Oriental Rugs Dictionary

Ikat

A process in which fabric designs ae created by tie dyeing warps and/or wefts before they are used in the loom. A fabric produced in this manner.

During the 19 Century Uzbeks, and Tajiks wove silk Ikats for robe like outer garments, called Chapan or Chirpi. They used tie dyed warps which tend to produce a vertical smearing of the design. Using an Ikat textile as a backing for a nice Suzani was a common practice.

Ikat patterns influenced the designs of some Turkoman rugs as well as Caucasian Kazaks.

For Ikat rugs in our inventory click here