Vintage Moroccan Rug with Checkerboard Design, 04'’04” x 04'’10” from Esmaili Rugs Collection. With its Primitive charm and checkerboard pattern, this vintage Moroccan rug synthesizes beautifully with mid-century modern architecture. Alternating blocks of beige and dark brown form an all-over checkerboard pattern can be strategically used to put a contemporary spin on an otherwise transitional space. These handmade Moroccan rugs are believed to protect the human spirit from negative energy and shield the human body from the elements. The Berber women incorporate design elements from their personal experience into the rugs designs. The symbols are usually references to events and aspects of their daily life such as beliefs, birth, fertility, nature, femininity, life and spirituality. The hints of dyes that make their way into the rug’s motifs and fringes have their own tale to tell. The neutral color beige suggests conservatism and practicality. It pairs well with the down-to-earth brown representing structure and stability – it’s a color of simplicity and physical comfort. While the simplistic square pattern may seem whimsical and random, it is very telling of the rug weaver’s personal experience and life events. Unlike circles, squares have straight lines and represent the structured (natural) order of the world. Squares represent an enclosed space symbolizing a safe abode of permanence and security. Although contemporary and modern design is known for a clean, sleek, and Minimalist appearance, this Moroccan rug is far from plain and simple with its alluring composition.