"Millefleurs" kani prayer mat
18th century
Cotton on cotton foundation
H. 32 x W. 44 in. (81 x 112 cm)
Nazmiyal Collection, New York

The prayer mat is traditionally used by pious Muslim in their daily ritual of worship as they kneel towards the sacred Islamic city of Mecca. The small niche at the top of the carpet references the architectural form called a mihrab that is typically found in mosques and indicates the direction of Mecca. This mat is woven in the kani, or twill tapestry technique that is also used in shawls and rugs; it gives this mat a soft velvet-like effect.