Camel-ground prayer rug with stylized trees-of-life composed of serrated leaves alternating with rectangles. The design composition of this diminutive prayer rug is usually assigned to the Yagub Khani Timuri (Azadi) or to Farah in Afghanistan (Craycraft).

These attributions, whether accurate or not, are frequently made in a rote and haphazard fashion with scant attention to design and structural nuances within the design group.

I suggest the design of this prayer rug constitutes a small but identifiable sub-group within those commonly known as 'tobacco pattern' rugs.

Rug scholar Robert Pittenger coined the phrase 'tobacco pattern' rugs. Examples of this type can be seen at: Diehr, Three Dusty Dozen, front cover; Pittenger, Hali #75, p. 65; MacDonald, Tribal Rugs, p.239; Craycraft, Balouch Prayer Rugs, pl. 25.

These rugs share some common design features. They include an imposing, heavily detailed main border in the 'meder' stars and bars design, prominent rectangular field motifs alternating with the serrated leaves of the trees, and a busy, somewhat cramped field and border composition.

The prayer rug presented here has some significant differences. Rather than clearly rectangular, the field motifs are smaller and box-shaped. The main border with its serrated diamond design is shared with rugs of this sub-group. For border examples go to Gilmore, Hali #63, p. 115; Rippon-Boswell, May 23, 1998, lot #245. The 'main' border and two border guards are of equal dimensions. The field is less adorned with secondary motifs, presenting a less cluttered appearance. Finally, the knot with which it is woven is symmetrical rather than the usual asymmetrical, inclined to the left.

Condition: Oxidation to areas of brown and olive-brown. Wear creases at top end. Reduced at top and bottom ends.