Explore / Online Tours
From Cairo, Egypt early 20th century AD
Detail of left side
Detail of right side
Length: 285.000 cm (left
section)
Width: 86.000 cm (left
section)
Length: 285.000 cm (left
section)
Width: 86.000 cm (left
section)
AOA 1979.Af10.1.b, d
Africa, Oceania, Americas
Pattern
Tent doorway hanging
The Berber people are North African shepherds who lead their flocks across the land to find water and food. They live in tents with beautiful doorway hangings like this one, which are made by the whole family. The older men draw the designs freehand onto large pieces of canvas. These are then perforated meaning that tiny holes are made along the lines. They brush this template gently with charcoal dust, which falls through the holes on to cloth underneath, marking the pattern. The younger people in the family then sew pieces of coloured cloth into the spaces in the pattern.
This doorway has patterns of flora (plants), fauna (animals), shapes and writing. The writing is sections of the Qur'an and messages of greeting to guests visiting the tent.
Print and do activity
Design your own tent doorway (34 Kb)