Abrash naturally occurs in handmade rugs and often shows authenticity of handwoven and hand-dyed pieces. It is a unique feature that, in addition to design and pattern, boasts intentional and unintentional colourations and variations.
Abrash adds a further interest to handmade Oriental rugs and kilims as a timeless characteristic. When you discover abrash in an Oriental rug or kilim, it is not a fault, but something distinctive and unique, subtle or pronounced. It holds artistic value as an immediate colour expression of the handmade nature of a piece, that is often sought after; recognisable and appreciated.
What is the abrash effect?
The most common hallmark of abrash is the distinctive variation of tones of colour (with either a sudden or subtle gradation) in an area where there is no intended pattern change.
These different colourations, sometimes unexpected, but respected, are essentially aesthetically atmospheric utilised variations on a colour theme. Just like all rugs, carpets and kilims that are unique, so is the individuality of abrash.
Anything made by the human hand with creativity, imagination and inventiveness of skilled artisans (spinning, dyeing wool and weaving) creates variations and an artistic spectrum that is also expressed physically in abrash.
Abrash is often seen in seemingly ‘uniform’ areas of ground or fields of pieces where infinitesimal variations of colour can be discovered.
Exploring tribal rugs and Gabbeh rugs, this glorious aspect of abrash can be enjoyed in many expressive areas!
It is always found in bands/stripe in large or small areas across the width of the rug.
Enjoying abrash is noticing these infinite variations of colour from one batch of yarn that is not directly related to pattern planning.
How does abrash occur?
There are several factors that contribute to the creation of abrash. It’s all about the variables and conditions in the creation of handmade pieces. Hand spun wool and yarns are not necessarily uniform and take up dyes in different ways. This can be due to the thickness of the yarn, the different amounts of the fat lanolin in sheep’s wool, as well as different amounts of minerals in water and mordants.
The art of dyeing and colour variations are all part of the fascinating process of spinning and dyeing. Naturally dyed wool, particularly in nomadic life, is wool dyed and woven in smaller batches. The effect of abrash can often be discovered in these pieces where wool may have been washed or dyed at different times or locations, or as different quality batches of wool.
The Allure of Abrash
One of the most interesting and alluring facts about the expression of abrash is that in many rugs the effect can be enjoyed immediately as the piece is woven; adding depth and interest, or over time they can also appear!
The colour may seem the same at first, but over time, with the life of the rug, exposure to sunlight, wear and use, the wool may incrementally change.
The dyes may mellow and soften from these batches and changing and beautifying at different rates and intensities. This can often be seen in antique rugs.
Materials such as hand spun, hand dyed and handwoven pieces invite these characteristics of variation of hue akin to painting or music. These subtle variations of tonality and colour-shift express true chromaticism.
Even in some modern impressive pieces the effect of abrash occurs naturally, but also its effect can be enhanced by clever designs and artisanal colour choices.
So, in addition to a weaver’s skill and spontaneity, abrash adds further aesthetic value.
The phenomenon of Abrash has always been known to weavers and connoisseurs of rugs.
We hope our ‘reflection on abrash’ offers a deeper and richer understanding of this feature in Oriental Rugs and Kilims as equally as Abrash itself adds richer colourations and variations to the pieces themselves.
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