Producers unknown to us
Wrapping cloth (Haik)
Africa, Morocco, Anti-Atlas, Imi n`Tatelt
Around 1920
Textile; woven, painted
Annette Korolnik-Andersch (artist) and Marcel Korolnik (media designer) acquired the wrapping cloth on one of their travels in Morocco
Donation to the Museum für Völkerkunde Dresden by Korolnik-Andersch in 2019
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Women of the Feija-Chorfa community crafted this wool Haik around 1956 in Imi n'Tatelt. The Chorfa, revered in Moroccan society, are believed to be descendants of the Prophet and are reputed to have healing abilities. This Haik was originally located in a religious retreat (Zaouia) and, due to its width, was likely not used as clothing.
The design of the Haik includes the Islamic year 1074 (1664 CE), the year Saint Beni Jacoub is said to have founded the Zaouia in Imi n'Tatelt. However, this date does not indicate the creation year, as Haiks are periodically remade to align with the legend. These textiles were sold by the Chorfa to the faithful as carriers of sacred blessings (Baraka).
A striking feature of this piece is the frequent repetition of the eye symbol, crowned with dots, which appears in every section of the Haik. This symbolizes the number five (Hamsa), which is also considered a lucky number. Motifs such as scorpions, snakes, and the Prophet’s sandals are also present on the cloth. Scorpions, for instance, can symbolize protection, defense, and resilience.
Team GRASSI.SKD