Tabriz prayer rug
early 20th century
One of the major centers of rug weaving in Iran is Tabriz, located in the western part of the country, near the Azerbaijani border. This example is immediately recognizable as a prayer rug, with the incorporation of a mihrab in the central field. In mosques, the mihrab is a niche indicating the direction of Mecca, and thus of prayer. The image of a mihrab on rugs allows worshippers to view the niche during their prayers.
Pile woven silk
85 × 50 in. (215.9 × 127 cm)
Gift of Mrs. A. Scott Bullitt
53.162