Prayer Rug
second half of 19th century
Medium
Wool; plain weave with supplementary wrapping wefts forming cut pile ("Turkish"/Ghiordes) knots
Dimensions
160.3 × 124.7 cm (63 × 49 1/8 in.)
Classification
weaving - carpet
Department
Textiles
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
72815
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
The representation of hands on either side of the arch is found almost exclusively on Caucasian prayer carpets. They are traditionally associated with the placement of the faithful's hands during prayer. Additional symbolism has developed, based on Koranic references to the Hand of Allah, which can be associated with the magic number five, derived from the five basic beliefs of Islam, the five daily prayers, and the five members of the Prophet's family: Mohammed, Ali, Fatimah, Hasan and Husain.
About the Artist
Unknown
The artist designated as "Unknown" in our virtual museum's collection exemplifies a poignant chapter in art history: creators whose identities have faded into obscurity despite the enduring power of their work. With only one known artwork attributed to them in our holdings, this figure represents countless anonymous hands that shaped visual culture across centuries. Museums worldwide, including th...