Doek voor gebedssteen

1950

Prayer cloth. Embroidered cloth with a.o. minarets, a triangle (presumably a mosque), with inside half circles (presumably prayer niches). The center of the cloth is surrounded by two strips of motifs. The outer strip contains kite-shaped figures, perhaps stylized images of leaves; the other strip contains m and w motifs. To the right and left of the center are minarets, and diagonally above them, more to the center, are also minarets, albeit somewhat smaller versions. Above that again, above the center, are images that probably represent prayer niches. Prayer niches can also be found in the central motif of the canvas: a triangle, presumably representing a mosque. Within and below the triangle are other motifs.‖ The prayer stone cloths are used to hold the prayer stone (mohr or turba) used by Shiites. The prayer stones are made of baked clay from Kerbela. The prayer stones are kept wrapped in the cloths in the house or on the body. When praying one puts the prayer stone cloth on the prayer rug. Prayer cloths and stones are placed on the prayer rug in such a way that one touches the stone with one's forehead when bending over during prayer. The cloths may be used by any clean person. The cloths belong to the sacred objects; when they are worn out they are buried, so that they cannot be touched with the feet. The cloths may not be sold or used for any other purpose. Nevertheless, some use the cloths as wall decorations or pillowcases (Janata & Jawad 1983: 172-173).‖ The cloth is of cotton and the thread used to embroider is probably glossy cotton. The cotton cloth is machine-made, the same is presumably true of the thread. The cloths are embroidered by women and girls. According to the literature, embroidering the motifs requires extraordinary skill (Janata & Jawad 1983: 173). It is difficult to determine what stitches are used in the embroidery. The stitches presumably used are flat stitches (e.g. for tessellations), stitching stitches (both for tessellations and for the hem) and running stitches (holbein designs).