Caucasian prayer rugs are generally small weavings with a directional motif, usually in the form of an arch or "mihrab", which is intended to point the faithful towards Mecca. One of the most popular types of carpets among collectors, they are prized for their highly sophisticated weaving technique, their rich colours and their stylized geometric designs. Taking an aesthetic approach to the study of these rugs, this book also places them in their historical context, and includes an essay by Jim Dixon which addresses the fundamental issue of the meaning of the designs to those who made and used the carpets.