Turkish Prayer Rugs
What is a Prayer Rug?
As long as Oriental carpets have been admired in the West there has been a facination with the Prayer Rug. Still what makes an Oriental rug a Prayer Rug is a question for many people.
Examples:
Late Bursa Prayer Rug 16th Century
Turkish (Cairo, Bursa or Istanbul) Prayer Rug. Late 16th century. Silk warp and weft, wool and wool pile. 5 ft 5 in x 4 ft 2 in (1.65 x 1.27 m)
Mucur Turkish Prayer Rug Yellow Field Circa 1800
Central Anatolia. 155 x 120 cm
A very broad pallet with brilliant vegetal colors with a great deal of sun yellow. The rare yellow field Mihrab is occupied by an ascending ornament which is filled with small blooms. Two cartouche borders, one with colored alternating lozenges, the other one with adjusted Rosette blossoms frame the internal field.
A Mudjur prayer rug, Central Anatolia
Mid-19th century oxidized browns, missing outer guard border on all four sides, reselvaged, foldwear, small reweaves, minor repiling. Approximately 5 ft. 7 in. by 3 ft. 10 in. (1.70 by 1.17 m.)
Mudjar Prayer Rug
Circa 1875. The open straw mihrab with two star-filled octagons beneath a brick red urn-filled arch, polychrome square paneled flowerhead border. Cut and reduced in width, oxidized charcoals, partial guard borders, foldwear, holes, reselvaged, reweaves. Approximately 5ft. 4in. by 4ft. 1in. (1.63m. by 1.24m.)
Megri Prayer Rug 19th C.
Slight losses to pile. 154 x 100 cm
In a typical configuration, the infield on the beautiful bright lemon yellow wears a triple necked blue-ground cartridge with four rod diamonds. The dotted yellow base of the main border carries polygons on a wave of waves indicated. Among the other sample colors, which add to a very attractive color palette, the grass green and the carnelian are to be mentioned.
A Megri Prayer Rug, 19th C.
Two smaller restorations to the field, intact in good condition. 131 x 104 cm.
Panderma Prayer Rug
ca. 187 x 141 cm. Minor losses to both ends, sides original. Pile evenly low; in overall good condition.
Panderma Prayer Rug early 20th c.
ca. 175 x 122 cm. Pile low, sides original but with need of repair.
Panderma prayer rug in ‘Transylvanian’ style
Central Anatolia about 1900. 5 ft.9 in. x 4 ft. 1.75 m. x 1.22 m. Condition: Slight even wear overall, light staining and color run top end. The inscription reads ‘Pray quickly to Allah’.
Elazig Carpet 19th c.
Origin: East Anatolia, 19th century. ca. 286 x 100 cm. Sides partly reknotted, lower ends reknotted; several restored areas. Corroded browns.
Erzerum Prayer Rug 19th C.
155 x 123 cm
Ghiordes Prayer Rug 1st half 19th C.
162 x 108 cm. This unique piece from the Gördes area is a rural version of the fine urban prayer rugs. The generous border with its flowerstuffs forms a powerful frame around the blue-green prayer field. Losses to pile, repairs.
The Mudjur Prayer Rug
Approximately 5ft. by 3ft. 8in. (1.52 by 1.12m.)
Konya Prayer Rug 1st half 19th C.
Central Anatolia, Konya Region. ca. 145 x 96 cm. Both ends with red kilims originally preserved, sides expertly reknotted, pile partly low in the centre; corroded black partly rewoven.
Antique Ghiordes Prayer Rug 1st half 18th Century
ca. 167 x 119 cm. This rug is in exceptionally good condition, with original sides, only minimal losses to ends and tiny stains.
Kula Prayer Rug
Approximately 5ft. 5in. by 3ft. 9in. (1.65 by 1.14m.)