Oriental Rugs Glossary

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Vegetable Dyes

Vegetable Dyes became very rare in Oriental rugs. Since ca. 1850 synthetic dyes found their way into carpet production. Ever since they replaced natural vegetable dyes more and more also due to the fact that the production of vegetable dyes is very time consuming and difficult. But the "aura of genuineness" can be reached to its full extent with vegetable dyes only. Vegetable dyes are made from leaves, flowers, branches, fruits and roots. They give Oriental rugs a particularly harmonic look. In general Oriental rugs "age" better and more beautifully with vegetable dyes than with synthetic dyes plus they increase a carpet's value. Most of today's production is made with synthetic dyes which makes this rug an even more desirable piece. Unfortunately many rugs in the market are being labeled as being vegetable dyed which in many colors is simply not true which damages the reputation of the carpet industry altogether.