Turkoman Prayer Rugs - Collectors say these are special

Turkoman prayer rugs have been made by nomadic weavers in the countries of Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Afghanistan and also in the province of Khorassan in Iran. Although examples of this type Oriental rug date from the late 19th century, not many are hand woven today. Since many devout religious people are not able to purchase handmade rugs because of the cost, machine made ones are now available. It is also common to see larger Turkoman prayer rugs that use the traditional motifs but are woven for trade and export to the west where these patterns have become popular as Oriental rug designs for floor coverings. These large ones are sometimes considered as family rugs because they are quite long and the prayer pattern is repeated side by side.

Generally the design and patterns of Turkoman prayer rugs follow tradition with an arch or niche at one end, called a mihrab. This allows the carpet to be placed on the ground pointing in the direction of Mecca and the faithful kneel there for prayer. This type of Oriental rug has become very desirable for collectors in the last century and therefore antique specimens are becoming more difficult to find. Small machine made rugs are still used for prayer, and in the west they are used for decor, however, they do not have any value as such for collectors.

Turkoman prayer rugs and actually Turkoman carpets in general, have certain characteristics which distinguish them. The colors are usually a dominant red or reddish brown background and they have a geometric pattern. They also contain a unique symbol or motif, called a gul, which is octagonal in shape, but has numerous versions. This differentiates this type Oriental rug from others in the region and is very distinguishable from Persian rugs. Gul is the Persian name for flower, however, some experts think it originated from an ancient Turkish word meaning family or tribe, so that each tribe had a unique gul design.

Turkoman prayer rugs are sometimes referred to as Caucasian carpets and these beautiful articles will add exotic flavor to a room. These handmade carpets are generally very soft and lush. The rich burgundy color is exclusive to the Turkomans.

Examples of the unique Turkoman prayer rugs can be found online through Oriental rug dealers.

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About The Author:

Shirley Sims is a successful author and publisher of http://www.1st-area-rugs.net. An informational source, buyers guide and review of the best styles from leading manufacturers including turkoman prayer rugs.