Handmade Oriental carpets and rugs are often woven with wool and silk that has been either naturally or synthetically coloured. These dyes have differing levels of colour-fastness, and some may be susceptible to bleeding or colour-run if exposed to excess water or liquid.
Vegetable dyes have traditionally been used in Oriental rug making for centuries. Made from locally gathered plants, they are a link to the landscape that is woven into each piece. The colour tends to fade more quickly with vegetable dyes, creating gently washed tones that are much desired by collectors and designers alike.
There is a difference in whether a colour fades or bleeds, and for the latter we offer a full colour-run correction service for all carpets rugs and runners. We have the ability and expertise to remove almost any level of colour-run – gently lifting the offending dye and then carefully returning the piece to its pre-damaged condition.
Most colour run correction is carried out on either Persian or Afghan rugs and the primary culprit is often the shades of deep red that can leach into white or ivory areas creating a light pink colouring. We carefully remove this excess colour, and then wash the wool or silk back to the purity of its original hue.
