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Recommended Reading A Tabriz masterpeice Grandchildren and great grandchildren of a master weaver see a rug he produced 91 years later! Dyes Natural Dye Natural dyes are derived from plant materials and insects such as indigo, madder, oak, sumac, pomegranate, cochineal and larkspur. Before the 1870s, they were the only source used to dye wool. Since the invention of synthetic dyes, there has been a great deal of debate about which type of dye produces a more beautiful and investment-worthy rug. Natural dyes tend to gently fade with time and therefore produce a sought after patina. 
Aniline Dye Aniline dyes are very acidic and often corrode the fibers in a rug. This type of dye was developed in 1856 and is no longer used. Acid Dye Acid dyes are cheap to make, but the colors run. Chrome Dyes In the 1920s and 1930s, chrome dyes became a more reliable alternative to aniline. These synthetic dyes are more steadfast and have a much wider spectrum of colors to choose from. Chrome dyes bind to the wool with potassium bicarbonate, which resists fading and does not weaken the wool. There are hundreds of chrome colors to choose from so many colors are possible that just cannot happen with natural dye. The Ardabil Carpet(s) 
Said to be the world's oldest dated carpet, the Ardabil carpet was completed in 1539-40. It is named after the town of Ardabil in north-west Iran. Shah Tahmasp, the ruler of Iran between 1524 and 1576, ordered the carpet for the shrine of his ancestor, Shaykh Safi al-Din. (The shrine still stands in the town.) The carpet remained in use there for over 300 years.
The Ardabil carpet is very large, measuring roughly 34½ feet by 17½ feet (10.5 meters by 5.3 meters). Its size and beauty, together with its outstanding historical significance, makes it the most important carpet in the Victoria and Albert Museum, and one of the finest in the world. This most famous of Persian carpets has been copied numerous times in size from small rugs to full scale carpets. Among others, there is a replica in 10 Downing Street.
The two Ardabil carpets were still in the shrine of Shaykh Safi al-Din in 1843, when one was noted in the dairy of a British visitor. Thirty years or more later, the shrine was in need of repair, apparently from an earthquake, and the carpets were sold off to raise funds for those repairs.
Read More The World's Oldest Rug
The oldest surviving pile carpet in the world is called the "Pazyryk Carpet", dating from 500 BC. It was excavated in 1949 from a Siberian burial ground where it had been preserved in ice in the valley of Pazyryk. The origin of this carpet is attributed to either the Siberian Turkic groups, Scythians or the Persian Achaemenids. This carpet is 6'6" x 6' (200 x 183 cm) and has 360,000 knots/m² Today this 2500 year old rug is in the Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg, Russia. The carpet is highly sophisticated, with floral, geometric, and pictorial designs, indicating many generations of technique development. This legendary piece is excellent testimony to the durability of the weaver's art and it is worked in a style of knot that is still used today. And be sure to read this fascinating article about the Pazryk carpet.Pazyryk Carpet, the Oldest Known Carpet Ever: An Animal Carpet Be sure to see these comments on other items found with the Pazryk carpet. |
The tradition of carpet weaving predates written history and there is no proof of where or when the first carpets were made. Academics and experts will present theories, but it is very unlikely that the whole story of the development of this art will ever be known.