Vintage Shia prayer kilim or janamaz from Iran. 63x56 cms

A vintage Shia prayer kilim (janamaz) with the characteristic undyed main field, this beautiful piece reflects both simplicity and subtle craftsmanship. The softly abrash-toned brown ground, created through natural variations in the undyed wool, symbolizes the earth and gives the kilim a warm, organic depth.

In the lower sections of the borders, the weaver introduced small knotted areas using carpet technique. . Equally uncommon for a prayer kilim is the presence of a central medallion, which at first glance may make the piece appear to be an ordinary kilim rather than a janamaz.

Material: 100% hand-spun sheep wool

Size:  63×56 cms

Origin: Qashqai tribe, Iran

Date of weaving: 1970s

A janamaz is a prayer rug or mat used by Muslims to define a clean space for prayer. The word janamaz combines Persian/Urdu terms meaning place of prayer.

Within Shia practice, the emphasis in prayer is often on placing the forehead on natural earth or clay (turbah) rather than on a conventional textile rug.

It is generally accepted that Shia Muslims, unlike Sunnis, do not use specifically designed kilims or prayer rugs as they pray directly on any rug, cloth, the ground, a stone or on a Turbah (or Mohr in Persian).

However, during the last 27 years on my frequent trips to southern Iran, I have repeatedly found that Shia Muslims in southern Iran use a type of small kilim that acts as a Janamaz or prayer kilim. I have acquired some of these tiny kilims directly from the person who used them for prayer and have been confirmed on numerous occasions that this type of kilim is used during prayer.

The small size of these prayer kilims is due to their function of covering the ground only in the area where the faithful will rest their head. The material used is always wool, which, in most cases, is left in its natural undyed colour, representing the earth. It is also significant that many of these kilims have been woven from camel wool in the central field.

However, its proportions are typical of Shia prayer kilims, and the use of the natural undyed background combined with the largely unadorned main field clearly identifies it as a devotional weaving. A rare and elegant example of traditional Shia textile art.