Antique Shirvan Prayer rug, Shirvan Region, Azerbaijan. 19th century. Luciano Coen Collection, Rome, Italy.

This Shirvan type contains several recurrent elements. For example, stylized figures of birds or vases are featured alongside the tiny geometric decorations on each side of the arch; farther down on each side are stylized yellow hands, which mark the position of the faithful on the carpet and were probably also intended to ward off evil. Totemic elements are characteristic inside the arch; this particular carpet contains comb-like motifs that appear frequently but whose meaning is obscure.