Why Are the Colors in My Area Rug Uneven? – Prescott Valley AZ
Have you noticed that the colors in some of your area rugs are uneven and have variation to them? Why are there two (or more) shades of blue in your rug when it’s supposed to be just blue? Why does it look uneven!?
This condition is called abrash and the dictionary defines it:
abrash : a·brash (ä-bräsh′, ə-bräzh′) n.: The natural and variable change in color that occurs in an Oriental rug over time when different dies are used.
[Arabic, mottled, possibly of Persian origin.]
It’s pretty easy to show the abrash in this section of the area rug shown here. Sometimes there is a much more subtle variation in colors. If it is more subtle, a client may pick up their cleaned area rug and comment on how they never noticed the color variation in their rug before. This could be a matter of the client having never paid much attention to the little details in their rug.
It could also be that the colors appeared to be more even when the rug was new. Over time, though, the dyes oxidize and fade differently. The accumulation of dry soil can mask these changes as they happen. Cleaning of course removes this soil and uncovers color variation that can be much more noticeable.
Village and Tribal rugs most often have Abrash in them because they are made with small batches of dyed wool and the environment is not able to be controlled as much as it would be in a large rug manufacturing plant. When making a Village or Tribal rug, a weaver may run out of one batch of wool and simply grab another batch of wool without a second thought as to a different dye lot changing the color slightly.
Did you know that abrash is highly sought after?
Abrash adds to the one-of-a-kind look that hand-made rugs offer. In fact, some machine-made rugs are made with purposeful color variations to mimic abrash.
Enjoy all the unique variations that your rugs have to offer! That’s what makes them one-of-a-kind and so loved by people around the world! I’m Ruthie with Arizona Oriental & Specialty Rug Care in Prescott AZ and I hope you enjoyed this little introduction to abrash & have found another reason to love your rug!
Till next time, enjoy your beautiful art for your floor and remember a clean rug is a rug that can last you a lifetime!
Arizona Oriental & Specialty Rug Care serves Prescott Valley, Prescott, Sedona and much of the Northern Arizona areas. We meet the highest standards in professional cleaning of area rugs with rug wash specialists having earned the highest training, including certification as WOOLSAFE FIBRE CARE SPECIALISTS through the WOOLSAFE ORGANISATION. Such extraordinary certification ensures the area rugs of our client’s receive the utmost in care.
Call us for additional information on Abrash 928-445-1718, visit our website at www.ArizonaOriental.com, or stop by Monday through Friday 10:00 am to 5:00 pm at our rug washing facility at 565 EZ Street, Prescott, AZ 86301 (pick-up and delivery also available). (03-21-17)
