zellij work

Zellij is a traditional craft setting pieces of tile into cement to make intricate patterns. In the past palace walls were decorated wit high quality zellij in highly intricate and complex patterns. Nowadays it is mostly used for tables and fountains in more workaday and less intricate patterns. There are no zellij workers in Taroudant but if you go to Agadir and go south towards  Inezgane there are a number of workshops more or less opposite the Royal Palace.
We commissioned a table for the terrace from one of these and beloved went to collect it today.
Cost varies depending on complexity of pattern. We wanted quite a large table so opted for a fairly basic one. The mosaic can also be made from numerous little squares of differently coloured marble which is more expensive.



The zellij workshop




Fountains




Various designs. The table on the right is marble.




Our table awaiting collection




The workshop floor displays a complex pattern




Chipping the tiles to shape




A marble topped table




Hand basins to the front, fountains to the rear