Marrakesh Express

Souvenirs of Morocco

Bags, Jewelry and Slippers

Remember, all prices include insurance and shipping via Priority Mail in the US. For other locations, email me about prices.

Bags

This is a new item on my site - I found bags at a rural market (Guigou) in the Middle Atlas, and thought they were lovely examples of how to recycle older fabrics. They were previously parts of clothing items which probably wore out, so intact pieces of the handwoven cloth were used to make these bags. Moroccans don't use this kind of small bag, so they are not traditional items but were made for the tourist market.

Piece 2.12523 used to be part of a traditional Berber woman's marriage cloak or hendira. It is woven in alternating stripes of white cotton and natural off-white wool. The design accent is from a patterned stripe in dark brown and indigo blue, a traditional color combination. You can see it better here. The cloak would have had long cotton threads on the back side of the patterned stripe, but in this piece they have been trimmed short. In the photo you can see a pale rust-colored spot under the flap [it didn't come out with spot washing], but the flap covers it when the bag is being worn. This piece is about 12" wide and 10 3/4" deep (30 x 27cm) and costs $50.

Jewelry

Morocco has lots of beautiful jewelry, and I decided to experiment with some to see if you would like it, for yourself or for a gift - it seems you do. I brought back several "hands of Fatima", named after the daughter of the Prophet Mohammed, and called "khamisas" in Arabic. They are used to protect the wearer from the evil eye around much of the Mediterranean basin. These are in "800" or "925" silver (which I thought was %, as in 80%, but it's another measure; I think 925 is sterling), as are the chains that come with them, and also the earrings below. I have duplicates of several of these items, so you can often order more than one. A note: I've found it very difficult to get good pictures of reflective metal, so please excuse the quality of some of the photos. Some are a better when you click to make them larger. A few pieces here look yellow in parts, but they are not in reality: they are all bright sillver.

The prices include packing, shipping and insurance via US Priority mail. Remember, you can return things for a full refund less the price of packing and shipping if you are not satisfied.

Pendants

These larger khamisa pendants all come with the silver chains. They are numbered one to ten, from left to right.

1 large has a design growing out of the way the very fine filigree wires are arranged, with a silver bead in the center. $40 SOLD

2 large is also of fine filigree wire with a center bead. $35.

3-5 large are similar, with a filigree design under flattened wire that give them a heavier look. The thumbs on 3 are a bit more curved than those on 4 and 5. Each is $35.
6-8 large, have embossed designs that remind me of the henna designs women paint on their hands for celebrations, and each costs $35.
9 large is more geometric and costs $35. SOLD
10 large is cut out, so it is highlighted by the fabric underneath it. The price is $35. SOLD

These smaller khamisa pendants are numbered from left to right. You can see the designs better if you click on the photo. Each costs $30.

1 small has an embossed design that you can see better if you click to enlarge the picture.
2 small is the hand of Fatima, with a star in the center. SOLD
3 small is an unusual design and quite shiny.
4 small is quite different. One merchant told me it was a Jewish-style khamisa. SOLD

5 small is made of many fine filigree wires, with a bead of silver in the center within a shape that looks like an eye. SOLD

6 small is similar to 5, but a bit wider. SOLD

Earrings

I have some khamisa earrings in a continuation of the hand of Fatima theme. Those in filigree could be combined with a similar pendant to make a set.

The numbers are from left to right, moving clockwise. Each pair costs $25.

1 is the only pair that is not a khamisa. The design is called the Southern Cross, after a constellation in the southern sky, and one also finds it in Tuareg jewelry from Mali.
2 is a filigree khamisa that you can see through.
3 is a filigree khamisa with a black stone.

4 is a very simple khamisa with no design.

5 is a tiny khamisa, suitable for a child.

These earrings are a new, very Moroccan design representing a fibula. It is a triangular decoration with a circle and pin at the top, and was used to fasten cloaks in Roman times in Morocco, and some women still use them today. They are larger on the left and smaller on the right. Each pair costs $25.

These earrings vary in style, but each pair costs $30. The descriptions are from left to right across the top, then the same across the bottom.
top
1 large cutout has a stem.
2 is cut out with a heart design if you look at the enlargement.
3 is a soft diamond-shape, with a complex cut out pattern.
4 are stylized hands of Fatima. SOLD
bottom
5 are long simple pendants.
6 is a large stylized Southern Cross.
7 is the fibula design.

These earrings have an African flavor, and in fact the top pair were made by Tuareg who move across the Sahara between Morocco and Mali and are famous for their silverwork. The black bands are inlaid wood. Each pair costs $35.

The pair with black bands also have fine engraving (click to see the detail) and are in the shape of a modified Southern Cross.

The pair with two circles has a spiral etched in black. SOLD

Slippers

I've always loved the brightly embroidered soft leather slippers from Morocco, so decided to see if you would too. We slip these on over socks when we come into the house: it's comfortable on your feet and good for the rugs too. When you start out both slippers are the same, but they become 'left' and 'right' after wearing - they're so soft they shape themselves to your feet. All are handmade, and prices include shipping by US priority mail. I often do not have them in stock, but can pick them up for you on my next trip.

Slippers 9.112163 are 'large' and will fit a women's size about 9-10. Both are SOLD, but I’m leaving the photos in case anyone would like to order; they also come in green. $25 each

Slippers 4.12720 have largely replaced the embroidered style above for women, which is now hard to find (but I can always ask). They are the same soft leather, but many have designs in beads and/or sequins, some with embroidery too. Click on the photo to see it larger, and you can see that the pink and blue pairs in the front row have embroidery in the same color as the leather. They come in both rounded and pointed toes, and in the back row you see some other styles with different embroidery, or in plain brown. I don't have these in stock right now, but let me know if you would like a pair and I'll shop for some the next time I'm in Morocco; I'm putting them on line to see if there is some interest in this style. Each pair costs $25.

Slippers 4.12721 are the more subdued style, for men, and can be ordered. Here they are shown in both a plain leather (the beige, white and yellow) and a suede leather, which has a bit of embroidery. They have more rigid leather soles than those above, and each pair costs $30.

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