Iran Traditional colors

After reviewing the history of color and painting and other arts, we find that Iranian has used different colors, paintings and designs efficiently and there are many valuable masterpieces related to before and after Islam emerging which have improved dyeing and color industry by exploration and discovery.

Iran’s geographical climate is the reason of combining the science of color with Iranian taste and verve and resulted in a traditional culture and knowledge which has transferred from body to body and among generations, like the other sciences and technics.

Traditional colors before Islam

Before emerging of Islam, Iranian knew well about dyeing industry and colors, as some samples of Iranian ancient colored things has found. According to the will Durant history, during digging in Shoosh, some wall paintings found which show several archers who wear bright clothes with several colors. Example of existing the element from historical primary ages, are some parts of colored Felt fabrics related to Achaemenian.
Baharestan historical carpet such a myth is an example of color and dying industry of Iran. The other name of Baharestan carpet is Bahar Khosro carpet from Tisfoon Palace. This carpet is a great symbol of Iranian dying and knitting art before Islam.

Traditional colors after Islam

After Islam also the color and painting was attractive for Iranian and this art and technic was common and completed gradually. Although the influence of in Asia and Europe civilization on Iranian for learning the art of color played the major role, but this knowledge integrated with Iranian taste and talents and transferred body to body as a traditional knowledge and culture and Have been preserved and subjected to the changes.
After the Mongol invasion to Iran, and Timurid reign, dyeing activity was stopped; but at the end of this period, the activity could restore its prior brightness and then at the beginning of Safavid dynasty achieved its brilliance and grandeur age.
materials Iranian use for dyeing and staining include: Mud or clay, alum, madder, Nil, Resin obtained from trees, skin and fruit of trees such as walnuts and pomegranate bark, straw, henna, lemon juice and grape leaves and some things like that. From tenth and eleventh centuries, there are some carpets around the world which are masterpiece of Iranians design, coloring and dyeing.
From twelfth to the end of thirteen century, was one of the brightest ages in color art and calico in Iran. Printing on textile by mold started from that age. Elites and rich people wear excellent calico clothes. Horses had colorful harnesses and ornaments and tents had covered by interesting painted textiles.
Using curtains, walls covered with calico textiles, making Taq Nosrt and crossings with colored and beautiful textiles, calico prayer mats, tablecloths, bundle of brides and women, all are examples of skill of Iranian artists in industry of painting and dying the textiles.
They used natural herbal colors in calico workshops. Till nineteen century, they dyed sheep skins with vegetable colors in bright yellow, red and purple.
, according to the Mir Ali Heravi thesis,” Mdadol khotoot “and “Sratol sotoor “, about dying the paper, it is mentioned to use Arabic soot and gum, tenderloin, Henna , Moord leaves, transplanting and harvesting of saffron, and in the vermilion of alum and marshmallow, hair, bran, rice, sulfur, mercury, matches, water of Pomegranate, glue, grape vinegar, water of yogurt, buttermilk, gum were used that all material are natural.