Important Notice

KONYA, TURKEY, CIRCA 1930
Handspun and handwoven cotton warp, wool weft, natural dyes
56.25 x 77.75 in (143 x 198 cm)


Konya, in the Central Anatolia region of Turkey, has always been an important centre for art, culture and trade. But it is most famously known for the shrine of Jalaluddin Rumi, who established the mystical order of the Whirling Dervishes in the town in the 13th century. The town continues to be an important pilgrimage site for Sufis.

This prayer rug or jainamaz, finely woven in the tapestry technique, was probably made as a hanging and not for daily use. The highly defined mihrab in the centre is accentuated on the top by a motif associated with the horns of a ram. Its central plain is filled with elegant hangings, which could allude to lamps. The outer borders are filled with a repetitive pattern of hexagonal shapes, with alternating pairs varying in design and colour. The present lot is said to contain features similar to the Elibelinde - the mother-goddess who represents both male and female fertility.

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