Collector guide · 7 min
Natural and synthetic dyes in Iranian textiles
Editorial team · updated 2026-09-29
Natural dyes
Traditional dyes include madder (reds), indigo (blues), weld and pomegranate rind (yellows) and walnut husk (browns).
Synthetic dyes
Synthetic dyes arrived in the late 19th century. Early ones sometimes faded or ran; modern chrome dyes are stable.
Telling them apart
Colour alone is a poor guide. Lab testing is the reliable method. Abrash and soft fading can point to small batches but not to a dye type.
Related photographs
Representative photographs, not of any specific catalogued object. Sources on the credits page.