Study of Mihrab Patterns on Rugs in the Astan Qods Razavi,s Carpet Museum

Prayer rug is one of the hand – woven which has been designed and woven in small size for the Moslems from the dawn of Islam and they used it in their rituals.But it is not obvious, when these carpets got ornated with altar (Mihrab) design or vault design on them. And it is possible that the vault design has been used in some hand - woven works before Islam. Many remainders have been left from the patriarch (Ilkani) dynasty with altar onthem. Also, during that era some elegant and beautiful altars out of gypsum have been created throughout Iran which the most famous is Aljayto Altar in Isfahan but there is not enough ducuments about altar pattern rugs of that period and our most informations about them are from travel accounts which in them there are a few pointed to such hand-wowen. In paintings created during Tymurian Dynasty, the Altar design can be seen on some hand – woven works depided these paintings. There are more documentary remainders left from Safavid Dynasty era and two samples of these carpets can be seen at Astan Qods Razavi Museum. Imam Rezas Holy Shrine has been a suitable place for creating or donating Artistic works from far past time, because of its value esteem among the Shiite. Among them, it can be referred to elegant carpets, some of which pertain to the Safavid era hitherto.The major part of these hand – woven works have Altar (Mihrab) design (or vault design) on them. In this research, these works have been reviewed and described according to their place of weave.