New Year, New Color!

A relatively uncommon dye in oriental rugs, this year’s Pantone color of the year is Viva Magenta! Magenta dye is made from the Cochineal, an insect that primarily lives on cactus and creates a more purple red dye than madder. After the Spanish conquered the Canary Islands in the 1500s, trade routes were established throughout India, Persia and Anatolia. By 1550 this hue was introduced to the oriental rug trade. Magenta can be found in a variety of antique rugs. From Turkish Ghiordes, to Chinese Deco, to Indian Agra.

Robert Kime