I had to buy this. The colours are gorgeous. I love the mismatched hand block printing. This has not been used. Mezzaros are of course reminiescent of Indian palampores and were certainly influenced by them with the Tree of Life. Printed in Genoa, Italy during the 18th and 19th centuries. Mezzaro comes from the Arabic word Mizar, which means to cover. These huge cloths would cover women's heads and be wrapped round their bodies.
Three trees growing from a hillock, the central branch hung with a basket of flowers, small birds, butterflies, dragonfly fluttering between the flowers, a tall vase filled with blossoms flaning the hillock, leaping deer, wading egrets and a leaping rabbit occupying the front ground, a deep border with a repeat design of group of flowers, all in bright pink, mauve, mid blue, green, yellow and brown on an off white cotton ground.
8ft 9 in; 2.65 m square.
Crisp and clean.
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