Silk prayer rug with field containing three columns with hanging lamps between. The ground of field and main border is a mellow, reddish-brown, with dark and pale blue, cream, tan, a little golden yellow, pale green and brown. There are five guard-stripes, two inner, three outer, on blue and cream grounds, with a plain stripe of red-brown at the sides.


Warp: white silk; Z2S; 30-34 threads per inch (120-132 per dm); depressed.

Weft: white cotton, Z4S; 2 shoots after each row of knots; 18 knots per inch (80 per dm).

Pile: wool; 12 colours much faded: red (faded to brown), orange, yellow light green, dark blue, blue (shading to light blue), light blue, purple (faded), pink (faded to white), light brown, very light brown, white; asymmetrical knot, opening to the right and tied around 2 threads; 270-306 knots per sq. inch (4800-5280 per sq. dm).

Side finish: one cord with evidence of oversewing with purple silk.

End finish: cut with applied silk fringes.

Design: Field: red ground with three slender columns and hanging ornaments. The central column is standing on a floral plinth and ends with a palmette-like capital. The outer two are very light brown and stand on elaborate bases; the tops have a foliate link with the light brown border of the niches. The space above this border forms a band with a dark blue ground with bands of tracery. At the top are two half palmettes.

Border from the centre:
(1) dark blue ground with a floral meander on a red stem
(2) very light brown ground with a stylised foliate meander on a dark blue stem
(3) red ground with an elaborate floral meander on a blue stem with dark blue blossoms
(4) as (2)
(5) as (1)
(6) dark blue ground with red circular flowers alternating with a blue cross on a white stem
(7) undecorated red