Harvard Art Museums > 2015.65: Prayer Mat Textile Arts Collections Search Exit Deep Zoom Mode Zoom Out Zoom In Reset Zoom Full Screen Add to Collection Order Image Copy Link Copy Citation Citation"Prayer Mat , 2015.65,” Harvard Art Museums collections online, Nov 23, 2024, https://hvrd.art/o/331564. Reuse via IIIF Toggle Deep Zoom Mode Download This object does not yet have a description. Identification and Creation Object Number 2015.65 Title Prayer Mat Classification Textile Arts Work Type textile Date 19th century Places Creation Place: Middle East, Iran Persistent Link https://hvrd.art/o/331564 Physical Descriptions Medium Cotton in plain weave embroidered with silk in straight stitch and pulled thread work; lined with white fabric; backed with silk; and edged with woolen twill Dimensions 58.7 x 92.5 cm (23 1/8 x 36 7/16 in.) Provenance Recorded Ownership History Mark and Ruth Irwin, Wooster, Ohio (by 1965 - 1998), by descent; to Beth Irwin Lewis, Oberlin, Ohio (1998 - 2015), gift; to the Harvard Art Museums, 2015. Acquisition and Rights Credit Line Harvard Art Museums/Arthur M. Sackler Museum, Gift of Beth Irwin Lewis in memory of J. Mark and Ruth Irwin Accession Year 2015 Object Number 2015.65 Division Asian and Mediterranean Art Contact am_asianmediterranean@harvard.edu Permissions The Harvard Art Museums encourage the use of images found on this website for personal, noncommercial use, including educational and scholarly purposes. To request a higher resolution file of this image, please submit an online request. Descriptions Description This prayer mat is an example of whitework, a subtle form of needlework in which white embroidery thread is used to create a design on a white fabric ground. Here the design is based on a central field with multiple borders, both of which are dominated by inscriptions in Arabic. The central field is organized as a pointed arch (echoing the shape of a mihrab), enclosing floral and geometric motifs and inscription panels. The widest border holds inscription panels alternating with flower-filled triangles. The narrower borders are decorated with geometric designs within lozenges and reciprocal patterns. The Arabic inscriptions consist of pious expressions, e.g., the basmala, prayers for the Prophet Muhammad, and entreaties to God, as well as verses from the Qur’an. The Qur’anic verses include Suras 2:255; 2:257; and 97:1-4. Verification Level This record was created from historic documentation and may not have been reviewed by a curator; it may be inaccurate or incomplete. Our records are frequently revised and enhanced. For more information please contact the Division of Asian and Mediterranean Art at am_asianmediterranean@harvard.edu
