| Handwoven rug dyed with natural dye and hand spun | | | | from the roots of a plant called Rubia tincture. Yellow |
| wool will not only easily fit any décor, but it will | | | | from the stigma of the Saffron plant, turmeric or |
| enhance any interior design. It adds to the natural | | | | dogwood pulp. Blue, from the Indigo tincture. |
| beauty of the wood or bamboo flooring, brings warmth | | | | We can also obtain natural dyes from metals such as |
| and gives life to any older furniture, elevating their value | | | | old recycled horseshoes mixed with molasses will |
| to almost that of an antique furniture. With all that value | | | | result in black color, aluminum sulphate and red earth |
| and beauty they add to our homes, Persian and | | | | will produce the color red. |
| Oriental rugs are the least valued work of art, | | | | Vegetable dyes are eco-friendly and economical. |
| considering the amount of time and love put in each | | | | However, the knowledge of finding and extracting |
| one of them, comparing to an oil painting that will take | | | | such dyes and mordant is limited. Many research work |
| maybe a few weeks or even days to be created. | | | | is still needed to recognize appropriate plants, minerals, |
| Going back to vegetable dyes, when we look under a | | | | etc. that will give us the colors and their different |
| microscope, unlike chemically dyed wool, we will see | | | | intensities. In some countries, the lack of knowledge on |
| that there are variations of color throughout the wool | | | | harvesting and processing the plants limits the utilization |
| itself. It is this variation of color that gives the Persian | | | | of this natural and renewable resource. However, in |
| and Oriental rug its warmth and beauty and offers us | | | | countries such as India, Nigeria and Liberia, this |
| the benefit of a soothing calm. Plus, the designs that | | | | research has been done extensively, therefore, there |
| are inspired directly from nature impart in us a spiritual | | | | is easy accessibility of natural dyeing and natural dyes |
| awareness of our surrounding. It is very easy for me | | | | and mordant are used widely. |
| to sit and observe my rugs and see in every knot | | | | Today, even though natural dyeing is becoming more |
| something different and something new. This fills me | | | | and more popular, Persian and Oriental rugs use some |
| with inner quietness and calm after a long hard day at | | | | sort of chemical stabilizers that will render the natural |
| work. | | | | colors so much richer. In her book "Rugs to Riches", |
| Since the Bronze Age, The dyeing techniques have | | | | Caroline Bosly claims that when a small amount of |
| been used in many countries and continents. Primitive | | | | synthetic dye is mixed to the vegetable dye, this will |
| dyeing methods were very simple and practical. They | | | | result in a rich and vivid color, thus adding to the beauty |
| simply involved either sticking a plant onto a material or | | | | of the rug itself. In no way, this will take away from the |
| rubbing broken pigment to the cloth. With time, the | | | | value of the rug. She also says that it is important to |
| procedures became more sophisticated and dipping | | | | test for soundness of the dye with a white |
| the fabric in a bath of boiling liquid of crushed fruits, | | | | handkerchief. Spit on the handkerchief and rub it on |
| berries and other plants were developed. This | | | | each individual color. If the handkerchief stays white, |
| technique gave the color light and fastness. | | | | that means that the color is sound and there is no |
| Natural dyes can be made from different parts of | | | | bleeding. However, when you are buying a Tribal rug |
| plants, such as leaves and stems, twigs and pruning, | | | | or carpet and the handkerchief changes the color |
| flower heads, barks, roots, outer skins, hulls and husks, | | | | slightly, that is because the nomads dye their wools |
| heartwood and wood shavings, berries and seeds. | | | | themselves and they don't wash them thoroughly. |
| They can also be produced by animals such as lichens | | | | Consequently, a lot of loose dye remains which you |
| or insects. | | | | need to wash off. In this case, it is better to take the |
| Different colors can be obtained from different plants | | | | rug to a professional Persian and Oriental rug cleaner |
| and their by-products. For example, red can be made | | | | that will do a good job, without ruining the carpet. |