Posted by Jerry Silverman on December 03, 1998 at 19:30:24:
In Reply to: Re: Is This A Prayer Rug? posted by Daniel Deschuyteneer on December 03, 1998 at 17:41:42:
: Prayer rugs?
: I think it will be difficult not to share Irwin thoughts after having look at these two pictures.
: The first one is from the Bortz Collection - published in SLO plate 8, Friday 29/05/98
: Sotheby's comments: A Kuba rug North East Caucasus First half 19th century Literature:
: Hali 41, p21 220X131cm; 7'3"x4'4"
: The design of this early Kuba rug, of ascending columns of palmettes supported by bracket leaves, is probably derived from 18th century Caucasian Floral carpets, see Yetkin, Serare, Early Caucasian Carpets, volume1, London 1978, cover, pl 37 & 50
Well, yes, it could be this. Or it could be a prayer saf for a double row of 14 extremely small worshippers. I find this hard to believe, but that's where rigorous adherence to "niche = prayer rug" leads one. While "a rose is a rose is a rose," it is clear that "a niche is not necessarily a niche...."
:
: The second one is also from Slo plate 431, 12/10/88 A garagashli rug 147 X 89 cm ; 4'10'' x 2' 11"
Those who think the former plate shows a prayer rug might consider this a "whiplash" rug with the top "niche" for an extremely supple worshipper.
I am beginning to join those who wonder just how many so-called prayer rugs were really used for prayer. Maybe they were just regarded as pleasing patterns by the weavers. Or maybe they were popular at the bazaar, and what was once for personal use was replicated for commerce. (Where is Mr. Know-it-all's Way Back Machine when we really need it?)
-Jerry-
: Best regards
: Daniel