Have you ever seen a handmade rug and wondered about the different color variations on the surface? Well, it’s far from a flaw and is among the best things about Persian and oriental handmade rugs made of wool. Here is what to know about abrash.

What Is Abrash In Rugs?

Handmade and even hand-knotted rugs have a special characteristic that makes them so loved and sought-after by rug connoisseurs.

It is the appearance of abrash. But what is abrash? Abrash, an Arabic word that translates to “mottled”, is defined as a natural discoloration in the rug. It can be horizontal and this tells you whether the rug you’re buying is real or not. If you see raw wool up close, you can clearly see that it is not stark white.

While treatments can alter wool’s color, there’s nothing like authentic wool used to make rugs. This is something that a lot of people see on their rugs. Even though the rug strands are dyed, the abrash still shows through and it tells you that the rug you have is not, by any means, fake. It is made out of real wool that hasn’t been treated.

Abrash in rugs is a cherished quality and is something that a lot of people want to see in their floor décor. Another great thing about abrash is the fact that it deepens as it gets older, so you might not see it right away, especially in a new rug, but that doesn’t mean that it’s not there. And this is why you see abrash more clearly in vintage rugs.

What Is The Significance Of Abrash?

Many people might have this question looming over their heads and that is: Why is a random discoloration in a rug so unique and important? Well, while it certainly adds a layer of uniqueness to the look of the rug, it is more so for authenticity and the sole satisfaction of the buyer that the rug they’re buying is real and made out of untreated wool.

Abrash is something that occurs naturally and it might be the yellowish and slightly faded discoloration of the wool, which is then dyed and used to knot the rug, but as time goes on, the abrash shows its true form and it is just a very eccentric and unique way to categorize a real wool rug from a fake one.

So, abrash is a very distinct characteristic of an authentic Persian or oriental rug made of wool and it is something that is loved by rug owners. So much so that in vintage rugs, the first thing people with an eye for detail look for is the presence of abrash. It is such a great way to tell whether the rug is actually antique or is it made antique by force or scam.

Abrash Can Be Difficult To Notice In Light-Colored Rugs

As far as colors are concerned, abrash can be hard to detect in certain rugs because of the colors. If the rug color is already light and neutral, then it won’t show on the rug, which might be a good or bad thing depending on what you like.

Regardless, abrash is not something that you need to be thrown off by. It is a naturally occurring characteristic of the material that is used to make these rugs and it is proof that you’re getting the real deal. Just like is the case with handmade rugs being imperfect but still so popular, abrash is also a slightly misunderstood quality of rugs that holds great value underneath its faded exterior.

Authentic Vs. Fake Abrash

Where there are authentic things, fake ones aren’t far away. This is sadly how the world works, but since you’re living in it, you want to know exactly how to combat these dupes and not fall for them. Yes, you heard it right. Abrash can be faked and people use a variety of different color-fading materials to make it happen. It is a meticulous process, even for a scam, and it is done carefully to ensure that it looks like the real thing.

Here are some things you can look out for when it comes to identifying fake and real abrash.

Real Abrash Is Random And Sporadic

Real abrash will will be present in the most random of places and if you really want to get a better look at the discoloration, you can flip the rug and see whether the discoloration is only on the surface or does it penetrate all the way down to the very strand of the rug. If it is only present on the surface, then it is most likely faded from the sun.

The Color Of Abrash

Another thing you want to look at is the color of the abrash. The color is not very far off from the natural look of wool. Real abrash looks like discolored wool and the difference is quite slight, but you will be able to notice it. If things look a bit dodgy to you and it looks crisp and very detailed, then it is probably fake.

Real Abrash Becomes More Visible With Each Cleaning

Lastly, you can tell a real abrash from a fake one by cleaning it. Yes, you read that right. When you clean the rug, real abrash will naturally occur more and more. It is the dye that is being washed away and the real discoloration of the wool is surfacing.

When you clean a rug with a fake abrash, it won’t spread or increase in intensity. It will just stay the same and that’s how you know that the rug you have has probably been artificially faded by either sunlight or something else.

So, these are the signs that you need to look out for. Woolen rugs are already quite expensive and you don’t want to get duped by spending your money on a rug that doesn’t even have real abrash.

What Causes Abrash in Rugs?

As stated earlier, abrash is an imperfection, but as it’s common in rugs that are made by using manual rug making techniques and genuine wool along with natural dyes, that it has become a way to spot genuine antique and tribal rugs and people look for it when buying these rugs. But let’s know why abrash appears in rugs.

The Type Of Wool Used In Rug Making

All wool is not the same even from the same sheep. The exposed part of the wool in sheep, called Breech wool, is considered of lower quality as it gets affected by sun, soil, and moisture. That’s why it doesn’t take dye that consistently and creates abrash later. But keep in mind that it’s still actual wool.

Wool Cleaning

Wool needs to be cleaned properly before using for anything. If the cleaning is not properly done, wool will have impurities that won’t absorb color completely and lead to abrash.

Handmade Rugs

Rugs that are handmade and not machine-made are never consistent and because of that, their color absorption varies in different parts of the same rug. This creates a perfect imperfection that rug enthusiasts adore. So, in that way, abrash just shows that it’s actually a genuine handmade rug made by real wool and natural dyes.

Conclusion

Abrash is a beautiful and natural discoloration of rug that will make you fall in love with the authentic beauty of hand-knotted antique rugs VA. If you don’t believe imperfections can be beautiful, see a handmade wool rug.