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Shop By Style
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Rugs 101
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Newsletter
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| Rugs 101 - Information Center for Oriental Rugs |
Dyeing Processes
Dyes
One of the most skilled arts that are employed throughout the creation of an
oriental rug is that of the master dyer. These skills are as important to the
quality, durability, and beauty of the rug as are the materials, design, and the
weave. If a rug is dyed properly it will age wonderfully and look better as long as
it is maintained properly. When a rug is dyed masterfully, it will increase in
beauty and value every day of its life as the colors gradually change and develop
a patina that finely handmade products do.
Unfortunately, dyeing processes are probably the most complex process in the
entire rug creation. For centuries up until 1856, the only sources of dye were
natural plant and animal substances. These types of dyes were relatively
expenses, hard to make, and required masterful skills to use. Then in 1856, a
chemical breakthrough took place that created easy to use and inexpensive
synthetic dyes. Of course, as is the case with everything in oriental rugs, both
types of dyes had their strengths and weaknesses.
There are basically two different kinds of dyes. Natural dyes are those that are
taken from nature and are not man-made. These dyes are essentially created
through extraction from plant and animal sources. Synthetic dyes are man
made. These dyes are created in a laboratory using chemical processes. In
many cases, the structure and properties of these dyes are exactly the same.
But in other cases it is readily apparent that the properties of one dye outweigh
the lower expense of another. It is also very important to understand that there
are a huge number of misconceptions about the different types of dyes. Some
people have gone as far as to say that certain types of dyes have no value
whatsoever. The fact remains that with the speed of change that goes on in the
dye industry, it is nearly impossible to compare the different types of dyes on a
fair and neutral basis.
Natural Dyes
For many centuries, the only available materials to be used for dyes were
natural. These dyes required intensive skills and training to be correctly
measured, formulated, and applied. For these reasons, trade in natural dyes
became a major economic boost for many rug-producing areas. Many colors
were so hard to produce with local ingredients that they had to be imported and
were sold worth their weight in gold. Other natural dyes were so essential and
commonplace that their production became complete local industries
within themselves.
There are many beliefs about natural dyes that exist even today. Using natural
dyes is a very labor-intensive process. It involves careful and exact recipes, and
requires the knowledge and patience of a skilled dyer. Because each batch of
vegetable dye produces a color that is nearly impossible to replicate, many of
these color combinations are kept in family recipe books that are passed down
through generations.
Primary colors (red, blue, yellow) are the most often used and produced dyes in
oriental rugs. With vegetable dyes, these primary colors are also necessary for
the creation of the secondary colors ( orange, green, purple, brown, black.)
One of the most skilled arts that are employed throughout the creation of an
oriental rug is that of the master dyer. These skills are as important to the
quality, durability, and beauty of the rug as are the materials, design, and the
weave. If a rug is dyed properly it will age wonderfully and look better as long as
it is maintained properly. When a rug is dyed masterfully, it will increase in
beauty and value every day of its life as the colors gradually change and develop
a patina that finely handmade products do.
Unfortunately, dyeing processes are probably the most complex process in the
entire rug creation. For centuries up until 1856, the only sources of dye were
natural plant and animal substances. These types of dyes were relatively
expenses, hard to make, and required masterful skills to use. Then in 1856, a
chemical breakthrough took place that created easy to use and inexpensive
synthetic dyes. Of course, as is the case with everything in oriental rugs, both
types of dyes had their strengths and weaknesses.
There are basically two different kinds of dyes. Natural dyes are those that are
taken from nature and are not man-made. These dyes are essentially created
through extraction from plant and animal sources. Synthetic dyes are man
made. These dyes are created in a laboratory using chemical processes. In
many cases, the structure and properties of these dyes are exactly the same.
But in other cases it is readily apparent that the properties of one dye outweigh
the lower expense of another. It is also very important to understand that there
are a huge number of misconceptions about the different types of dyes. Some
people have gone as far as to say that certain types of dyes have no value
whatsoever. The fact remains that with the speed of change that goes on in the
dye industry, it is nearly impossible to compare the different types of dyes on a
fair and neutral basis.
Natural Dyes
For many centuries, the only available materials to be used for dyes were
natural. These dyes required intensive skills and training to be correctly
measured, formulated, and applied. For these reasons, trade in natural dyes
became a major economic boost for many rug-producing areas. Many colors
were so hard to produce with local ingredients that they had to be imported and
were sold worth their weight in gold. Other natural dyes were so essential and
commonplace that their production became complete local industries
within themselves.
There are many beliefs about natural dyes that exist even today. Using natural
dyes is a very labor-intensive process. It involves careful and exact recipes, and
requires the knowledge and patience of a skilled dyer. Because each batch of
vegetable dye produces a color that is nearly impossible to replicate, many of
these color combinations are kept in family recipe books that are passed down
through generations.
Primary colors (red, blue, yellow) are the most often used and produced dyes in
oriental rugs. With vegetable dyes, these primary colors are also necessary for
the creation of the secondary colors ( orange, green, purple, brown, black.)
Traditional vat dyeing using vegetable materials.
Vegetable dyeing requires multiple natural
ingredients and processes to create complex colors.
ingredients and processes to create complex colors.