Museum Dar Si Said
Museum Dar Si Said Marrakech is a unique and fascinating museum located in the heart of the city of Marrakech, Morocco. It is a museum that celebrates the culture and history of the city, and it is a must-see for anyone visiting the city. This essay will discuss the history of the museum, its unique architecture, and its many exhibits.
History of Museum Dar Si Said Marrakech
Dar Si Said, a grand mansion constructed during the latter half of the 19th century, was commissioned by Si Said Ben Moussa, a renowned figure who served as the Minister of War during the reign of Alaouite Sultan Moulay Abdelaziz (1894-1908). The residence belonged to an illustrious family and was built on his initiative.
Later in 1930, the mansion became the headquarters of the Indigenous Art Service, which was transformed into a museum featuring ancient art and craft workshops. Eventually, in 1957, the building was officially divided into two distinct parts. The first part was designated to accommodate craft workshops, while the second part was to house a museum dedicated to ancient art and traditions.
For a period, the north-eastern part of the structure functioned as a primary school until 1987, while the first floor of the mansion served as the location for the first radio station in Marrakech.
Collections at Museum Dar Si Said
The museum at Dar Si Said showcases a varied and extensive collection of Moroccan carpets and weavings from all corners of the country. These include both urban and rural rugs, such as high wool rugs, hanbel, blankets, and other weaving products such as Akhnif, Handira caftans, riders’ costumes, and brocade.
In addition to this, the museum is home to collections from the Marrakech region, specifically from Tensift, Souss, High Atlas, Anti Atlas, Bani, and Tafilalet. These collections consist of cohesive sets of woodwork, jewelry, pottery and ceramics, weapons, carpets and weaving, as well as some archaeological artifacts.