Turkish Rugs: Guide to Melas Rugs

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Melas Area Map

Milas Prayer Rug mid 19th C. Nagel Lot 12

As a group Turkish rugs are gennerally made very much the same. Milas rugs however may exhibit a variation in the number of wefts (2 - 4) that is unusual. Knot counts range from 30 to 60 kpsi.

The James A. Lucas Melas rug, lot 16

A 19th Century Milas Rug

In Oriental Carpets Ulrich Schurmann suggest that in Melas rugs made before 1870 we should look for the use of Cochineal. This ranges from a purple brown up to a hint of violet.

Lots of Yellow with Red Wefts

Turkish rugs are a fairly homogeneous lot. One area where Milas rugs stand out is in the use of yellow and the use of red wefts. Of all Turkish ruigs when you see extravagent use of yellow think Milas first. Sizes tend to be small up to about 6 meters (70 sq. ft.)

The Ed Krayer Melas Rug

A Melas-Karaova rug, lot 18

Karaova

Melas-Karaova is a village 17 miles southwest of Milas. It is noted for this sort of "strpped Milas" rug.

Melas has a long tradition of rugs using designs that are not traditional to Anatolia. In Oriental Carpets Ulrich Schurmann attributes the designs in one rug to the French Market.