Woman’s Prayer Cloth (Qibleh)
Turkey, Woman’s Prayer Cloth (Qibleh), 1700-1800s. Linen, cotton, silk, and metal foil. Neusteter Textile Collection at the Denver Art Museum: Gift of A. J. Collins, 1959.19.
Prayer Rug
Early to mid-1800s
Western Turkey
Linen, cotton, and silk
Gift of A. J. Collins
1959.19
For believers in Islam, a prayer rug is more than just a mat for praying; the rug’s design incorporates important Islamic symbols. Because most prayer rugs were made locally, their materials and weaving techniques differ, and patterns and colors vary from region to region. One constant is that these rugs are usually woven to include a representation of a mihrab, the niche in a mosque wall that points toward Mecca, the holy center of Islam. This rug, from the Kula area of Western Turkey, has geometric motifs and a soft palette in which yellows are prominent.