Majestic Persian Heriz (Serapi) Carpet

A Fine Serapi Carpet, Heriz Area, North West Persia, Wool on Cotton Foundation

Antique

 A fine Antique Serapi carpet, an open central medallion design with geometrically drawn flora forms in a range of soft colours, coral, pale blue, pale green and ivory shades and contrasting deep blue.

The coral field with a large blue central square medallion enclosing an ivory quatrefoil centre piece, linked to pale blue serrated edged pendants, all with angular vines issuing pastel polychrome palmettes flower heads and hooked leaves, ivory, coral and green stepped spandrels within a pale caramel border enclosing continuous turtle palmettes linked to flower heads with angular vines ending in hooked leaves

Persian Heriz carpets are highly distinctive, due to their very unique and distinguishable style of design. Heriz is a city located in North West Persia, near the city of Tabriz, which is one of the most historically important rug weaving centres in Persia with a weaving tradition dating back to the 16th Century. Most often, Persian Heriz carpets display oversized geometric medallions that are crisply delineated against a rich red, rust or dark blue field, and sometimes ivory back grounds are seen. The pattern is almost always geometric, although some Persian Heriz rugs have an all-over layout often with geometric floral motives combined with curvilinear floral forms. The classification of Heriz origin is applied to describe neighbouring town and village carpets following Heriz tradition. Since the Heriz ‘region’, is not too far from the Caucasus, many Persian Heriz carpets display similar colours and motif drawings to traditional tribal Caucasian rugs. The most common supporting colours are brownish red, light and dark pink, light and dark blue, greens, yellows and ivory. Blue and ivory are normally added to increase contrast. Persian Heriz carpets are sometimes described as Persian Serapi carpets, which is the trade name given to technically finer quality Persian Heriz carpets, thought to have been woven before 1900. The name Serapi originates from the village of Serab. It is also located in North West Persia and carpet designs made there are varied with an accent on traditional Caucasian and North West Persian Kurdish iconography.

This Antique Persian Serapi carpet presents a sophisticated composition in characteristic Heriz ‘region’ tradition. The definition of ‘Serapi’ is appropriate for this magnificent Heriz region carpet, based on the fine weave, open spacious design displaying grandiose primary pattern elements and the wonderful pale colour tones used. The formal design with central medallion is from traditional classical 17th Century Persian established format. The central flower head is placed over a quatrefoil layer which in turn is overlaid on a terracotta outer layer and finally framed in a magnificent contrasting deep blue pointed square outer layer; all these elements enclosing wonderful geometrically drawn floral elements including palmettes, mirrored trifoliate pendants all linked by angular vines. The juxtaposition of the deep blue outer layer of the central medallion and the subtle tones of the adjacent medallion colours and coral field colour is a master stroke in creating the most powerful, stunning visual impact ensuring that the medallion is clearly defined as the focal point of attention. The attached mirrored pendants are coloured in varying shades of pale blue and in the interests of continuity are drawn in a huge scale, which enhances the 0verall appearance of the field decoration. This magnificent Persian Serapi carpet displays characteristic angular vines linking a variety of stylised flora elements, all coloured in wonderful subtle shades including, pale blue, green, pale saffron and pale coral, juxtaposed on the coral field or ivory grounds, which confirm this Persian Serapi carpet to be a wonderful example of the genre. The main border is original and arguably a courageous addition in that the contrast between border and field is neglible in this Persian Serapi carpet which can diminish the appearance of the overall composition of a carpet. With such a field arrangement and colour range, the border colour would normally be contrasting, for instance using the deep blue colour as seen in the central medallion, and whilst the pattern details in the main border are often seen in Heriz or Serapi border embellishment, the pale caramel background border colour is a remarkable addition and rare in the scheme of things.

The terms, spectacular, majestic, stately, spacious and airy immediately spring to mind in respect of this exceptional Antique Persian Serapi carpet, which is a magnificent decorative example of the genre.

 Persian Heriz Carpet. This piece was handwoven in Heriz , Iran. For further information please contact us and our team will be pleased to assist you. All pieces in the collection are under the auspices of Essie Sakhai, one of the world’s foremost experts and collectors of fine handmade Persian rugs and carpets.