Antique Milas Turkish Rug 2890

Antique Melas Rug, Turkey, Late 19th Century - Beneath a stepped arch or mihrab, a stylized tree of life in shades of green, ivory, aubergine, burgundy, saffron, and rose stands gracefully against a crimson ground on this charming antique Melas prayer rug. The spandrels above and the panel below the mihrab are rendered in a lovely abrashed green with serrated flower heads or rosettes in red and yellow. Various stylized vines make up several narrow borders set alternately against grounds of green and blue, and set off from one another by narrow red guard stripes. In terms of color alone this is an outstanding piece, but the rich palette is all the more effective in combination with the striking sense of design.