Heriz Rugs
Heriz, in East Azerbaijan in north-west Iran, gives its name to one of the most durable and recognizable Persian carpets: a big angular medallion, strong cornerpieces, and a palette of madder red, indigo and ivory.
These are rugs built for hard use, which is why so many survive in good condition decades later. Most of ours are oversized or area size. Every piece is vintage and one of a kind.
This collection covers the whole Heriz district, including the village weaves of Gharajeh and Goravan.
Heriz: the carpet built to be walked on
Heriz sits east of Tabriz in East Azerbaijan, in the hills below Mount Sabalan, and it has given its name to one of the most recognizable carpets in the world. The design is unmistakable: a large angular medallion, strong corner brackets, and a field of stylized vines drawn in straight lines rather than curves. Where a Tabriz workshop drew a curved vine from a cartoon, a Heriz weaver squared it off.
The other half of the reputation is the wool. The sheep in this district produce a coarse, springy fleece that is unusually high in lanolin, and the water used for washing is said to harden the dyes. Whatever the reason, Heriz carpets survive a century of use in a way that finer carpets do not.
What a Heriz usually looks like
- Drawing: one big geometric medallion, squared corner pieces, angular vinework.
- Color: madder red and rust grounds, indigo medallions, ivory corners, with soft green and camel accents.
- Construction: thick wool pile on a cotton foundation, medium knot count, heavy handle.
- Sizes: Heriz was woven for large rooms; oversized and room-size pieces dominate.
Where they earn their keep
This is the rug for a room that gets used. A Heriz under a dining table, in an entrance hall or across a family living room will absorb years of traffic and look better for it, because the pile compacts rather than wears through.
The scale of the drawing also means a Heriz reads clearly from across a room. It does not need to be studied up close to work, which is why it suits open plan spaces and tall rooms.
Why the drawing is angular
Heriz weavers worked from memory and from village practice rather than from a paper cartoon. Curves are difficult to hold in the head across a nine foot field; straight lines and steps are not. The angularity is not a simplification of a finer design, it is its own tradition, and it is the reason a Heriz looks confident rather than fussy.
Heriz rug questions, answered
Is a Heriz the same as a Serapi?
Serapi is a trade term for older, more finely woven Heriz district carpets, generally pre 1900. It describes a grade rather than a separate village. Everything in this collection is described as Heriz.
Are Heriz rugs good for high traffic?
They are among the best. The combination of thick local wool and a medium knot count is what has kept so many of them in use for a hundred years.
Why are Heriz carpets usually large?
The district wove for export to European and American houses with big reception rooms. Small Heriz pieces exist but they are much rarer.
Choosing your Heriz
Start with the size of the room, then look at the ground color, since that is what will set the temperature of the space. Every piece here is a genuine vintage Heriz, cleaned and repaired by hand, and one of a kind.