Featured Help identify rug

I saw this at a thrift store today & the hands? as well as only being on one end,
And the weird symbol inside th em made me lost on what it could be - so of course I bought it!
Also the hand nearest to bottom of screen in 4th photo looks like the dye is running?
Has anyone seen anything like this?
Thank you!

 

Id guess a prayer rug ?

 

It is a prayer rug, the odd shape in the centre symbolizes the 'minbar' or pulpit in a mosque.
The hands are where someone's hands go when they bow down in prayer. I have never seen the hands before though.

 

Any idea how old? Valuable?

 

The pattern looks similar to rugs being made by Baluchi weavers in Afghanistan, and sold by discount companies such as ECarpetGallery, Wayfair and Bed Bath and Beyond. They refer to them as "Teimani". (This seems to be a trade name, not a particular tribal name.) Prices vary according to the size of the rug.

https://www.ecarpetgallery.com/us_en/ivory-3x5-teimani-area-rugs-417422

This one, with the hands similar to yours, is from an auction. (Google identifies the language as Croatian or Bosnian.) They also identify it as Baluch, but I'm not sure I would trust their dating. 300 euros is their starting price -

https://www.artmark.ro/hr/aukcija/a...ot/beluch-prayer-wool-carpet-ca-1920-en-82535

Your rug looks like it has been inexpertly washed, which led to the red dye bleeding.

 

The hands could be hands, or could be Hamsa symbols that the weaver ran across somewhere and used.

 

The hamsa is a symbol common throughout the Islamic world, and is basically a stylized hand. In the case of these rugs, the hands are depicted more realistically, including the accurate mirror imaging of the thumbs.

 

Nice pick J-How much was it,is there a profit there ?

 

Well I feel ok then; I only paid $40 for mine!
Thank you

 

Won't get hurt- paid $40 for it!

 

Some of the modern ones show a more realistic hand, so who knows.

 

Great pick J !

 

Hamsas in the Islamic world are either single or an odd number, often five or seven, auspicious numbers. Islamic art is all about symbolism. I have never seen two hamsas in one piece and can't think of any symbolism connected with two.

 

Me either. My guess is these hands just mean "prayer rug". They're "handy" for little guys just learning the ropes.