Cream Turkish Prayer Rug
These cream turkish prayer rug examples are woven floor coverings featuring distinct niche designs originating from Anatolia during the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.
Cream Turkish Prayer Rug
A cream turkish prayer rug is a woven textile featuring a mihrab or arch design intended for devotional use. The pieces seen here originate from various Anatolian centres such as Milas, Konya, Ghiordes, Kirsehir, Kula, Bergama, Panderma and Monastir.
Most examples date from the nineteenth century, including specific periods around 1800, 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880, 1890, 1910 and 1930. They typically display ivory or light grounds paired with traditional village and classical Anatolian patterns.
What varies in quality
Quality differences lie in the crispness of the village design and the softness of the colours used across the pile. Village pieces from centres like Milas or Kirsehir show variation in the execution of their scarce patterns.
The handling of the ivory ground and the integrity of the hand-spun wool foundation distinguish one weaving from another.
Listings span periods from 1800 to 1930, utilising wool, cotton and hand-spun wool across various Anatolian village styles.
The Cream Turkish Prayer Rug Glossary
- Mihrab
- The arched niche design found on prayer rugs that indicates the direction of prayer. It forms the central focal point of the composition.
- Milas
- A town in south-west Anatolia known for distinct village weaving traditions. Milas rugs frequently feature specific floral motifs and warm palettes.
- Ghiordes
- A historic weaving centre in western Anatolia celebrated for classical prayer rug designs. Ghiordes pieces often display distinctive architectural arches.
- Hand-spun wool
- Yarn spun by hand rather than by industrial machinery. This material yields natural irregularities and a tactile texture across the pile.
Cream Turkish Prayer Rug: Frequently Asked Questions
What is a cream turkish prayer rug?
A cream turkish prayer rug is an antique woven floor textile featuring an ivory or light ground and a prayer niche design.
These pieces originate from nineteenth and early twentieth-century Anatolian weaving centres including Ghiordes, Milas and Konya.
Where were these rugs made?
These rugs were produced in various towns and villages across Anatolia, spanning West Anatolia and North West Anatolia.
Specific production locations recorded include Kirsehir, Kula, Bergama, Panderma and Monastir.
What materials are used?
The pieces utilise wool, cotton and hand-spun wool for their construction.
Artisans knotted the wool pile onto traditional textile foundations.
How do I date these rugs?
Dating relies on stylistic attribution to periods spanning from around 1800 through the nineteenth century and into the early twentieth century.
Village designs and regional motifs provide clues to the approximate age of each piece.
How do I live with one?
These rugs suit low-traffic areas or spaces where their ivory grounds and soft colours receive gentle treatment.
Placing them on appropriate underlays helps protect the historical wool pile.