The prayer niche takes various forms in different kinds of rugs, seldom more than one class having the same form. As a rule that of the Persians is formed by curved lines, while all others are formed by straight lines, those of both the Persian and Turkish classes being pointed, while those of the Caucasian and Turkoman classes may either be pointed or flat at the top, usually the latter.
In differentiating between these different classes we are assisted not only by the shape of the mihrab, but also by the various field designs, such for instance as the panels above and below the prayer field, the lanterns or pendants which hang from the centre of the niche, etc.
[Illustration: VARIOUS FORMS OF THE PRAYER-NICHE IN RUGS
1. Persian 2. Persian 3. Persian and Konieh 4. Meshed and Saruk 5. Tabriz 6. Kirman 7. Kirman 8. Kirman and Kulah 9. Herez and Kulah 10. Kulah 11. Kulah 12. Kulah 13. Kulah 14. Ghiordes 15. Ghiordes 16. Ghiordes 17. Ghiordes 18. Anatolian 19. Anatolian 20. Konieh 21. Konieh and Meles 22. Ladik 23. Ladik 24. Kaisariyeh 25. Bergama, Genghis, Daghestan, Bokhara 26. Bergama 27. Meles 28. Meles 29. Daghestan and Kazak 30. Kazak and Beluchistan ]
SINGLE PANELS.--When only one panel is used it is invariably above the prayer field. The Kulah nearly always has but one, the Anatolian generally, and the Ghiordes seldom.
DOUBLE PANELS.--The Ghiordes nearly always has two, the Bergama generally, and the Kulah seldom.
HANGING PENDANTS are always present in the Kaisarieh, frequently in the Ghiordes, and seldom in the Kulah.
PILLARS are always present in the Kaisarieh, frequently in the Kulah, and only occasionally in the Ghiordes.
PLAIN PRAYER FIELDS (excepting the lamp) are most frequent in the Turkish rugs.
FILLED PRAYER FIELDS are invariably present in the Caucasian and Turkoman rugs and generally in the Persians.
Hearth rugs may be distinguished by the shape of their field, each end of which resembles the niche of the prayer rugs belonging to the same class. They are usually from three and one-half to four by five to seven feet and are very precious to the family, who always spread them before the fire upon the arrival of a guest, and once a fugitive, fleeing from his enemies, enters a tent and sets his foot upon the hearth rug, the owner and his people were bound to defend him.