Photos of Exquisite Moroccan Ceilings
Our Master Bedroom Ceiling, in Marrakesh
This (above) is the ceiling I wake up to each morning. I always wanted a luxurious master bedroom, and I love this room so much. This room was intended by our home’s previous owners to be the men’s salon, but we made it into our master bedroom.
An elegant, but modern Moroccan ceiling, typical of what you would find from the 1990's, onward.
This is a photo (above) from Rabat, but also typcial of what you’d find in a modern Moroccan home. Usually salons, where visitors are entertained, would be decorated like this–whereas ordinary rooms for the family are more plain.
Intricate plaster ceiling in Marrakesh (of the Ensemble Artisanal in Marrakesh), photo by Kavey. Normally, below this plaster work, the walls would be covered in tiles which are usually blue with white and gold designs. Typical of 1960's through 1980's.
This is a photo (above) of traditional Moroccan plaster work, often seen around Marrakesh (and perhaps other parts of Morocco) in many homes built during the 1970’s and 1980’s. This style is less popular now, but can still be done. It is very expensive, however, and all done by hand. You might be wondering how it is cleaned. Most people don’t clean it at all. However, an open hose from a cannister vacuum cleaner is used by at least one Moroccan family I know.
Traditional Painted Ceiling - (Bahia Palace, Marrakesh), Photo by Blogtrotter
The above ceiling is made of painted cedar wood, as are most wooden ceilings in Morocco.
Painted Painted Ceiling 2 (Bahia Palace, Marrakesh) -Photo by Blogtrotter
Less elaborate versions of painted ceilings continue to be used today:
A Modern style of Moroccan Painted Ceiling
Please do let me know if you enjoyed these.
Madame Monet
September 14, 2008 at 4:07 am
Very interesting. I always loved those Moorish ceilings and didnt realize the styles where changing so rapidly.
September 14, 2008 at 2:11 pm
They are very, very beautiful!
September 14, 2008 at 3:54 pm
This is very beautiful decoration but I think it is too rich for my bedroom ceiling. I’m so used to a plain white surface to project my thoughts on. I first saw decoration of this kind in the great mosque of Córdoba and the Palace of the Alhambra, where it was obviously considered by the people who ordered it to be the greatest, the most beautiful ornamentation imaginable; and I wasn’t prepared for it. I thought it was overloaded and the repetition of all the geometric patterns was almost oppressive. If only there had been a human or animal figure to rest one’s eyes on! The guide at the Alhambra said the ceiling decoration in one of the rooms, which looked like stalactites hanging, was supposed to remind a Muslim of the cave where the Prophet received his “recitation” (isn’t that what the Koran means?). That was memorable and gave a meaning to it. But otherwise I looked in vain for some motif to think about, except of course the “Allah is great” writing, which was repeated endlessly. Endlessly.
The ceilings of both the Cordoba mosque and the Alhambra palace rooms were of cedar like the ones you show. I didn’t know they still used that. Do the rooms smell like cedar closets?
I guess this is a typical other-culture reaction. But I missed the artist as opposed to the artisan; and his freedom as opposed to his slavery. However, I’m sure I would find a salon decoration of this kind impressive and eventually I would make friends with the style.
September 15, 2008 at 10:05 pm
I didn’t know that about the stalactites, and only notice that aspect now that you have mentioned it. I have never yet had a chance to see the mosque in Cordoba, or the Alhambra so it is very interesting to hear what you had to say about them.
Thanks for commenting!
Madame Monet
September 18, 2008 at 7:17 pm
They are beautiful. I interviewed a master wood carver in Fez this summer and he mentioned how he often works with these master plaster carvers, whose work you’ve profiled here. He expressed the opinion that the plaster work that was very lightly and delicately painted (such as with the pale shade of pink you have in your home) created a better harmony with his own work, and he found it more esthetically pleasing than all white.
Seeing your ceiling, I agree!
October 7, 2008 at 10:28 pm
Interesting. I just came back from Morocco few weeks ago. Now I’m sorting pictures, trying to put them to website. I found your post looking for some info about painted, hand made ceilings. Nice info and pictures.
Cheers.
Thanks for letting me know you found it interesting and useful!
–Madame Monet
August 29, 2009 at 3:23 pm
hello, i have enjoyed looking at some of your photos. The interior designs are particularly interesting as I look for inspiration for a middle eastern apartment with a large living space… thanks