Vintage
Made before approximately 1980. Old enough that the ageing is part of the object, not damage to be apologised for. Evidence of a life.
"Vintage" is a commercial term with no universal definition. In the rug trade, it is loosely used for anything from 20 to 80 years old. The Tilwen convention is more specific: vintage refers to pieces estimated to have been made between roughly 1930 and 1985. Pieces made before 1930 are described as antique or old, with a more specific date range where evidence supports it. Pieces made after 1985 are described as contemporary.
The 1930–1985 range is significant in the Moroccan Amazigh context: it encompasses the period when synthetic dyes became widespread, when weaving began shifting from predominantly domestic and ceremonial practice toward export-influenced production, and before the large-scale commercial reproduction industry took hold.
Age in a vintage rug should be considered alongside condition and material quality. A 60-year-old piece in poor condition is not inherently more valuable than a well-made contemporary piece. Age is a factor, not the factor.
