Provenance and Knotting Tradition

Heriz is a village in the historic Azerbaijan region of northwestern Iran, close to the borders of Turkey and the Republic of Azerbaijan. Heriz weaving has been recognised internationally for more than a century for its geometric medallion vocabulary, the structural strength of the pile-on-cotton construction, and the saturated palette of vegetable-dyed highland wool. The school is known for a coarse but disciplined knot structure and a substantial, genuinely architectural weight.

This piece was hand-knotted in the Azerbaijan region of northwestern Iran approximately 80 to 100 years ago, from 100% hand-spun wool on a cotton foundation. The pile stands at approximately 6 mm — reduced from its original height by a century of careful use, with the foundation reading through in places. The composition follows the classic Heriz vocabulary: a large stepped central medallion with pendants, ivory corner spandrels, and a geometricised floral field, framed by a deep indigo main border.

Colour and Composition

The palette is the classical Heriz signature, deepened by a century of life into a balanced, naturally aged register: a brick-red field carries the stepped medallion, with a deep indigo-blue main border and ivory corner spandrels. Accents of light blue, ochre-gold and soft rose run through the geometric drawing. The original saturations have settled into a calm, harmonised reading — the motifs read clearly while the overall tone feels lived-in rather than new.

The Worn-to-Perfection Register

This rug is offered as a worn-to-perfection antique — the structural integrity is sound, with no holes or open seams, but the pile has been reduced by decades of careful use to the point where the foundation reads through in places. This is a deliberately collected aesthetic in contemporary international interior design: a surface that no new production can replicate, the patina that only a genuine century produces. Freshly professionally washed and ready to live with.

An Antique Heriz as an Investment

Genuine antique Heriz carpets in honest, structurally sound condition are a finite and appreciating category: the highland wool, the vegetable dyes and the village knotting of the early twentieth century are no longer reproduced. A documented antique of this size and provenance is both a furnishing and a tangible collector's asset — a value-retaining acquisition that can be enjoyed underfoot while it holds its standing in the market. Each piece is sold with a certificate of authenticity.

Presence in the Room

At 400 × 300 cm (12.0 m²) this is a generous extra-large room-size piece. Three contexts in which the worn antique Heriz reaches its full effect:

• Living or dining room: The worn register pairs particularly well with contemporary furniture and natural materials — oak, linen, brushed brass — where the patina becomes part of the room's visual conversation.
• Bedroom anchor: The softened palette and textile depth give a personal space a layered, considered foundation without committing to a single saturated colour story.
• Entrance hall or office: The Heriz vocabulary signals craft and historical depth, while the worn surface keeps the register contemporary rather than overtly classical.

Specifications

Responsible Sourcing

Djoharian is a Label STEP certified dealer for fair-trade knotted rugs — a commitment to dignified working conditions and against child labour in rug production. Visit the Label STEP entry for Djoharian Teppiche →

Djoharian — Five Decades of Oriental Rug Expertise

With roots in the Grand Carpet Bazaar of Tehran and more than five decades of experience in the international rug trade, Djoharian has specialised in antique, designer and collector rugs since 1967. Every antique is collected, vetted and presented with the documentation a serious buyer expects.

Service and Delivery

Every piece in the Djoharian Collection is expertly inspected in our atelier in Lohr am Main, professionally washed and shipped with a certificate of authenticity. We offer secure and fast worldwide shipping, fully insured, and personal consultation in our showroom or by video call.

Djoharian — Antique and Bespoke Oriental Rugs since 1967.