Moroccan tiles, or zellige (or Zellij), are more than just a decorative element, they are a symbol of Morocco’s rich history, captivating culture, and meaningful artistic heritage. These complex, hand-cut tiles have been, for centuries, adorning the walls, floors, and fountains of Moroccan palaces, mosques, and homes. This Moroccan art have been always creating mesmerizing patterns that captivate the eye and tell a story of skill, patience, and creativity. In this article, we’ll explore the fascinating world of Moroccan tiles, from their historical roots to their modern-day appeal.

History of Moroccan tiles

Zellij art originated in Morocco in the tenth century and used brown and white hues to resemble Roman mosaics. The Romans left behind many remnants even though they left the area centuries ago. The contributions of the various dynasties that flourished in Morocco and al-Andalus, the region of Spain that was then ruled by the Moors, will continuously enhance this art: the Almoravids from the desert, the Almohads from the High Atlas, and last but not least, the Marinids, who were originally nomadic Berbers, in the fourteenth century.

The arts and sciences have advanced significantly throughout these four centuries of interchange. At this point, the internal walls of every castle, tomb, fountain, patio, and hammam are invaded by zellige, whose exquisite architecture and decoration have reached their pinnacle of refinement. With the introduction of blue, green, and yellow, the colors are becoming more varied; red was added only in the seventeenth century.

Definition of Zellige (or Zellij)

“Zellige” is derived from the Arabic noune الزليج “al zillij”, which means “little polished stone”. This ancient method of piecing together pieces of colored glazed terracotta tiles to form a geometric design is distinctive of the Moroccan architecture. Sometimes the sherds used are so thin that the inlay is actually ceramic.

Why the “little polished stone” ? Since the idea was to replicate the Greco-Roman mosaics found in North Africa, colored earthenware tiles rather than polished marble pieces (known as “tesserae”) were used to assemble the mosaics. Cutting a ceramic tile is obviously less work than cleaning marble fragments that are arriving from a distance!

Thus, the word “zellige” and the Portuguese and Spanish word “azulejo” have the same etymology.

Islamic art has always forbidden human or animal representation.. This clarifies how this geometric-based ornamental art evolved. Strict mathematical patterns govern how basic geometric shapes like squares, diamonds, triangles, stars, crosses, and other polygons are joined. Their complementarity allows them to create patterns that cross over and repeat indefinitely.

The Craftsmanship Behind Zellige

Making zellige is an art that takes a great deal of patience in addition to expertise. The clay is mixed by hand, formed, and sun-dried to start the process. To make strong tiles, the dried clay is burned in a kiln. These tiles are then manually shaped with a traditional hammer called a “Menkad” into small, exact designs like diamonds, crosses, or stars.

Assembling the tiles into complex designs is the most difficult step in the process. The tiny bits are painstakingly arranged into geometric shapes by artisans, called “Maallems”. Those artisans are frequently influenced by Islamic art. The patterns are then fitted together like a puzzle to create larger compositions. This results in a piece of art that is both visually stunning and symbolically rich.

Moroccan tiles’ color scheme is also important. The colors blue, green, red, yellow, and white are frequently associated with various facets of life, the natural world, or spirituality in traditional zellige. The final coat of brilliance added by the glaze to the tiles makes them both aesthetically pleasing and long-lasting.

The Cultural Significance of Moroccan Tiles

Moroccan tiles are not just for decoration since they symbolize deep matters in life. Islamic creationism is reflected in these geometric designs often comprising polygons, stars and interlocking patterns to mean that the process of creating never ends. The goal of these designs is to encourage introspection and a feeling of spiritual connectedness.

Moroccan architecture integrates Zellige in various forms such as intricate mihrabs of mosques and grand courtyards of palaces. In houses, Zellige is commonly used to create beautiful flooring, walls and fountains that add a touch of elegance and tradition to everyday living. This sense of symmetry, beauty and spirituality is represented by zellige’s use both in public as well as private areas in Moroccan culture.

Modern Uses of Moroccan Tiles

However, today zellige is still used often as an ornament element in modern exterior and interior architecture. Moroccan tiles are used in modern plannings all across the globe for giving a touch of the mystical. High class eating places and accommodation facilities, beautiful bathrooms and kitchens are all made more beautiful with zellige and its timeless, handmade look.
Interior designers use zellige for the beauty and warmth of the Moroccan culture to fill entire rooms. They also use it in accent walls and backsplashes. Moroccan tiles are on very popular demand as a decorative element in various residence and commercial premises in many countries. The reason behind that is that Moroccans masters combining the traditions of the craft with the tendencies of modern design.

Preserving the Art of Zellige

Like many other forms of craft work, the craft of zellige has its own contemporary problems. The process is complex, and it takes a lot of time. It also calls for a lot of effort and concentration, a lot of hard work, and talent. Therefor, fewer young people are entering it, which is harming the industry.

Though, there is a process of revitalization of the art of zellige with the artisan’s co-operatives. Also there is numerous workshops, and cultural projects to give a boost to this industry.
You can still find expert craftspeople committed to preserving the zellige legacy in places like Fez and Marrakech. Experiencing the production of these exquisite tiles firsthand and realizing the enormous amount of talent and work that goes into each piece is made possible by visiting these workshops.

Where to see zellige

The Alhambra Palace in Granada (c. 14th century), the Medersa el-Attarine in Fes (c. 14th century), the Nejjarine fountain in Fes, the mausoleum of Moulay Ismail in Meknes (c. 1700), the Medersa Ben Youssef in Marrakech (16th century), and, more recently, the Kasbah Telouet (19th century) are all magnificent examples of zellige.
The Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca is also a proof that this tradition is still practiced.

And almost every where in cities like Fez, Marrakech, Meknes or Rabat you can witness the beauty of Zellige. And if you have the opportunity to visit a Moroccan house, you can probably see Zellige incorporated to some corners of the house.

Moroccan tiles Therefore are a hard evidence that Morocco has not lacked art talents. This art demonstrates also that the Moroccan handcrafted elegance is forever in vogue. From the older houses to the modern architectures, zellige still stands out with its elaborated patterns, radiant colors and rich historical background. Thus, viewing these magnificent pieces of art, one is also concerned with the continuity of the Moroccan craftsman’s craft and practices that were inherited from their ancestors.