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Tea Dyeing Basics- The RugMan's Blog
Wednesday, September 17th, 2008
Tea washing is a very simple technique that an oriental rug manufacturer or
vendor can use to give a rug a light brown, golden overtone that is usually
applied to make a rug look older. When applied properly, a tea wash can add
beauty, but should not affect value or price. When applied incorrectly, a tea
wash can damage and destroy the value of an otherwise normal oriental rug.
The tea washing technique goes back to the early 1920’s when oriental rugs
were first being imported into the U.S. for retail to the general public. These
rugs were generally beyond the reach of the average man due to their high
cost, reserving the inventory for the wealthier families in America. One of the
selling points that commanded the high price was the storyline behind these
ancient rugs. New rugs, however, were not popular among American buyers.
As time progressed and prices slowly dropped as supply met demand,
importers began finding new ways to get better prices out of new rugs that were
not in demand. Some damaging methods such as undue wear or chemical
washes came into use and were later banned. Tea washing was a safer and
more popular method of making the rugs appear older that still exists today.
Tea washing saw a more recent resurgence in the late 1990’s when the
announcement that the U.S. embargo against Persian rugs would end took
place. Suddenly importers recognized a growing consumer demand for rugs
with an "antique look" at an affordable price.
Tea washing is commonly known as luster washing, walnut washing and tea
dyeing. The process involves immersing a finished rug in an herbal bath. This
herbal bath is usually a combination of natural dyes in water consisting of such
ingredients as tea leaves, tree bark, or walnut husks. Other chemical
ingredients may be added to give added luster or sheen to the finished rug.
Like any dye process, improper technique can lead to disastrous results.
Inferior and inexpensive tea washing is not always colorfast. If spot cleaning is
needed, the pigment may be washed out of the rug when it comes in contact
with liquid.
Tea dyeing is a simple finishing process that does not add a significant
amount of cost or production time to an oriental rug. Therefore, a tea wash
should not add to the retail price or value, it is simply a different finishing
process. Beware any rug dealers that add charges for tea washed rugs or
dealers that overstate the age of a rug that has been tea washed.
Here are some ways to tell if a rug has been tea-dyed:
1)Take a look at both the front and the back of the rug. If there a drastic color
difference? Tea washes are often brushed on top of the rugs pile, allowing for
the aesthetic change, but not allowing the wash to soak all the way through to
the back of the rug. If there is a color difference, you likely have a tea-dyed rug.
2)You can also use this same technique by looking at the knots of a rug. Bend
the rug backwards to “break” or expose the pile and the knots that lie
underneath. If there is a noticeable color change from the top of the pile (the
tips of the wool) to the original knot, you likely have a tea-dyed rug.
3)One fairly good indicator of a tea washed rug is to take a look at the fringe.
The wool of the pile tends to absorb dyes readily, however the cotton fringe
does not absorb dyes particularly well. Often after a rug has been tea-washed,
the cotton fringe may need to be augmented with a separate more
concentrated "tea" solution which is most often brushed onto the fringe.
Wednesday, September 17th, 2008
Tea washing is a very simple technique that an oriental rug manufacturer or
vendor can use to give a rug a light brown, golden overtone that is usually
applied to make a rug look older. When applied properly, a tea wash can add
beauty, but should not affect value or price. When applied incorrectly, a tea
wash can damage and destroy the value of an otherwise normal oriental rug.
The tea washing technique goes back to the early 1920’s when oriental rugs
were first being imported into the U.S. for retail to the general public. These
rugs were generally beyond the reach of the average man due to their high
cost, reserving the inventory for the wealthier families in America. One of the
selling points that commanded the high price was the storyline behind these
ancient rugs. New rugs, however, were not popular among American buyers.
As time progressed and prices slowly dropped as supply met demand,
importers began finding new ways to get better prices out of new rugs that were
not in demand. Some damaging methods such as undue wear or chemical
washes came into use and were later banned. Tea washing was a safer and
more popular method of making the rugs appear older that still exists today.
Tea washing saw a more recent resurgence in the late 1990’s when the
announcement that the U.S. embargo against Persian rugs would end took
place. Suddenly importers recognized a growing consumer demand for rugs
with an "antique look" at an affordable price.
Tea washing is commonly known as luster washing, walnut washing and tea
dyeing. The process involves immersing a finished rug in an herbal bath. This
herbal bath is usually a combination of natural dyes in water consisting of such
ingredients as tea leaves, tree bark, or walnut husks. Other chemical
ingredients may be added to give added luster or sheen to the finished rug.
Like any dye process, improper technique can lead to disastrous results.
Inferior and inexpensive tea washing is not always colorfast. If spot cleaning is
needed, the pigment may be washed out of the rug when it comes in contact
with liquid.
Tea dyeing is a simple finishing process that does not add a significant
amount of cost or production time to an oriental rug. Therefore, a tea wash
should not add to the retail price or value, it is simply a different finishing
process. Beware any rug dealers that add charges for tea washed rugs or
dealers that overstate the age of a rug that has been tea washed.
Here are some ways to tell if a rug has been tea-dyed:
1)Take a look at both the front and the back of the rug. If there a drastic color
difference? Tea washes are often brushed on top of the rugs pile, allowing for
the aesthetic change, but not allowing the wash to soak all the way through to
the back of the rug. If there is a color difference, you likely have a tea-dyed rug.
2)You can also use this same technique by looking at the knots of a rug. Bend
the rug backwards to “break” or expose the pile and the knots that lie
underneath. If there is a noticeable color change from the top of the pile (the
tips of the wool) to the original knot, you likely have a tea-dyed rug.
3)One fairly good indicator of a tea washed rug is to take a look at the fringe.
The wool of the pile tends to absorb dyes readily, however the cotton fringe
does not absorb dyes particularly well. Often after a rug has been tea-washed,
the cotton fringe may need to be augmented with a separate more
concentrated "tea" solution which is most often brushed onto the fringe.
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Shop By Style
Shop By Room
Rugs 101
Cleaning / Repair
Newsletter
Contact Us
Showroom
Designer Services
Clearance Specials
Store Location
Store Hours
Ask A Designer
Room Planner
| A new Persian Kashan before tea-washing. |
| The same new Persian Kashan after tea-washing. |
| Noticeable color differences in the fringe after tea-washing. |