Abderrahman Slaoui Museum

The Slaoui Museum hosts an important collection of 18th- and 19th-century Moroccan gold jewelry. These rare pieces have survived thanks to Abderrahman Slaoui's early interest in the craft, as well as the fact that his father-in-law was a famous jeweler from Fes, who would help him buy, study, and document all of the jewelry collection.

Gold jewelry is traditionally worn during special occasions, such as weddings. It exists in sets containing: earrings, a tiara, a frontal piece brooch, and heavy necklaces. Due to the high prices, there would usually be one jewelry set per family or town, and each bride would borrow it or rent it for her wedding ceremony.

The most famous piece would be the Khamsa or hand of Fatima, a Jewish and Arab symbol of protection against the evil eye.

Unlike gold jewelry in Morocco, the jewelry of Amazigh women—made mainly from silver and sometimes including enamel, coral or amber—was worn in everyday life. These jewelry sets are different in shapes and colors, depending on the tribal group, and are heavy in symbology; the choice of silver, for instance, was because it is closest to white, which symbolizes purity.

Amazigh women were given great importance as protecters of culture and knowledge, such as language and various crafts, such as carpet weaving, tattooing, and ornamentation. This explains why they were adorned with jewelry and fine clothes.

Muhammad Ben Ali Ribati is regarded as one of the earliest modern painters in Morocco, his art depicts scenes from Tangier—the Kasbah, and its inhabitants.

His career took off when he met Sir John Lavery, an artist from the royal court of England. Ribati worked as a cook for him, and practiced his art with the support of Lavery, who later took him to England and exhibited his works.

The largest collection of Orientalist posters in Morocco, dating from late 19th century, and continued to be created for over 100 years. Commissioned to some of the most famous orientalist painters of the time—the likes of Majorelle, Charles Halo, Joseph de la Néziere etc.—these posters showcase some of the most alluring scenery in Morocco as well as Algeria and Tunisia. Later on, these posters were extensively used by travel agencies to promote their services for these "exotic" destinations, and by other companies to promote their products.

Only some of the highly valuable posters are exhibited in the museum; the rest have been published in book entitled The Orientalist Poster (1998).[3]