Antique Persian Heriz Rugs

The Heriz rugs are named after the largest town in a district of over 30 villages, in the mountainous area of Northwest Persia, 50 miles east of Tabriz,Iran.are probably the most popular of the Persian village carpets. Heriz rugs were produced during 19th Century primarily as exports to Europe and Britain. Historically, it was common for traders of antique rugs to market carpets produced in neighboring villages, responsible for Bakshaish rugs, as Herizes.

Construction: Heriz carpets are usually based on a cotton foundation (warp) with a wool weft usually taken from the herds of the producing tribe. There is a great variation in the quality of the wool and skill of the weaving in this rug type. Heriz rugs are of coarse construction and the pile is thick and heavy. Next to Bijar Rugs these are some of the toughest Persian carpets.The rugs range from 30 kpsi on the low end to 100–110 kpsi on the high end. It is rare to see a rug over 80 kpsi that would look like an authentic Heriz unless it is an antique silk Heriz.

Sizes: The great German rug expert Heinrich Jacoby described a difference in size pre-1880 and post-1880. In the pre-1880 period Jacoby suggests that the most common size was 6 feet 6 inches by 13 feet. This length equals twice width seems typical in that period before the massive commercial export period. Long and narrow was in keeping with the needs of the Persian buyer. After 1880 production shifted to European sizes. Starting with 6 meter rugs (6 feet 7 inches by 9 foot 10 inches) they were made in sizes typically up to 16 foot 6 inch by 26 feet. Jacoby, Heinrich. How To Know Oriental Rugs and Carpets. Whatever the size may be, it’s easy to see a Heriz carries a certain flair to themselves no matter what their dimension is.

Patterns: Originating in Northwest Persia and the Iranian province of East Azerbaijan, Heriz Oriental rugs from Persia include regional patterns created in several dozen towns and villages in the area, mostly distinguished by their rectilinear designs, a departure from the traditional arabesques and scrolls typical of Persian manufactory.The signature of a Heriz is the large medallion with overscale cornerpieces filled with angular oak leaves and foliage, at once bold and captivating. Older antique Heriz rugs, echoing the famous antique Serapi carpets from the same district, tend to be more spacious in design,

Colors: Certainly, the antique Heriz rug makers were consummate masters of vegetable dyeing. While the Heriz rugs of the last 20-40 years are often chemically dyed, with the best using a mixture of natural and chemical, older antique Heriz carpets tend to have been made with pure vegetable dyes. These have mellowed and attained a wonderful patina with age. The technique of abrash, or intentional variation within one color tone, is masterfully used in the finest antique Heriz rugs.

Size 7.03x10.04 (ft)
SKU: 1587
Size 9.06x12.05 (ft)
SKU: 5475
Size 8.04x10.04 (ft)
SKU: 4222
Size 7.06x10.07 (ft)
SKU: 4355