Wool for Oriental Rugs: Lanolin, Highland Wool, Care

#Wool: fleece from the living sheep

Wool, in this strict sense, is the fleece a living sheep gives at its annual shearing. The term sets it apart from reclaimed wool, which is recovered from old textiles, and from blends stretched with other fibres. For high-quality oriental rugs, only pure new wool counts. It is classified by sheep breed, the altitude of the pasture, and the time of year of shearing. Wool from high pastures is denser and more resilient than wool from the lowlands, because the harsh climate makes the fibre grow more compact. From this highland wool come the most durable rugs.

#Lanolin: the natural secret

Lanolin is the wool grease sheep produce themselves to keep their fleece water-repellent. Some of it remains in the washed wool, and that residue is exactly what makes a wool rug practical. Lanolin keeps water, coffee, or red wine from soaking straight into the fibre. You have a few seconds to a couple of minutes to lift a spill before it does real damage. There is a second, often overlooked property: wool is hygroscopic. It absorbs up to 30 percent of its own weight in moisture from the air without feeling damp, and releases it again when the heating dries the room. A wool rug regulates indoor climate, quietly but noticeably. Aggressive cleaners wash the lanolin out and leave the fibre permanently more vulnerable.

#Cork wool, lambswool, and blends

In the trade you encounter several wool grades under their own names. Cork wool is the finest, softest fraction, taken from the shoulders and flanks of younger sheep. It suits very fine knots and has a silky shine, but it pills more than tougher grades. Lambswool comes from a sheep's first shearing, usually six to seven months old. It is softer and shorter in fibre. Standard wool from the second shearing year and later is the workhorse for robust knotted rugs. Some makers blend wool with silk to set sheen accents in single pattern areas. Look for the woolmark or the designation "pure new wool". The proportions decide feel and lifespan.

#Where the best knotting wool comes from

Three regions deliver the world's finest knotting wool. The Persian highlands, especially the provinces of Khorasan and Fars, yield wool with an exceptionally long staple. It keeps its spring for decades and forms the basis of the classic Persian knotted rug. Afghan Ghazni wool from the central highlands is considered the most rugged, traditionally used for Baluch, Khal Mohammadi, and Ziegler rugs. From Tibet comes a wool with particularly high lanolin content; it gives Tibetan rugs their typical glossy, almost silken handle. Alongside these, New Zealand crossbred wools are widely used today, especially in modern workshops in India and Pakistan. They are lighter, more uniform, and dye particularly cleanly, but lack the staple length of Iranian highland wool.

#Care and lifespan

A well-knotted wool rug lasts 50 years and more under moderate use. Vacuum it once a week with a soft brush attachment, ideally in the direction of the pile. Rotate the rug every six to twelve months so that sun and footfall act evenly. Blot stains immediately with lukewarm water, never rub, and avoid aggressive cleaners that would wash out the lanolin. A professional cleaning every three to five years is sensible. Over time, wool develops a characteristic patina in which individual knots wear slightly and the colours blend more softly. This patina does not reduce value. With many collector rugs, it raises it.

Wool

#Wool: fleece from the living sheep

#Lanolin: the natural secret

#Cork wool, lambswool, and blends

#Where the best knotting wool comes from

#Care and lifespan

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