Rug Gallery – During Restoration

Reconstructed outlines are filled in with new brown pile. Restoring a rug is more difficult than creating a new oneWe matched the color and the diameter of the new thread to the old thread.Motifs are patiently filled in one after another.We rebuild the cotton foundationA large portion of the pistachio green background border is restored to its original glory.The foundation of almost all the brown areas has been restoredNow we start restoring the pile of the worn blue areasAlmost the entire tree trunk has new cotton warp nowWhen no identical motif survives trained eye and hand reimagine the originalThe same thin thread will look seemless with the rest of the rugTo keep the restored rug uniform thinness a fine needle recreates the knot. This tecnique is called keshmeerReplacement of cotton thread is done from the face of the rugThe reconstruction of new brown motifs over new white foundation blend with the original patina of the rugThe work is progressing in brown areas. The foundation weft and warp of the trunk of the tree is being reconstructedMore motifs are reconstructed. It is beginning to look like a real tree nowLoving attention continues to bring back missing motifHowever the result is rewardingEvery inch of this rug requires exceptional patience.The upper part of the trunk has been our visual guide to restore the lower section.The work of repiling is progressing in brown areasDuring the repiling the foundation is covered with wool yarn dyed to match with the original colors of the rugA single thread left is separated into three strands right to obtain a thread thin enough to repair this rugHealthy plush of the original part of the rug serves as our guide to restore the damaged partsThe hook is over new warps and under new weft. The technique of Persian knotting involves an especially durable foundationThe previous repair with red yarn is redone properly by sarbafiSometimes we spend hours working on one square centimeter of this fine rugIn sarbafi both ends of the rug are connected warp by warpHere the hook is inserted under the warpsReconstruction of the fringe requires a technique called sarbafi as shown here.After completing the warps now we start replacing weftAfter the hole is filled in with new warp and weft repiling begins from the face of the rug. For every motif different color of yarn is used.The tiny space between two rows of warp is shown hereAfter remade warps are complete new wefts close up the gap.In a single square inch numerous knots are tied togetherTo repair the hole warps are connected together from the backKeshmeer is done by inserting a needle under two warpStrong new weft and warp in the brown areaHorizontal knots restore this area in the technique called keshmeeThe shiny white threads are our new work. The remade wool pile will cover it