A RARE ANATOLIAN JEWISH PRAYER RUG WITH HEBREW INSCRIPTION
Western or Central Anatolia, 19th century

Of rectangular form, handwoven in wool with a mihrab-style central niche in deep madder red, the stepped arch framed by an olive-green field and decorated with a menorah-like stylised candelabrum in pale blue and white, flanked by small floral devices, the spandrels with polychrome eight-petalled rosettes and geometric motifs, the main border with star-like motifs in alternating colours and a cream ground secondary border of floral meander, a Hebrew inscription reading אנכי (“Anochi”, “I am [the Lord]”) woven into the top band in cream wool against a red field, a reference to the Ten Commandments and one of the strongest markers of Jewish use. The design merges Islamic architectural models of the prayer niche with Jewish liturgical iconography, resulting in a syncretic Anatolian textile tradition, likely woven for use in a synagogue or private prayer setting.

168.5cm x 126cm

This type of rug belongs to a small group of Jewish prayer rugs made in Ottoman Anatolia, often in villages with mixed Muslim and Jewish populations. While following the broader Anatolian design language (notably the mihrab layout typical of Islamic prayer rugs), these works often include uniquely Jewish symbols such as menorahs, Stars of David, or Hebrew script, and were produced either by Jewish artisans or Muslim weavers for Jewish clients.