This extraordinary carpet with its unusual design is one of only two room sized Melas carpets we have encountered in 50+ years.  Melas is an area usually known for small prayer rugs with very sophisticated color combinations.

Here a grand stepped and indented medallion with finials hovers amidst an open terracotta field otherwise occupied only by two strange pictorial animal forms at the top -the ghostly outline of a peacock, and a lamb exiting a manger.  The Christian imagery in this carpet may be indicative that this was a special order for one of the Greek churches not too far from Melas. A cultural note, peacocks were common on church grounds in Greece at the time and in some cases contemporarily.

The border is simply exquisite.. It consists of a series of pointed ‘mihrabs’ or prayer niches reminiscent of multiple-niche prayer rugs or ‘saphs.’ This is strange in this otherwise Christian iconography featured in the rug. Perhaps the weaver was trying to promote religious tolerance or friendship between people of differing beliefs.  Each of these niches has internal geometric decoration like a little rug unto itself, and they vary irregularly in color greatly animating the design. 

A one-of-a-kind carpet if ever there was one.