Art Institute of Chicago

Prayer Rug

Quba (Kuba) District, Caucus Mountains, Azerbaijan

Date

1850-1900

Medium

Wool; plain weave with supplementary wrapping wefts forming cut pile "Turkish" (Ghiordes) knots

Culture

Caucasus

Department

Textiles

Institution

Art Institute of Chicago

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.

The authoritative record is held by Art Institute of Chicago. LinkedCulture surfaces this object and its connections; it does not alter institutional metadata.