An Old Technique Brings New Style to Handknotted Rugs
Hi/lo, erased technique, vintage...these are all names for a process that's becoming more popular in the production of hand-knotted rugs.
What is it? Basically, it departs from the basic flat-top of the rug's pile to create different heights in the pile.
It may be to make the rug look older. It may be incorporated into the design just to give it texture. It may offset elements in the design to give them prominence, make them pop.
How It's Done
Our weavers utilize basically two techniques to create the vintage hi-lo technique. The first takes advantage of the different characteristics of wool and silk.
Naresh Gadia, rug maker from India, explains it this way, "The technique of oxidizing carpet was used by emperors hundreds of years ago. Recently this technique came back. In the construction, first they wash the carpet three times so that the wool looses it's strength. They then use a procedure to eliminate almost all of the wool and leaves mostly silk as this process does not affect silk. The look of the carpet is very textured and antiqued to look like a classic rug."
Orange Gold
We reflect sunlight at a very acute angle across the length of Orange/Gold to accentuate the texture. In real life the texture is obvious without the lighting.
Here's another look at Orange/Gold. The rug's designer gives us topographical features as well as a great color experience.
Blue/Brown
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The effect of the antiquing on Blue/Brown is much more subtle. It seems to add depth to the pile.
The indentations seems to be random as this close-up shows.
Weaving and Shearing
Another way of creating texture and a vintage, aged look is with basic weaving and shearing. A skilled shearer can create hills and valleys in the pile to achieve the desired textural component of the rug's designers. It reminds us of a barber with attitude buzzing a flattop.
An aged effect can also be achieved by looping the wool around the strands of the weft, suggesting that the rug has been worn down to the base.
White on Water Blue
In this favorite, the white foliage and floral elements are in silk in raised pilings. They shine!
Red on Green
The makers employed high and low shearing and looped wool on the base to achieve an antique look.
Red on Green with texture
The side lighting shows multi-layers of texture. Again in real life one needs no radical side lighting to enjoy the structure of the pile.