When you visit Fes, Morocco, one of the first things you will notice is the incredible architecture and tiling. The walls of your hotel will be patterned in colorful designs, each with its own meaning and symbolism. This type of tiling is called zelij. Zelij doesn't mean the tiles, but the actual pattern that the tiling is in. Zelij is used on tables, walls, arches, and sometimes even sinks.
The art of making tiles takes a long time. The tiles are mostly made out of cement, but clay is also used periodically. Each tile is hand cut out in a special shape and then they are fitted together in a metal grid, almost like a puzzle. The shapes used are mostly geometrical, such as squares, triangles and rectangles. Most of the time there is a star in the center of the design. There are some more complex shapes used for more fancy occasions. Arabic writing can sometimes be found embellishing the zelij work. The tiles are covered in bright enamel, ranging from brilliant reds and blues, to softer more earthy greens and browns. The bright mustard yellow is another popular color used in almost any mosaic. The art of zelij tiling is very old, dating back to the Moorish time period. It came to Morocco in the 10th century. In about the 14th century, it became important and people started using more colors and different designs. The style is passed from father to son, and it is mostly done by private contractors that will tile for riads and decorative surfaces. It covers many old Islamic schools such as the Quaroyine Mosque, one of the most famous mosques in the Arab world.
The entire art of zelij is based on the practice of discipline and stresses the importance of faith. The tiling shows how men want to understand the creation of God, but don't want to copy it. They believe that because of its geometry, it isn't imitating him, and therefore exalting themselves. Beauty is important to the Muslims, and they display that in their art. There are many different designs, each one representing a different part of the Arab heritage. Each pattern's name comes from its center; the star inside it. The name is called by the number of points on the star. If you are ordering a work of zelij done, you will tell the tiler which star you want. It is important that the design is perfectly symmetrical. One of the most popular designs is the eight pointed star, which you can find on the walls of almost any Islamic school.
There are many beautiful arts and crafts of Morocco, but one of the most frequently used arts is zelij. You don't have to go very far outside your hotel to find it. It isn't about the pattern and colors as much as it is about the meaning and beauty. Whether you see in covering a common water fountain or a majestic gate, culture is written in the art.
Jaffar Wilson currently works with Experience It! Tours offering tours to Morocco and travel to Libya
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