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About Heriz Rugs

This article explores Heriz the place—its geography, history, and weaving culture—and Heriz the rug: how it’s built, why it looks the way it does, where the best examples come from and how to recognize authentic pieces.

Heriz

Heriz, the Mountain Town Behind Iran’s Most Iconic Village Carpets

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Tucked into the volcanic foothills of East Azerbaijan Province, the town of Heriz sits about 60 miles (100 km) northeast of Tabriz, on the slopes that look toward the great cone of Sabalan and the high plateau of the Qaradagh. Cold winters, short summers, and a landscape stitched with orchards and small farms have shaped the rhythms of life here for centuries. They also shaped one of the most recognizable rug traditions in the world: the bold, architectural village carpets that Western buyers simply call “Heriz.”​

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A Town at the Crossroads of Plateau and Trade

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Heriz is part of a cluster of towns and villages sewn together by kinship and craft. To the north and east are Ahar and the Qaradagh (Arasbaran) highlands; to the west lies Tabriz, the historic caravan city whose bazaars once funneled goods to the Caucasus, Anatolia, and the Black Sea. This geography matters. For generations, weavers in Heriz sold to Tabriz merchants, who understood foreign tastes and transmitted designs, color trends, and size demands back to the villages. The result is a uniquely village-made carpet tradition that nonetheless reads well in urban and Western interiors—big, geometric, balanced, and durable.

The Heriz Weaving District: More Than One Name

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“Heriz” is often used as both a town name and a regional label. The weaving district includes nearby villages whose carpets have their own personalities:

  • Bakhshayesh (Bakhshaish): Earlier examples (late 19th to early 20th century) often display softer palettes, open fields, and a slightly looser, more rustic drawing.

  • Karaja (Karadja): Famous for runners and small rugs with the distinctive stacked triple-medallion layout—square, octagonal, or hooked medallions linked down the field.

  • Goravan (Gharavan): Sometimes associated with allover layouts (herati/mahi-like or repeating palmettes) and robust construction.

  • Ahar: Produces pieces related to Heriz but with their own balance of geometry and floral elements.

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In the antique market, you may also hear “Serapi.” This is not a separate town; it’s a trade term commonly applied to the best late 19th–early 20th century Heriz/Bakhshayesh-type carpets with especially refined drawing, large-scale medallions, generous spacing, and luminous natural dyes. Think of “Serapi” as a high-grade, earlier Heriz with a mellow, elegant sensibility.

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What Makes a Heriz a Heriz? Design DNA
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If you closed your eyes and pictured a Persian village carpet with a bold central star, you’d likely be imagining a Heriz. The classic vocabulary includes:

  • Central Medallion Architecture: A large, jagged-edged, often star-like medallion dominates the field. It radiates angular leaves, latch-hooked forms, and stepped outlines that echo the mountains. Corner spandrels often mirror fragments of the medallion.

  • Geometry Over Curvilinear: While the motifs trace to classical Persian sources—palmettes, leaves, and rosettes—the drawing is translated into straight lines and facets. This lends Heriz carpets a modern, almost Art Deco strength even though they’re rooted in rural tradition.

  • Powerful Borders: Expect a wide main border lined by two or more smaller guard borders. The “turtle” or “samovar” palmette is common, marching in a rhythmic procession that frames the interior drama.

  • Confident Negative Space: Earlier pieces—especially those called Serapi or Bakhshayesh—use generous open areas so each motif breathes. Later/decorative examples can be fuller, but still maintain good balance.

Palette and Dyes
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Historically, Heriz weavers used natural dyes derived from madder (reds and terra-cottas), indigo (navy to sky blues), weld and other sources (yellows and golds), walnut and iron (browns), and ivory tones from undyed wool or light dye baths. Antique pieces often glow with nuanced brick reds, warm apricots, and watery blues. As synthetics entered the market in the early to mid-20th century, some later Heriz rugs show brighter tomato reds or more uniform shades. Today, both natural and synthetic palettes exist, but the hallmark remains a grounded harmony: red or rust fields, deep indigo or midnight blue medallions, creamy ivories, and sparing use of teal, sky, rose, or jadish green.

Structure and Craft: Built to Endure

Heriz rugs are prized not only for looks but for longevity. Typical construction features:

  • Foundation: Cotton warp and weft became standard by the late 19th century, replacing earlier all-wool foundations in some villages. The cotton foundation stabilizes the structure and allows larger sizes.

  • Knot: Generally, symmetrical (Turkish) knots dominate in the Heriz region, tied around two warp threads.

  • Wefting: Heriz weaves are typically double-wefted (two shoots of weft packed between each row of knots). This, plus the substantial yarns, creates a sturdy, somewhat heavy handle that lies flat and wears evenly.

  • Knot Density: Expect medium to coarse densities by city standards—often in the range of ~60–120 knots per square inch (KPSI), with village variation. What matters most is not fineness but clarity of drawing and wool quality.

  • Wool: Local highland wools are resilient and springy. Good Heriz pile feels “meaty” and resilient underfoot—exactly why decorators love them for busy living rooms and entry halls.

Sizes and Formats

Heriz carpets are renowned as room-size village rugs. While you’ll find small mats and long runners from Karaja and other villages, the bread-and-butter of the region has long been:

  • 8×10 ft to 9×12 ft

  • 10×14 ft and 12×18 ft (the last being less common but hugely sought after when well-drawn)

  • Square formats and palace sizes exist in earlier/commissioned work.

Because Western markets demanded larger carpets, Heriz weavers adapted their looms and home workshops to deliver these sizes without losing their village character.

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​How to Judge Quality in a Heriz
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A good Heriz doesn’t have to be a “fine” Heriz. Look for:

  1. Balanced Drawing: The medallion, corners, and border should converse without crowding. Angular motifs should be crisp, not muddled.

  2. Color Harmony: Whether antique vegetable dyes or later palettes, the colors should sit comfortably together. Watch for jarringly harsh shades in low-quality modern copies.

  3. Wool and Handle: Feel the pile. Quality Heriz pile is robust, slightly oily to the touch (a sign of healthy lanolin), and not brittle.

  4. Condition: Even wear across the field is acceptable for older pieces; patchwork repairs, large reweaves, or thin foundation exposure on the back call for expert evaluation.

  5. Provenance and Honesty: Reputable dealers will distinguish among trade names (Heriz, Serapi, Bakhshayesh, Karaja, Goravan) and explain why a given piece carries a particular label.

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Persian Heriz Rug vs. Other Northwest Iranian Carpets
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  • Heriz vs. Tabriz (city): Tabriz city rugs are often finer, more curvilinear, and workshop-regulated. Heriz retains a village hand, bolder scale, and more geometric language—even at generous room sizes.

  • Heriz vs. Caucasian: Caucasian rugs share geometric DNA, but tend to be smaller and on wool foundations in older examples, with different border and field vocabularies.

  • Heriz vs. Hamadan: Hamadan district pieces are typically single-wefted and more varied by village. Heriz’s double-wefted build and the signature star-medallion architecture set it apart.

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Antique “Serapi” and Early Masterworks
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Collectors prize late 19th and very early 20th century Heriz-region carpets called Serapi for their saturated natural dyes, open drawing, and architectural serenity. Many show large, lightly outlined medallions that seem to float. Borders are grand but not heavy. These pieces often carry a refined rusticity that blends effortlessly with contemporary interiors—hence their enduring demand.

Market Outlook and Use in Interiors

Why have Heriz carpets remained interior-design staples for more than a century?

  • Graphic Compatibility: Their angular geometry complements clean-lined furniture, modern art, and transitional spaces as convincingly as it anchors traditional rooms.

  • Color Versatility: The classic triad—red/rust, navy/indigo, and ivory—plays well with woods, leathers, patinated metals, and plaster.

  • Durability: Families love them. Dogs love them. High-traffic hallways love them. With sensible care, they shrug off decades of use and still look dignified.

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In the last twenty years, demand for authentic vintage and antique Heriz pieces has remained strong. Contemporary productions inspired by Heriz motifs exist across Iran and elsewhere; the best modern examples honor the bold geometry and sturdiness of the originals without lapsing into lifeless copies.

 

Common Questions

Are all Heriz rugs red and blue?
No. Red/navy/ivory is classic, but earlier pieces may show apricot, salmon, pistachio, and sky-blue fields. Bakhshayesh types can be earthier and paler; Goravan can emphasize allover patterns.

Do knot counts define quality?
Not in Heriz. These are village carpets designed for impact and longevity. Clarity of drawing, wool quality, and color balance matter more than sheer KPSI.

What’s the difference between “Heriz” and “Serapi”?
“Serapi” is a trade label commonly reserved for earlier, high-grade Heriz-region carpets with especially open, refined drawing and glowing natural dyes. If in doubt, ask for age, origin, and why a dealer uses the term.

Can Heriz rugs work in modern spaces?
Absolutely. Their geometry reads almost contemporary. Designers often pair Heriz carpets with minimalist sofas, sculptural lighting, and pale walls to let the rug’s architecture do the talking.

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Buying Tips

  • Trust Provenance: Buy from dealers who will tell you where and roughly when the rug was woven, and who will stand behind the piece.

  • Examine the Back: Look for regular, well-beaten wefts and sturdy selvedges. A healthy back usually means a healthy future.

  • Live With It: If possible, view the rug in natural light and, ideally, in the space where it will live. Heriz colors shift warmly between morning and evening.

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Heriz: A Living Tradition

Heriz endures because it reconciles opposites: village spontaneity with architectural order; rugged build with graceful proportion; heritage with timeless usability. Walk through a home where the main room is anchored by a strong, star-medallion Heriz and you’ll notice what owners have known for generations: the rug brings calm to a space. Its geometry organizes the room, its colors knit disparate materials together, and its handmade character warms the air.

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From the orchards and workshops of a mountain district in northwestern Iran to the living rooms and libraries of homes around the world, the journey of a Heriz carpet is one of translation—of landscape into line, of season into color, of community into craft. Buy one for love and use, care for it sensibly, and you’ll be adding your chapter to a story that began in the shadow of Sabalan and travels, footstep by footstep, across time.

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