Some time ago, I posted a short article suggesting a strong Anatolian influence on the rug art in Morocco. While this influence is undeniable, it was not the Ottoman presence in Morocco that played part in the forming of the trend.
In fact, the Ottomans never reached the Kingdom of Morocco and their expansion stopped at Algeria.
This vicinity of the Ottomans and the trade with the Ottoman Algeria had no doubt a profound impact on the styles and designs of the Moroccan rug industry (municipal and rural), it was however, most likely the ancient connection of the Kingdom of Morocco with the Moorish Spain.
The architectural style, home décor and many cultural elements found in Morocco can be in fact traced back to the old Andalusia, part of the ancient Islamdom.
While this is a correction to my previous post, I am still convinced that it was the Anatolian influence that played a more important part on the formation of the carpet design in Morocco.
Most Rabat, Fez and Casablanca carpets bear a strong resemblance to Ottoman rugs from Anatolia; there are hardly any traces of Anatolian influence in Hispano-Moorish carpet design.
Furthermore, in term of technicality, the Moroccan city rugs are invariably executed in Ghiordes knot while the early Andalusian ones in the so-called Spanish knot.
