Education
The Pazyryk Rug and The Scythians
The Pazyryk Rug captivates our imagination because of its sophistication of weave, color and design and the fact that it is the oldest rug in existence. Found in 1949 on the steppes of Mongolia in a Scythians Prince’s tomb, the Pazyryk Rug along with other textiles had been frozen for over 2500 years.
An Age-Old Tradition
Vegetable dyeing -
DOBAG project.
The term "Oriental rug" refers specifically to a variety of hand-knotted or hand-woven textiles of natural fiber produced in the vast area stretching from North Africa to China. Included in this territory are Spain, Egypt, Romania, Turkey (Anatolia), the Caucasus, Iran (Persia), Afghanistan, Pakistan, Turkestan, India, East Central Asia, and China. All Oriental rugs are named after the city, village or tribal group from which the designs originated. From each of these settings, one derives different types of rugs.
The Art of Weaving
DOBAG weaver tying
knots .
The basic principles and techniques of rug weaving have changed little since ancient times. The materials most commonly used to weave Oriental rugs are sheep's wool, cotton or silk.
The Virtues of Vegetable Dyes
Collecting weld. Ayvacik 1981
by Dr. Harald Bohmer
On what is the beauty of natural dyes based? How have synthetic dyestuffs disturbed or even destroyed this palette of colors after breathing into Anatolia more than a hundred years ago? Do we have to return to a pre-scientific era evoking mystic powers of dyeing with plants and beetles — as is nowadays suggested in many booklets dealing with natural dyeing —or do we even have to seek in color the "soul of nature" in order to answer these questions?
Dye Plants in Western Anatolia (Turkey)
Chamomile Plant.
by Dr. Harold Bohmer
Producing Blue
Among natural dyes for blue, Indigo has no serious competitors. Beautiful and lightfast - even under desert sun - Indigo has been used for four thousand years. ...
More...
- Decorating the Home or Office - Oriental rugs compliment many settings.
- Buying an Oriental Rug - How to buy a handmade Persian rug.
- Textile Glossary - Definitions of common handmade textile types and terminology.
- Oriental Rug Glossary - Definitions of common rug types and terminology.