Up until the mid Nineteenth Century, Persian carpets were knotted with wool coloured by natural dye-stuffs. This process was considered an artform in itself and the knowledge of extraction was handed down from generation to generation.
A symbiotic relationship exists between the knotted carpet and the dyes themselves as a vessel of expression and the rich, variegated tones produced by the painstaking refinement of root, berry and shell add a soulfulness to that voice.
The process has dwindled over the years as chemical dyes have come to dominate the mainstream but the natural patina and harmonious aura achieved through the use of madder, indigo and saffron and the like cannot be replicated through even the most sophisticated of modern techniques.
The gathering of the crudest of plant forms and their transformation into such brilliant shades and subsequent application seems in keeping with the nomadic lifestyle held by these pastoral farmers, creating functional beauty as they move from arid to fertile landscapes.
The techniques of natural dyes and handspun wool is still used today, albeit alot more selectively. They are still identfiable in Loribaft Gabbeh works and in collections such as Zollanvari and more pointedly Miri, who have worked tirelessly to revive the original applications as part of their carpet rennaiscance. The best illustration is comparitive so please feel free to visit our showroom for further discussion.
