TURKISH MELAS
Southwest Turkey Antique Rug

(High-Collectible) ("One of “60 Best-of-Their-Type Rugs Sold in 2023") Antique Melas weavings come from a small town on the Aegean coast of southwestern Turkey. This one-in-the-world piece, with over 200 years of age, is a masterwork in simple yet powerful designs featuring time-softened natural dyes. While the lion’s share of very early pieces from this town were prayer rugs, this piece almost exclusively depicts borders framing a slender central column. The foliage-rich borders may represent the profusion of life on earth, with the ascending arrows in the elongated ivory field that could well indicate the direction of unifying with a higher power, i.e., that everything in existence is united through a directional force. On the aesthetic side, the gold and golden greens radiate with a deep patina gained over a full two centuries. The wide primary borders are adorned with striking cobalt blue vinery encircling ancient-looking medallions and deeply serrated totemic forms that may be stylized dragons. Interestingly, in the outer secondary border, the blossom design in the lower portion changes to a highly stylized leaf pattern and then back to the original blossoms in the upper portion.

Read About Turkish Melas Rugs

Learn About High-Collectible Rugs