boxes and other objects made of thuya are make than larger items,
decoratively inlaid with yellow citron wood since thuya wood tends
and ebony or cedar. Duck carved in stone to split as it dries out.

334-335_EW_Moroco.indd 334 13/08/14 10:50 AM
Eyewitness Travel LAYERS PRINTED:
What to Drink template “UK” LAYER
(Source v1.2)
Date 7th January 2013
Size 125mm x 217mm