Hi Richard,

Thank you for contacting Mearto with your appraisal inquiry.

This appears to be a Persian prayer mat from Sarouk (also spelled Saruk or Sarough), made in Markazi Province, in Western Iran; These rugs are among the most recognizable and cherished Persian rugs, known for their dense floral patterns, soft wool, and rich color palettes. The small size identifies it as a prayer mat and would have been unrolled 5 times a day, during the call to prayer. Because these rugs were so easily portable, they are highly collectible by tourists and were often used in small areas, on table tops or even as wall hangings.

While these are plentiful on the market, they are still equally desirable, though at auction, mats of this size and vintage rarely exceed $500 in value.

Based on the photos and information provided, and subject to examination, this is:

A vintage Persian Sarouk hand-knotted wool Tree of Life mat
mid-late 20th Century
In deep jewel tones of dark reds and navy blues, the red ground lushly filled with stylized flowers and birds on a stylized "tree of life, within a navy border with flowers and birds, with cream selvedges (fringe trim).
21 x 33-1/2 inches
CONDITION: Last cleaned in 2019; appears to be in good condition; value assumes no tears, stains, odors or repairs.
PROVENANCE: Inherited
$300-500*
*represents a fair-market value for auction purposes; retail or asking price may vary.

Please let us know if you have additional items to appraise, or questions/concerns, and thank you again for using Mearto.
~ Delia