Dyeing
Decline in Weaving and Dyes
Before 1980s, the story of Turkish carpets was not happy one.
There was a decline in the standards of carpet weaving. There were several
reasons for that. First demand for the certain carpets designs changed and
collapsed. Secondly, the arrival of synthetic dyes and full-scale adoption of
their use cause some problems in quality and esthetical matters. Carpet
weavers had difficult times. Depression years, First and Second world wars
undermined the customers main production base. Important social changes in the
west also affected the carpets weaving. The number of multi roomed big houses
declined enormously. The priorities for the families changed. Oriental rugs
also fell out of fashion. In order, the meet the demands, carpet producers
tried to cut the cost and quality of the rugs dropped enormous way. The
arrival of chemical dyes was in 1860, but their common use was in 1870s. Their
use caused a disastrous effect on the quality of carpets. In addition to this,
the quality of weaving also changed. As the rural communities became poorer,
the need for the production of commercial carpets became urgent. Rugs were
woven for unknown end users, costs were cut and designs are adapted and
changed according to tastes of the customers
Dyer in Anatolian
Villages is very respected figure of the villages where people would consult
him for various matters. Following the tradition, information about dyes and
plants is handed down from father to son and stayed in the family. Since all
these dyes are in the nature and very easily reached by the nomads and
villagers, they have been used for centuries. Here some of the dyes used by
Turkish nomads and villagers:
Dyes Woad Civit
Otu
When this plant is
boiled, according to its boiling length. various tones of blue is obtained.
Dyes Woad grows wild in Central and Western Anatolia. Dyer Woad and some other
plants are used to yield indigo which is the oldest dye used in Anatolia.
Madder Root Kok
Boya
The roots of
Madder plant which grows wild in Central Anatolia is one of the best sources
for red color. Madder Plant which reaches the height of 1.5 meters in two
years gives various tones of red.
Walnut Ceviz Brown
Walnut tree which
is encountered every region of Turkey is the source of very attractive brown color. Walnut which reaches the height of 25 meters is native tree to Turkey.
Nearly 20% of the world walnut output is produced by Turkey. Fruit is covered
with thick rind which is used to obtain green and brownish-black shades. Coloring
agent is brow dye which adheres directly to wool fibers without a
mordant.
Pomegranate Nar
Yellow to Brownish
Yellow
Brown to Black
Pomegranate which
grows in every part of turkey is easily distinguished by its pinkish-violet colored
flowers. Fresh or dried skin of the fruit is used for dyeing.
According to mordant used along the skin, either yellowish brown or brownish
black colors obtained.
Buck Thorn Cehri
Plant
Deep yellow
This plant which
grows at 3000 meter altitude is the source of deep yellow color. It grows
mainly in Central Anatoia. The unripe fresh or dried fruits of the Buck Thorn
is used to contain the dye. When it is used with the alum mordant, deep yellow
color is obtained.
Spurge Sutlegen
Yellow Color
Spurge which grows
all over Turkey is source of yellow dye. All the parts of the plant except
roots are used for obtaining yellow color. spurge is used in Central and
Inner Western Anatolia for the cottage industry.
Wild Chamomile Papatya yellow color
Chamomile which
grows wildly on the western and southern Anatolia gives us excellent shades of
clear yellow, especially when it s used with alum mordant.
Sage three leaved
sage
Sage which grows
al over Mediterranean countries blossoms from march to August. Its leaves and
stams fresh or dried is good for obtaining yellow color.
Chemical Dyes
Chemical dyes were
first introduced into Persia and Turkey in the 19th century but results were
not so satisfactory because of fast fading. In 1903, strict precautions were
taken in Persia to stop the use of these aniline dyes. Persian government indicated that any work shop using these aniline dyes would be burnt down or
any weaver using these dyes would loose his right hand. These restrictions
made Persian weavers went back to natural dyes till the arrival of more
reliable chromium dyes which arrived between First and Second World Wars.
Today's chromium dyes are very reliable and they offer unlimited color palette.
