An Azemmour silk embroidered valance (Hentlit), Northwest Morocco

Please see Paydar, N.I. & Grammet, I. ed., The Fabric of Moroccan Life, Indianapolis Museum of Art, 2002, pp.94-95, Inv.No. 33.228, for a similar example in the Eliza M. and Sarah L. Niblack Collection. This exceptional Azemmour embroidery with its highly stylised dragon-like leaves clasped by crowns illustrates clearly the influence of Andulusian textiles on the early embroideries of Morocco.  Similar forms are seen not only in Andalusian embroideries, but also in the borders of the Spanish carpets of the period, for example the Alcaraz or Cuenca 'Wreath' carpets, see Galea-Blanc, C., The Carpet in Spain and Portugal, Great Carpets of the World, Paris, 1996, p.327, pl.325.