Prayer Rug - The Saph or Communal Prayer Rug
Prayer rugs represent a very special genre with the world of carpets.
Technically any small carpet or rug can be used for prayer, so all rugs are prayer rugs. Still, it seems that the prayer rug as a specific type or genre
emerged relatively early in the history of the Islamic carpet. What
distinguishes a prayer rug in terms of format is the use of an arched
doorway, niche or "mihrab" as an organizing compositional theme or motif.
This mihrab replicates the "qibla "or niche in the main wall of a mosque,
which enables the faithful to orient themselves toward Mecca when in engaged
in prayer or "namaz." Some mihrabs on payer rugs look overtly architectural,
with a pointed arch supported by columns to either side. Alternatively, they
may simply approximate the shape of such an arched door, or the arch may
become gable-like or stepped. In time prayer rugs became quite elaborate
with additional panels above or below the mihrab, as well as several borders
surrounding the whole composition.
Without a doubted, however, the most interesting and complex elaboration of
the prayer rug format is the multiple-niche payer rug or "Saph." At first
glance Saphs look like runners, at least in terms of their long proportions.
But unlike runners, where the design is longitudinal, emphasizing the length
of the runner, Saphs are oriented toward the edges, rather than the ends.
Their décor consists of niches running form one long edge to the other and
placed side by side in serial repetition. Practically, they appear to
function as a series of prayer rugs connected side to side for three or more
worshipers to use simultaneously or communally. more about prayer rugs...
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