Shirvan Prayer Rug

Diagonal bands of latch-hook diamond ornament are drawn across the ivory field of this Shirvan prayer in shades of blue, cochineal-red, and gold. Spacing is plentiful with a column of smaller latch-hooks flanking both the left and right sides of the field and continuing into the spandrels. A smaller red niche fills the larger blue mihrab niche and serves as a powerful focal point. The classic ‘leaf and calyx’ border on a red ground frames the composition along with narrower dark and light guard borders punctuated by colorful rosettes.