Prayer Rugs and Typology
by Majid Paydar, PhD
Introduction
The objective of this monograph is to describe and illustrate various original forms of prayer rugs that traditionally have been made by Muslims in different parts of the world.
Perhaps the prayer rug pattern is one of the most popular and commonly known designs in the West. The pattern is sometimes called Mehrab or Mehrabi pattern.
Mehrab is simply the sacred place in the mosque where the religious leader stands, with the followers behind him, throughout collective prayers. The structure of Mehrab is ornamented with decorated tiles depicting trees and flowers as reminders of heaven. The sacred structure of Mehrab is also decorated with columns and arches, all to induce the peaceful image of heaven. Prayer rugs consequently are woven in patterns that reflect the ideology and peacefulness of Mehrab. The iconography includes trees and vases of flowers.
The following designs show the different types of prayer rugs that are made in various parts of the world, numbered as follows:*
*The illustrations are based on translations of the following book written in Farsi:
Yassavoli, J.: An Introduction to Iran Carpets. Tehran (in Farsi), 1992.
by Majid Paydar, PhD
Introduction
The objective of this monograph is to describe and illustrate various original forms of prayer rugs that traditionally have been made by Muslims in different parts of the world.
Perhaps the prayer rug pattern is one of the most popular and commonly known designs in the West. The pattern is sometimes called Mehrab or Mehrabi pattern.
Mehrab is simply the sacred place in the mosque where the religious leader stands, with the followers behind him, throughout collective prayers. The structure of Mehrab is ornamented with decorated tiles depicting trees and flowers as reminders of heaven. The sacred structure of Mehrab is also decorated with columns and arches, all to induce the peaceful image of heaven. Prayer rugs consequently are woven in patterns that reflect the ideology and peacefulness of Mehrab. The iconography includes trees and vases of flowers.
The following designs show the different types of prayer rugs that are made in various parts of the world, numbered as follows:*
- 1-4 illustrate prayer rugs made in Iran.
- 5-8 are made in Turkey.
- 9 is exclusive of the Afghan prayer rug.
- 10 is Baluchi.
- 11 is made in the southern Caucus mountains area of Russia.
- 12 is made by Turkomans in southeast Russia and northeast Iran to Central Asia.
*The illustrations are based on translations of the following book written in Farsi:
Yassavoli, J.: An Introduction to Iran Carpets. Tehran (in Farsi), 1992.
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