Featured HELP w/STORAGE AUCTION FIND - INCREDIBLE GOLD(?) SILK THREAD PRAYER RUG; GLOWS! IN SUN

My friend won a storage unit yesterday & he finally got lucky! It was full of boxes & in those boxes (just what I bought from him) was 1 box of antique & vintage Stief bears and other animals, 1 box of award plaques that you hang on a leather strap across your horse when they've won a contest (some are too big to fit on a strap but they are my next post for info) and this prayer(?) rug.

The rug looks like it's sewn with gold thread because it GLOWS in the light (the camera does not do it justice)! think it's a prayer rug but this one looks like it has the artist's name sewn in 1 corner which I haven't seen before?
What is this?
How old is it?
It looks like it has words or sayings in boxes around the outer edge - can anyone translate them?
Thank you in advance; I appreciate any help/info on this one.




PS - 1st photos above were taken inside with a flash & 2nd set were taken outside in the sun - neither show it like it looks in person.

 

Here are rest of outside photos:

 

It is a prayer rug, the glow probably means it is silk.

 

As Any Jewelry says, it is a prayer rug. The central motif represents a "mihrab", which is a niche in the interior wall of a mosque which indicates the direction of Mecca. Worshippers face the mihrab while praying.

 

Is that the sewer's name in corner? is it normal to do that?
Any idea of age?
Thanks all

 

your friend done did good...or ...got lucky..

I concur with all stated above !

 

I didn't feel any metal but it shined like it had some in it!

 

HE DID - AND ME BECAUSE OF HIM - DID GREAT!
Here's a pair of 1919 binoculars also in unit he sold me for $35 - I saw them listed for $1,800 so I called & told him I was probably going to owe him more money!

 

silk will glisten.....that looks like a really tightly woven rug.....many threads to the inch !!

 

https://www.nejad.com/2015/ANTIQUE/hereke-rugs.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hereke_carpet
Based on this information, I would guess mid 20th century or later for the rug. Also note the reference to Chinese copies of Hereke rugs.

 

Well if this is a copy then it's the only ting we've found in there so far that is!

 

The Rug is wonderful and so beautiful! But those binoculars are outstanding!! I love them.

 

I'd have jumped on those binocs too; Zeiss is a name to conjure with in optics. The rug is gorgeous too, but I'll let the experts chime in. The writing is either Persian or Arabic.

 

It's a beautiful rug, and I love the binoculars!

 

Is that someone's signature in corner - it's the only thing on it that's not repeated?

 

Which corner in which picture?

 

Thanks, Anund. Now that you point it out, it's obvious! And unfortunately, I have no clue what it says or even whether it is a name. So I sure hope someone who can say will be along.