Painted rugs have different colors back and front
The practice of altering colors in Oriental rugs by using chemicals began during the economic boom of the 1920s. This was a time when newly rich Americans began buying rugs in earnest from Persia and Turkey. The altered colors made them more desirable to the U.S. market. A dear friend of mine calls them “old painted ladies,” an amusing name and a pretty good description of washed and painted antique carpets.
While Europeans always bought older carpets, American demand strained the supply. That’s when dealers began modifying the colors in new carpets by putting them through a chemical or bleach wash and then redyeing them by hand, with colors sought after by the U.S. market.
There is a certain vogue for painted rugs as their altered colors appeal to many collectors. But rugs in good, original condition are still far more desirable and valuable than any that have been painted, especially if the recoloring is inexpert or uneven. The painted sarouk above, (3’ x 5’, ca. 1930) may be worth $1000 while the rose sarouk (3’6” x 5’, ca 1905), about $3000.
Signs of dye transfer in the gold flower petals [L] Back of same rug shows true color [R]
During the bleaching process the dark colors became lighter. However, the lightest colored fibers were often bleached out entirely, which is why they needed to be re-colored by hand. If the work was less than perfect, or the dye carelessly applied, it is easy to see where one color bled into another, particularly when the dye was not kept within the lines of a design. Dye applied too heavily or unevenly resulted in a splotchy appearance. Many old rugs will fade naturally and gracefully with their hues simply mellowing over time. Ironically, a painted rug carries the reminders of the chemical alteration with bold, and sometimes garish or harsh colors that may never change.
Today, when dealers find painted rugs, many will simply shrug and roll their eyes. One of my dealer friends always shakes his head and mumbles “what a shame.” Oddly, I’ve shown a painted Sarouk to prospective buyers and they often say how much they love the vibrant colors. So painted rugs remain in our history and are still collectible.
