May 21, 2008 -
PRLog -- Arabian Tents also known as Bedouin tent has been a dwelling-place for Bedouins since the dawn of history. Varying geographical features and differences in the culture of its dwellers may have altered its design, but its essential qualities are unchanging: a tent needs to be flexible, and it must be lightweight. The Bedouin of the Arabian Desert uses a black tent known as the beit al-sha'r, or 'house of hair'. These tents are woven from the hair of domesticated sheep and goats, and their design is thought to have originated in Mesopotamia. The animal hair is woven into strips of coarse cloth known as fala'if, which are then sewn together. The natural colour of the animal is retained -- mainly black goat's hair, with occasional addition of sheep's wool, which gives the tent a streaked, brown/black appearance. The size of the tent depends on the importance of its owner, or on the size of his family. An average family would use a tent made up of narrow strips, each seven and a half metre long, supported by two tent poles. An important personage, such as a tribal sheikh, would have a more imposing dwelling, made of about six broad strips, each about twenty metres long, supported by four tent poles. Anything larger than this would not be easily transportable. When the strips of cloth are sewn together, they make up one long rectangle. This is then raised up and supported on tent poles, known as amdan, with tent ropes (atnab) being used to keep the sides taut. A brightly decorated curtain, or qata, hangs inside across the middle of the tent to divide it into a men's and a women's section. The women's section is the larger of the two and is never seen by any man except the owner of the tent. Ruaq, or tent flaps, are long pieces of material attached to the tent sides. These hang down like a curtain at the back of the tent and are sufficiently long to wrap around the entire tent and enclose it at night. The life of a tent cloth is about five or six years, with sections being added and renewed periodically, as they wear out. The spinning of the goat's hair is done by the women of the tribe on a simple drop spindle or maghzal. The thread is then woven on a horizontal ground loom (natui), which is extremely portable and can easily be rolled up and carried when it is time for the tribe to move on. An ancient measurement is used for the width of the loom, making the cloth strips of a standard breadth. This measurement is based on the length of the forearm. The process of sewing the strips together is undertaken by groups of women working together, and is an occasion for celebration. The sewing is a skilled job, as the seams need to be strong and durable. Thread made from black goat's hair is used for this task. The tent cloth is woven loosely to allow heat dispersal. Although the black colour absorbs the heat, it is still between 10 and 15-degree cooler inside the tent than outside. The tent provides shade from the hot sun, as well as insulation on cold desert nights. During rainstorms, the yarn swells up, thus closing the holes in the weave and preventing leaks. The goat's hair is naturally oily, which has an added effect of repelling the water droplets, so the tent's occupants can remain comparatively dry. The flattened shape of the tent roof is aerodynamically designed so that it cannot be blown away by sudden gusts, or by more prolonged windy conditions common in the desert.
The Moroccan tent.
Moroccan tents traditionally belonged to the palace and were erected to welcome kings and sultans as they traveled the kingdom and entertained their guests. Today, although still used by the palace, Moroccan tents gained popularity among event and themed party planners worldwide. The tent interior and exterior decoration is an emblem of authority, spirituality, and beauty. The Marriage of national colors, namely red ( symbol of power), green ( symbol of the sacred) and gold ( symbol of wealth) reflect the Moroccan ethos. The tents are hand-made by a group of forty artisans that live and work together for a month. The artisans weave with their own hands, showing the history and unique tradition of the Moroccan people: past and present. The tents authentic character allows them to become the homes of extraordinary feasts and the perfect showroom for the most luxurious products. When you acquire a Moroccan tent, you are not just getting a simple shelter but a part of Morocco itself. Its plush qualities reflect the labor of each Moroccan tent artisan.
Moroccan tents are custom made to order and customers have the option to customize their tent the way they wanted including customizing the Moroccan tent size, interior colors & designs, and shape.
The Moroccan party tents comes in square shape, rectangular, shape, or round shape with a white heavy duty canvas with black Minaret motifs the symbol of freedom & happiness.
Moroccan tents are great for weddings, birthday parties, corporate parties, anniversaries parties, or even to create a cozy and lavish cabana in your home backyard.
For more information on Moroccan tents, please contact :
Saint Tropez Boutique
25 Evelyn way
San Francisco, California 94127
Phone: (415) 513-5920
http://www.moroccan-tent.comhttp://www.sainttropezstone.comhttp://www.sainttropezboutique.ushttp://www.sainttropezboutique.net
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Manufacturer of fine handmade Moroccan tents, Bedouin tents, Arabian nights theme tents, Moroccan gazebo, Mediterranean tent, Spanish tent, Moroccan party tent, Moroccan wedding tent, Moroccan marquee tent, Moroccan caidal tent, Middle eastern tent, Arabian wedding tent, Indian tent.
Website:
www.sainttropezstone.com
