![Abderrahman Slaoui Museum, Casablanca](/img/gd_attr/1601.jpg)
Abderrahman Slaoui Museum, Casablanca
The Abderrahman Slaoui Museum, situated in Casablanca, stands as a tribute to the late Abderrahman Slaoui, a Moroccan businessman and esteemed art collector who passed away in 2001. Officially opened in May 2012, the museum is operated by the Abderrahman Slaoui Foundation and showcases a rich array of exhibits that reflect Slaoui’s diverse interests and passion for art.
The museum boasts a notable collection of old posters, Moroccan jewelry, and artworks, including figurative paintings by Muhammad Ben Ali Rabati and landscapes by Jacques Majorelle. It holds Morocco's largest collection of Orientalist posters, depicting Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia. These late 19th-century posters, created by artists like Majorelle, Charles Halo, and Joseph de la Néziere, were originally designed to attract tourists to North Africa's 'exotic' destinations.
A standout feature of the museum is its extensive collection of 18th- and 19th-century Moroccan gold jewelry. This collection has been preserved largely due to Slaoui's foresight and the expertise of his father-in-law, a prominent jeweler from Fes. The collection showcases traditional wedding jewelry, including earrings, tiaras, frontal piece brooches, and substantial necklaces, typically shared or rented within communities for special occasions.
In contrast, the museum also explores the silver and embellished jewelry of Amazigh women, worn in daily life and rich in symbolic meaning, signifying purity and cultural identity. These artifacts underscore the important role Amazigh women play as custodians of culture, language, and traditional crafts.
Further enriching the museum’s offerings are the works of Muhammad Ben Ali Rabati, an early modern Moroccan painter whose art vividly captures scenes from Tangier. Rabati's career flourished under the patronage of Sir John Lavery, a distinguished artist from the royal court of England, who exposed Rabati's works to broader audiences.
The museum is not only a repository of historical artifacts but also a vibrant cultural center. It hosts temporary exhibitions every quarter, featuring contemporary Moroccan artists across various media including photography, sculpture, and mixed media. These exhibitions often engage with Moroccan culture and create dialogues with the museum's existing collections.
The museum boasts a notable collection of old posters, Moroccan jewelry, and artworks, including figurative paintings by Muhammad Ben Ali Rabati and landscapes by Jacques Majorelle. It holds Morocco's largest collection of Orientalist posters, depicting Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia. These late 19th-century posters, created by artists like Majorelle, Charles Halo, and Joseph de la Néziere, were originally designed to attract tourists to North Africa's 'exotic' destinations.
A standout feature of the museum is its extensive collection of 18th- and 19th-century Moroccan gold jewelry. This collection has been preserved largely due to Slaoui's foresight and the expertise of his father-in-law, a prominent jeweler from Fes. The collection showcases traditional wedding jewelry, including earrings, tiaras, frontal piece brooches, and substantial necklaces, typically shared or rented within communities for special occasions.
In contrast, the museum also explores the silver and embellished jewelry of Amazigh women, worn in daily life and rich in symbolic meaning, signifying purity and cultural identity. These artifacts underscore the important role Amazigh women play as custodians of culture, language, and traditional crafts.
Further enriching the museum’s offerings are the works of Muhammad Ben Ali Rabati, an early modern Moroccan painter whose art vividly captures scenes from Tangier. Rabati's career flourished under the patronage of Sir John Lavery, a distinguished artist from the royal court of England, who exposed Rabati's works to broader audiences.
The museum is not only a repository of historical artifacts but also a vibrant cultural center. It hosts temporary exhibitions every quarter, featuring contemporary Moroccan artists across various media including photography, sculpture, and mixed media. These exhibitions often engage with Moroccan culture and create dialogues with the museum's existing collections.
Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Casablanca. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "GPSmyCity: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.
Abderrahman Slaoui Museum on Map
Sight Name: Abderrahman Slaoui Museum
Sight Location: Casablanca, Morocco (See walking tours in Casablanca)
Sight Type: Museum/Gallery
Sight Location: Casablanca, Morocco (See walking tours in Casablanca)
Sight Type: Museum/Gallery
Walking Tours in Casablanca, Morocco
Create Your Own Walk in Casablanca
Creating your own self-guided walk in Casablanca is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Casablanca Introduction Walking Tour
Leo Africanus, an Andalusi diplomat and travel writer of the 16th century, declared the Moroccan city of Casablanca to be the site of the ancient Berber city of Anfa, founded in 744 AD. Anfa was a city of the Berber kingdom of Barghawata. The independence of the kingdom ended in 1068 when it was conquered by the Arab Almoravids.
The Almoravid dynasty in turn was displaced by the Berber Merinids... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.9 Km or 2.4 Miles
The Almoravid dynasty in turn was displaced by the Berber Merinids... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.9 Km or 2.4 Miles
Casablanca Old Town Walking Tour
Although the Old Town (Medina) of Casablanca is not as ancient as that of the imperial cities like Fez or Marrakech, it is well worth seeing all the same. The historic heart of the city, rather modest in size – measuring some 50 hectares, is made up of three parts: the Medina proper; the Jewish quarter, or Mellah, with the Ettedgui Synagogue in it; and the popular quarter called Tnaker.
... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.9 Km or 1.2 Miles
... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.9 Km or 1.2 Miles
Useful Travel Guides for Planning Your Trip
Casablanca: 15 Shopping Ideas for Travelers
What's more to Casablanca than the famous 1940s movie starring Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman? Although "much water has flown under the bridge" since, there are things in Morocco still not fading away with time, just as those desert colors. Here are some of the items worth noting...