PRAYER RUGS (NAMAZLIK)

In all ages fine rugs have been used for religious purposes by the faithful followers of the prophet. Every Mohammedan has his prayer rug, more or less valuable according to his means, which he always carries with him and upon which he prostrates himself five times a day when the appointed hour for prayer arrives.

By means of a small compass he spreads his rug so that the mihrab or niche points towards Mecca, where Mohammed's body lies. Then after removing all jewelry and money from his person, in order to appear before God in the most abject humility, he combs his beard, produces a rosary of ninety-nine beads and a dried cake of earth which came from Mecca. These he places just under the niche and then, resting his head on the earth with his hands outstretched on either side, he performs his devotions.

The mihrab or niche on which the worshipper places his head represents the door of a mosque and reminds those who use it of the sacred mosque at Mecca.

Occasionally prayer rugs will be found with three or more niches, especially among the Caucasian products. These are intended for children or for family worship. Others may have instead of a prayer niche, three small medallions, one each for the hands and one to receive the forehead.

For convenience the prayer rug is of small size, usually from two and one-half to four by four to six feet. Those intended for personal use frequently have the name of the owner on and are of the very best workmanship. Combs and other objects used in the act of worship are frequently depicted in or near the prayer niche.

The prayer niche takes various forms in different kinds of rugs, seldom more than one class having the same form. As a rule that of the Persians is formed by curved lines, while all others are formed by straight lines, those of both the Persian and Turkish classes being pointed, while those of the Caucasian and Turkoman classes may either be pointed or flat at the top, usually the latter.

In differentiating between these different classes we are assisted not only by the shape of the mihrab, but also by the various field designs, such for instance as the panels above and below the prayer field, the lanterns or pendants which hang from the centre of the niche, etc.

VARIOUS FORMS OF THE PRAYER-NICHE IN RUGS

1. Persian11. Kulah21. Konieh and Meles
2. Persian12. Kulah22. Ladik
3. Persian and Konieh13. Kulah23. Ladik
4. Meshed and Saruk14. Ghiordes24. Kaisariyeh
5. Tabriz15. Ghiordes25. Bergama, Genghis, Daghestan, Bokhara
6. Kirman16. Ghiordes26. Bergama
7. Kirman17. Ghiordes27. Meles
8. Kirman and Kulah18. Anatolian28. Meles
9. Herez and Kulah19. Anatolian29. Daghestan and Kazak
10. Kulah20. Konieh30. Kazak and Beluchistan

Single Panels.—When only one panel is used it is invariably above the prayer field. The Kulah nearly always has but one, the Anatolian generally, and the Ghiordes seldom.

Double Panels.—The Ghiordes nearly always has two, the Bergama generally, and the Kulah seldom.

Hanging pendants are always present in the Kaisarieh, frequently in the Ghiordes, and seldom in the Kulah.

Pillars are always present in the Kaisarieh, frequently in the Kulah, and only occasionally in the Ghiordes.

Plain prayer fields (excepting the lamp) are most frequent in the Turkish rugs.

Filled prayer fields are invariably present in the Caucasian and Turkoman rugs and generally in the Persians.

HEARTH RUGS (ODJAKLIK)

Hearth rugs may be distinguished by the shape of their field, each end of which resembles the niche of the prayer rugs belonging to the same class. They are usually from three and one-half to four by five to seven feet and are very precious to the family, who always spread them before the fire upon the arrival of a guest, and once a fugitive, fleeing from his enemies, enters a tent and sets his foot upon the hearth rug, the owner and his people were bound to defend him.

GRAVE RUGS (TURBEHLIK)

Grave rugs are usually the combined handiwork of all the members of the household and, in accordance with an ancient custom, are used to cover the dead before interment and the grave after interment, having practically the same import as flowers do with us. They are usually woven in sombre tints to express grief and in light colors to denote resurrection. The cypress tree, which is symbolic of sorrow, is usually the leading feature of the design and there are generally some inscriptions from the Koran.

DOWRY OR WEDDING RUGS (KIS GHILEEM)

Dowry or wedding rugs are woven by the Eastern maiden for her dowry. They are usually small in size and are seldom seen in America, as they are always greatly prized by the Oriental. A more definite description of them will be found under the heading of Ghileems.

SADDLE CLOTH, SADDLE BAGS AND POWDER BAG

MOSQUE OR MECCA RUGS

Mosque or Mecca rugs are sometimes called Tribute rugs. The wealthy Mohammedan rulers vied with each other in taking with them on their pilgrimage to Mecca rugs of the finest materials and choicest designs for presentation to the mosque, the whole interior of which was usually hung with carpets, beautiful and costly beyond description. Many of these so-called mosque rugs were of the Shiraz class. It is still the custom in some parts of the Orient to give rugs to the mosque as thank offerings for special blessings received and frequently the Mohammedan bequeaths a rug when he dies to the mosque where he worshipped.

BATH RUGS (HAMMANLIK)

Bath rugs are usually about three feet square and have a peculiar lustre due to their frequent contact with soap and water. One of these bath rugs is usually presented to the bride by her parents on her wedding day.

PILLOW CASES (YESTEKLIK)

Pillow cases are known in the United States as Anatolian mats and are described as such in the chapter on Turkish Classification.

SAMPLE CORNERS

Sample corners are mats about two feet square and are woven for the purpose of showing the variation of border, color, and design to some wealthy ruler who wishes a carpet woven. They are afterwards used in the weaver's family and seldom reach the market. (See p. [328].)

SADDLE BAGS (HEHBELIK)

Saddle bags always come in pieces of varying widths, according to the kind of animal for which they are intended. Those intended for donkeys usually run from one to one and one-half by one and one-half to two feet, while those intended for horses or camels usually run from one and one-half to two and one-half by five to six feet or more. Those from Persia and Anatolia are usually small and nearly square, while those from Bokhara and Beluchistan are usually large and oblong. These saddle bags are quite appropriate for bachelor apartments, artists' studios, or smoking rooms and are sometimes used on a suitable standard as a newspaper or magazine receptacle. (See illustration at p. [326].)

A CONVENIENT PERIODICAL HOLDER
(See page [212])

SADDLE COVER (SEMERLIK)

Saddle covers are used by the wealthy class. They are nearly square, ranging from two and one-half to three by four to four and one-half feet, and have an opening at one end for the pommel of the saddle to pass through. The finest ones are from Senna.

FLOOR COVERINGS

Sedjadeh is the Persian name applied to those of the larger size, while Hali is the name applied to those of medium size. Oriental carpets are of modern make with very few exceptions, most of them being just as well made as were the antiques, although they show considerable deterioration in dyes. Those which are commonly found in the Western market are the Feraghans, Gorevans, Hamadans, Kermanshahs, Khorasans, Kirmans, Kurdistans, Sarabands, Sennas, Sultanabads, and Tabriz among the Persians; the Kazaks and Shemakhas among the Caucasians; the Gulistans, Oushaks, and Smyrnas among the Turkish; and the Khivas and Yomuds among the Turkoman. Large rugs cost more per square foot, as a rule, than the small ones, as their size makes heavier construction imperative and increases the difficulty of weaving as well as the amount of yarn required.

RUNNERS (KENNAR)

Runners properly belong to this class, as they are used in the Orient mostly to lay along the sides of a room. In this country they have been found extremely convenient as hall rugs.

HANGINGS (BERDELIK)

To this class belong all of the silk rugs as well as many of the delicately colored and extremely light fabrics, especially those that picture gardens and portraits or have on them quotations from the Koran. Ghileems may also be classed under this head.

A BIJAR SAMPLE CORNER
(Showing colors, designs and different borders)
PROPERTY OF COL. A. S. LUDLOW, WANKESHA, WIS.