Heriz Persian Rugs — Antique, Bakhshayesh & Serapi Carpets

Heriz — bold geometry from north-west Iran

Heriz rugs come from a group of villages in the province of East Azerbaijan, on the slopes of Mount Sabalan: Heriz itself, along with Ahar, Gerawan, Bakhshayesh, Karaja, Mehraban and Sarab. The design language is angular rather than floral — a large hooked medallion, heavy corner pieces, a strong border — and owes as much to Caucasian weaving across the border as it does to the Persian city workshops.

The knotting is deliberately not fine. A Heriz is drawn in straight lines and blocks of colour because that is what the design needs; a higher knot count would add nothing. For technical and historical context, the Jozan Carpet Encyclopedia documents the individual weaving villages.

Heriz, Bakhshayesh, Serapi — what the names mean

• Heriz — the standard: bold central medallion with hooked pendants, geometric corners, roughly 90,000 to 150,000 knots per m².
• Bakhshayesh — from the village of that name, generally older and more freely drawn, with softer, less regular medallions and a muted palette. Around 80,000 to 120,000 knots per m².
• Serapi — a western trade term, derived from the village name Sarab, used for the finest antique Heriz weaving: roughly 150,000 to 250,000 knots per m², better wool, and paler, more delicate colouring — salmon, ivory, faded indigo. It is worth knowing that Serapi has no fixed technical definition and is applied generously in the trade; the knot count and the wool tell you more than the label does.

Colour and construction

The classic combination is a madder red field with a dark indigo border, and the red covers a wide range — from pale salmon and coral through to oxblood and near-brown. Ivory-ground Heriz rugs and allover designs without a medallion are less common and correspondingly sought after.

• Foundation: thick cotton warp and weft, which is what keeps these rugs lying flat and square
• Pile: highland wool from sheep grazed around Sabalan, high in lanolin and notably hard-wearing
• Knot: symmetric Turkish knot, well suited to angular drawing
• Formats: Heriz is a large-format origin — 250 × 350 cm through to palace sizes above 500 × 600 cm

Heriz design or Heriz origin?

The Heriz pattern is woven in many places besides Heriz — in Gouchan in eastern Iran, in Afghanistan, in India and elsewhere — and those pieces are often good rugs at sensible prices. But they are Heriz design, not Heriz origin, and the difference belongs in the description rather than in the small print. Where a rug in this collection is a Heriz-style piece from another region, its title says so.

Living with a Heriz — an honest note

Heriz is a big statement in a way that suits some rooms and overwhelms others. The medallion needs to be seen, and the scale of the drawing means these carpets work far better at room size than small — a 150 × 200 cm Heriz often looks like a fragment of something larger.

The red is also uncompromising. On screen it reads warmer and softer than it does in a north-facing room, and next to cool grey walls it can turn strident. If you like the geometry but want it quieter, the vintage and muted pieces are the better route.

Because most Heriz rugs on the market are 60 to 120 years old, expect honest wear: lower pile in the traffic lines, restored ends and sides, sometimes reweaving. That is normal for the age, it is documented individually, and it is also why these carpets are still here — they stay in circulation instead of being replaced.

At a glance

• Origin: Heriz district, East Azerbaijan, north-west Iran
• Knot: symmetric Turkish knot
• Knot density: roughly 80,000 to 250,000 knots per m² depending on grade
• Pile: lanolin-rich highland wool
• Foundation: cotton
• Best suited to: large living rooms, dining rooms, halls and open-plan spaces
• Underfloor heating: suitable
• Documentation: written assessment of origin, material and knot count with every rug

Care

Vacuum in the direction of the pile at normal suction, keeping the rotating brush bar off the fringes and off any restored end. Turn the rug end for end once a year; in a dining room the chair side takes almost all the wear. Blot spills instead of rubbing. Heriz wool responds very well to a proper hand wash, and on an antique piece this is specialist work rather than a home job. Customers in Germany can use our hand washing and restoration service, with collection and return in the Würzburg region; elsewhere we are glad to help you find a specialist nearby.

Related collections

Persian rugs overview · Bidjar · Tabriz · Large room-size rugs · Palatial carpets · Vintage rugs