It is a very beautiful Sarouk. Typical border and most likely some natural dyes. It is not painted. Sometimes these rugs are sold as Mahal, but this fine weave and construction is typical Sarouk or Ghiasabad. This type was made after the typical American Sarough that is reffered to more often in this forum. The older Sarouk rugs had less color and where basically built on the colors onion skin, browns, darkblue and later a dark red with a some blue. Usually the early onion skin colored Saouks where colored in the late 1920 when the taste of customers in US changed in therms of color. This rug was made after this time, 1940 - 1950. I peronally like these rugs even more than most standart commercial US Sarouks from 1910-1920. Rugs of the posted type have a more colors and a great wool quality. Since they are not looked after so much jet it is possible to get a looked after antique from tomorrow at reasonable prices.

I agree with kad. I do think this rug has been painted in the red. Many people don't know this but in some 1940's 50's sarouk rugs you have to look for painting in several colors including red green and blue.

Deep red is usually atop a softer red. Green "paint" is typically found atop a lime yellow, and blue sometimes atop ivory. Look carefully, breach the pile to see deep, check the back of the rug for one even color where the front shows two distinctly different shades.

Thanks RugPro, I didn't consider that only small sections could be painted so you and KAD are of the same mind a Also I didn't answer your question and checked the back. The green show above has the identical two greens on the back and the bright red flower middle is also bright red on the back. I've attached two picturs with the rug not in direct sunlight so the colors are more natural

Thanks again for all your comments.