| The variations found in rugs and kilims around the | | | | characteristic. The use of them was not limited to a |
| world are amazing and beautiful.The color | | | | specific area but spread throughout the world. In the |
| combinations present in a kilim or persian rug make it | | | | last years of the nineteenth century aniline dyes were |
| appealing to the eye and a wonderfully decorative | | | | strongly acidic which damaged the quality of the rug |
| work of art. Each color hides a meaning which | | | | by destroying the natural oil in the wool causing the rug |
| contributesto it's fascination. | | | | to wear off in no time. In addition, the colors ran when |
| Yellow: weld, vine leaves or pomegranate peel. | | | | the kilim was washed or faded if the rug was |
| produces muted gold | | | | exposed to sunlight. Because of these problems, aniline |
| Brown : walnut shells or oak bark | | | | dyes are not used as much as they used to be. |
| Green: combination of weld and indigo | | | | Nowadays they are used in the dyeing of inferior |
| Purple: hollyhocks | | | | quality rugs. |
| Black: walnuts Larkspur: plant | | | | If you do not know whether your precious kilim or |
| Henna: leaves and flowers | | | | persian style rug was aniline dyed. You should rub a |
| An observation should be made regarding slight | | | | damp cloth over the pile. If the rug was dyed with a |
| changes in color usually seen in older rugs for this | | | | good-quality vegetable or chemical dye it will not rub |
| happens when the weaver starts weaving with a yarn | | | | off onto the cloth, but if it does then your rug has been |
| from a different dye lot than the one previously used | | | | dyed with aniline. |
| .This peculiarity is common when working with natural | | | | Synthetic Dyes: Chrome Dyes At present, oriental rugs |
| dyes since it is quite difficult to get an exact color | | | | are dyed with Chrome dyes. In contrast to natural |
| match. Fortunately, this condition does not affect the | | | | dyes, these are simpler to use, quite cheaper and their |
| value of the rug. It may in fact increase it's value. | | | | dye is much easier to match. Chrome dyes offer a |
| It is very common on tribal rugs to see this variation in | | | | greater range of shades and colors which are |
| color and is a unique characteristic of hand made rugs. | | | | colorfast. The natural oils of the wool are not removed |
| The exact "recipe" used by a particular rug maker | | | | so the kilim will not be worn off as fast as an aniline |
| was a closely guarded secret which passed from | | | | dyed one. |
| generation to generation, or sometimes died with the | | | | Although chrome dyes are widely used, in the past |
| passage of time and the rug maker. | | | | there were also complaints with them because their |
| The nomads who made kilims could not produce a | | | | colors were harsher than the hues of natural dyes. |
| large batch of dye, therefore sometimes the color | | | | This was corrected by the implementation of a light |
| would vary from lot to lot in that way as well.Also the | | | | chemical wash which is done to most rugs before |
| type and quality of wool was a factor in the final color | | | | being exported to ensure the richness of the rug. |
| result. Long ago dyers realized that as more wool was | | | | Rugs which are dyed in this way can never achieve |
| dyed in a single dyepot, colors became weaker and | | | | the soft hue of a rug which is dyed with a natural dye. |
| weaker. Dyers use this notion of depleted dyes to their | | | | The rug fades a bit over time, depending on it's |
| advantage. The first dyeing produces a deep, strong | | | | exposure to the sun and general use, but the color |
| color. Subsequent dyeings in the same dyepot produce | | | | which it achieves as a result is warm and unobtainable |
| lighter, softer colors | | | | in any other way. The next time you look at your |
| Synthetic Dyes: Aniline Dyes | | | | treasured rug or kilim, think of how it was dyed and |
| Aniline dyes were speedily adopted in the carpet | | | | appreciate it's beauty all the more. Kilims and rugs are |
| industry due to their low cost and easy-to-use | | | | wonderful to behold! |