Engraved wooden ceilings, supported by intricately decorated and varied arches, mosaics in the form of panels on building facades or minarets, fountains welcoming guests at the entrances of old houses… these are just some of the many arts of Moroccan Islamic ornamentation. This towering architectural art, distinguished by creativity and innovation, is one of the traditional Islamic arts that has had a significant impact on many Moroccan creations for hundreds of years. Authentic Moroccan decorations compete with global architectural art and adorn the finest hotels, tourist resorts, places of worship, and homes, due to their unique quality, increasing beauty, and artistry over time.
Ornamentation is considered an art form of plastic arts, relying on modified elements of plant, linear, or geometric forms, abstracted from reality, distributed according to specific compositional rules such as repetition, symmetry, alternation, opposition, and contrast, creating a strong connection between this ornamentation and religious connotations and sacred Islamic expressions.
Despite its slow development compared to other architectural styles, Moroccan ornamentation represents the pinnacle of Moroccan decoration and creativity, where engraved wood and plaster units are frequently used in column capitals, arches, walls, or fountains. Moroccan buildings’ walls are often painted in light colors such as bright white and green, and sometimes two colors separated by a decorated plaster strip. Occasionally, the walls are striped with broad horizontal lines in two shades of one color or in white and another color. The ceilings are either white or covered with wood consisting of horizontal wooden beams intersected occasionally by some perpendicular wooden beams.
Morocco is famous for its plant-based ornamentation that relies on plant elements, usually known as “Tawriq,” which consists of drawings of flowers and plants arranged according to precise rules, despite the apparent complexity of their lines. Tawriq features a collection of wavy, flat, round, or serrated leaves, wavering in all directions to form interlocking or spiral shapes, sneaking between the gaps of geometric latticework or surrounding medallions with inscriptions or intertwining with them. In addition to plant ornamentation, there is also linear ornamentation that relies on Arabic calligraphy of all types, where the characteristics of Arabic script make it a flexible decorative element achieving the same artistic goals without seeking the written content.
Moroccan decorations are characterized by a strong geometric nature, reflected through the use of star-shaped compositions that adorn the surfaces of buildings and artistic products, as if reflecting the artist’s perception of the exquisite geometric cosmic order and admiration for its precise creation and beautiful design.
Moroccan decor is distinguished by the presence of “Zellij” on walls and floors and precise engravings that create an extremely beautiful and wonderful appearance. Fountains are used in central places, and mirrors with exquisite engravings are frequently used in homes. Plaster is used in column capitals, arches, and openings or as belts in the middle or top of walls. The floors are either intricately patterned and multi-colored carpets or ceramic tiles. The checkered floors tilted at 45 degrees are commonly used, as well as the diamond shape, frequently used in a lattice pattern with tile floors, in black or dark green, or sometimes in white.
Moroccan ornamentation records the stages of human creativity in the field of beauty, which has increased in brilliance and luster with the artistic features added to it, imbued with the spirit of Islam.