Shivran Prayer Rug

Akstafa carpets such as this one exemplify the era before mass production. Experts debate whether these rugs were actually made in Akstafa, Azerbaijan or were collected for trade there and made in nearby weaving centers instead. Regardless of their precise origin, Akstafas are considered to be among the most exquisite of the so-called Caucasian rugs, made in the Caucasus mountain region between the Black Sea and the Persian Gulf.
Akstafas are typically rich in symbolism; human figures, real and mythological animals, and other images tell the story of folk life in the region. Noteworthy symbols in this particular rug are the stag at the bottom of the prayer gable, or mihrab; the flowering trees on either side of the gable; and the comb drawing within the arch, which is the Islamic symbol of cleanliness and purity. The field is a trellis filled with multicolored abstract floral and latch-hook motifs. The main border consists of a stylized, repeating calyx design surrounded by a trefoil pattern.