The border is seen to be very inconspicuous and of remarkably few stripes for a product of the Anatolian country. The simple nature of the small detached floral forms indicates an early origin, before the enriching influence of the Persian invasion.
Brilliant colors were chosen for use in the rug, though of such mellow tone as to be in excellent, subdued harmony. The predominating colors are golden canary-yellow, madder red, and green, with blue, violet and white as secondary tones.
The shades in which these colors appear are quite indescribable, doubtless on account of careless methods of dyeing or the chances of home-made mixtures. Thus the green is of a bluish cast, the blue is mottled with lighter shades (a well-known characteristic of this variety of rug) and the violet, which, as the most typical and exclusive of Meles colors, should be pure in tone, is of dingy look, apparently having succeeded brown in the dye-pot.
All the colors have remained absolutely fast, despite the long exposure of time. The kaleidoscopic effect which has been noted as a quality in many old Meles rug patterns, may be easily detected in this specimen.
STANTON RUG.--A much finer weave than the average rug of this class and a very attractive design. Note the peculiar shape of the field which is notched in instead of out, as in the majority of hearth rugs. The yellow and the plum colors in the main border stripe are seldom found in any other class of rugs.
[Illustration: MELES RUG Size 3'3" × 4'7" PROPERTY OF MR. J. H. STANTON, AUBURN, N.Y.]
WHERE MADE.--On the islands in the Gulf of Makri and in the towns along its coast.
KNOT.--Always the Ghiordes. Number vertically four to eight; number horizontally four to eight; number to the square inch sixteen to sixty-four.
WEAVE.--Quite similar to that of the Meles, but a trifle coarser.
NAP.--Of long wool, usually from 3/8 to 3/4 of an inch long.
SIDES.--Usually finished with a three or four corded selvage.
ENDS.--A wide web through which generally run blue and red stripes with or without a knotted mesh and loose warp ends.
BORDERS.--Usually three stripes, the designs of which are, as a rule, less floral in character than are those of the Meles.
PREVAILING COLORS.--Quite similar to those employed in the Meles, especially the yellows, reds, blues and plum color. Unlike the Meles, they usually carry green.