Beni Ourain Wool Pile Carpet

Thirteen feet of cream wool, and one continuous, wandering thought.

This long pile carpet is Beni Ourain, from the Middle Atlas of Morocco in North Africa, made in the 20th century. It is knotted wool. Beni Ourain families of the Atlas made carpets of undyed wool like this to sleep on and under in the mountain cold, with little decoration beyond a dark line. A diamond lattice runs the full length here, loosening in the middle and tightening again toward the ends, with a few small marks along the sides. Fringe finishes both ends. Over thirteen feet long and just under six wide.

A hallway has rarely been asked to do so little and look so good.