Fine Persian Heriz Carpet

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

Early 20th Century

The deep coral field with a lobed and pointed blue medallion enclosing a deep coral pointed rectangular floral star centrepiece, linked to mirrored blue pendants infilled with angular vines issuing palmettes, supported by angular vines linked to palmettes, flower heads and leaves,  ivory and arabesque scroll spandrels, within a blue border enclosing continuous coral and light blue hooked palmettes alternating with flower head roundels linked by meandering angular vines ending in serrated curled leaves.

Persian Heriz carpets are highly distinctive, because of their very unique and distinguishable style of design. Heriz is a city located in North West Persia, near the ancient 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, coral or dark blue field, and sometimes ivory back grounds are seen. The pattern motifs are almost always geometrically drawn, although some Heriz rugs have an all-over layout often with geometric floral motives combined with curvilinear floral forms. The classification of a carpet being of Heriz origin is applied to describe neighbouring town and village carpets that follow Heriz traditions of carpet design. Since the Heriz ‘region’, is not far from the Caucasus, many 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 Serapi, which is the trade name given to technically finer woven 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 Persian Heriz carpet presents a sophisticated composition in characteristic Heriz tradition. A large blue medallion floats majestically on the rich coral field with the angular drawn motifs defined by characteristic Heriz jewel like colours. Particularly noteworthy is the artistic use of pale blue, green and yellow, all used to great effect; each colour highlighting their respective pattern details. The inclusion of these colours gives considerably more scope to the carpets decorative potential. The style of designs and associated colour palette are extremely versatile and complement both traditional and contemporary settings. This sophisticated fine Persian Heriz carpet would perfectly meet these criteria, and present a spectacular focal point.

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.