Antique Silk Bezalel Rug 46984, Size: 1' x 2', Origin: Jerusalem Israel Circa: Early 20th Century (First Quarter) - Born out of the Bezalel Academy and an art movement with a powerful association to the holy land, this vibrant silk Bezalel rug features a classical landscape scene that pays homage to the history and traditions of Israel. The handsome, strongly colored landscape of this antique silk Bezalel rug displays a grand temple-like complex surrounded by beautifully rendered block walls that mimic the color and texture of Israel's ancient stone structures. Formal seven-branch menorahs, a definitive symbol of the Judaic world, flank the broad central scene while representing historically and culturally important ritual objects. Hebrew inscriptions line the lower edge of the stately scene and segue to the lavish borders, which feature star-shaped tiles and cartouches. These elegant emerald and citrine borders showcase the lustrous, luminous qualities of the silk fibers while creating a simulated frame that has a distinctive regional flavor.