Heriz Rugs
Heriz rugs are a group of related rugs centering around Mount Sabalan. These rug are predominantly woven by weavers who speak Southern Azeri and who are Shia Muslims.
Heriz Rugs are made in the Heriz district about 40 miles west of Tabriz in Northwest Iran. The Heriz rugs reflect a geometric rendering of Tabriz designs. Heriz is the market center collection point for the rugs from region in Iran in-between Tabriz and Ardabil. Heriz is one of the more important production areas for the US market. The wool is excellent and the construction is sound making hard-wearing durable carpets. Next to Bijar Rugs these are some of the toughest Persian carpets.
Ahar is the northern end of the region and produces the most curvilinear carpets. It runs east to Sarab, south to Duz Duzan and west to Bilverdi. There are various grades of Heriz rugs from finest to coarsest they are Ahar Rugs, Mehraban, Serapi, Bakshaish, and Gorevan. They use a cotton foundation and the knot counts average from 25 to 80 per square inch.
History
In the 18th – 20th centuries there have been a constant series of upheavals between Russia and her Muslim neighbors to the south. Every time Russia and Turkey fought Muslims moved south and Armenians moved north. Many of the weavers from the Heriz area are a result of emagration from what is now Armenia and Azerbaijan.
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
This is not representative of what we see at the major auctions houses who regularly show carpets in European sizes back to 1800.
Examples:
Afshan Heriz Carpet late 19th c.
MEASUREMENTS
319 by 271cm., 10ft. 6in. by 8ft. 11in.
Heriz Carpet 1st quarter 20th
MEASUREMENTS
Approximately 12ft. by 7ft. 8in. (3.65 by 2.34m.)
DESCRIPTION
First quarter 20th century
Condition Note: partially rewoven end guard borders, foldwear with some repiling.
Heriz Carpet c. 1900
MEASUREMENTS
Approximately 13ft. 3in. by 9ft. 1in. (4.04 by 2.77m.)
DESCRIPTION
Circa 1900 Kashmiri repiling, rewoven end guard borders, reselvaged, tinting.
A Heriz carpet, North West Persia, circa 1900
MEASUREMENTS
255 by 250cm., 8ft. 5in. by 8ft. 3in.
Heriz Carpet C. 1920
north west Persia about 1920
10ft.1in. x 7ft.6in. 3. 07m. x 2.29m.
Overall even wear, heavier in two small areas.
Heriz Carpet Circa 1880
MEASUREMENTS
Approximately 11ft. 9in. by 9ft. 9in. (3.58 by 2.97m.)
DESCRIPTION
Circa 1880
Condition Note: partially oxidized browns, partial end guard stripes, stains.
Heriz Carpet circa 1890
MEASUREMENTS
Approximately 14ft. 2in. by 9ft. 9in. (4.32 by 2.97m.)
DESCRIPTION
Circa 1890
Condition Note: oxidized charcoals, partially reselvaged, minor losses to ends.
Heriz Carpet circa 1900
Northwest Persian Rug, circa 1900.
Partial end guard borders, Kashmir repiling, approximately 17 ft. by 11 ft. 8 in. (5.18 by 3.56 m.)
Heriz Carpet circa 1900
MEASUREMENTS
Approximately 17ft. 4in. by 11ft. 7in. (5.28 by 3.63m.)
DESCRIPTION
Circa 1900
Condition Note: oxidized browns, repiled foldwear, partial end guard border, reselvaged.
A Heriz Carpet. Northwest Persia
MEASUREMENTS
Approximately 12ft. 7in by 8ft. 8in. (3.84 by 2.64m.)
DESCRIPTION
Circa 1900
Condition Note: oxidized browns, partial rewoven end guard borders.
Heriz Carpet Last Quarter 19th
MEASUREMENTS
Approximately 11ft. 1in. by 9ft. 2in. (3.38 by 2.79m.)
Red Coral Heriz Persian Carpet
Northwest Iran, 20th century
Size: 6 foot 2 inch by 9 foot.
Structure: Asymmetrical knot open to the right. 9 knots per horizontal inch and 10 knots per vertical inch. 90 per square inch (1395 per square decimeter)
Colors: Salmon, hunter green, vanilla, sky blue, light pink, gold, copper, navy blue.
Yarn Spin: Z.
Warp: 3 ply white cotton.
Weft: 2 shots lavender cotton.
Pile: 2 wool singles.
Ends: Post-hitch wharf binding with 1 inch warp fringe.
Selvages: 5 cord overcastting salmon wool.
Handle: Heavy, soft wool, durable, dense.
Further Notes: Excellent condition.
Heriz Persian rug
North west Persia.
4ft.7in. x 2ft.8in. 1.40m. x 0.81m.
Small area of damage. slight loss lower end.
Heriz Runner
Origin: North West Persia, Azerbaidjan, late 19th c.
Size: ca. 461 x 109 cm
Original selvages; pile partly low, tinted in a few places, minor re-weaves, corrosion.
Mehriban Rug
Size (ft.): 6’8 x 9’3
Size (cm.): 204 x 283
Colors: Red, Blue-Navy
Woven: Hand knotted
Foundation: Cotton
Pile: Wool
Style: Heriz
Category: Tribal
Origin: Mehriban Persian Rug
Age: 0-10 years
Condition: Excellent
The Appell Heriz Carpet c. 1890
MEASUREMENTS
Approximately 14ft. 10in. by 9ft. 2in. (4.52 by 2.79m.)
DESCRIPTION
Circa 1890. Oxidized browns, partial end guard borders, overcast sides with fraying, stains, holes.
Vojtech Blau Heriz Circa 1880
MEASUREMENTS
Approximately 13ft. 7in. by 9ft. 5in. (4.14 by 2.87m.)
DESCRIPTION
Circa 1880
Condition Note: minor losses to end guard stripes, partially oxidized browns, minor reweaves.
Heriz Carpet circa 1900
MEASUREMENTS
Approximately 18ft. 11in. by 11ft. 9in. (5.77 by 3.58m.)
DESCRIPTION
Circa 1900
Condition Note: oxidized charcoals, minor partial end guard stripes, small tear in one end guard stripe.
Beautiful Masterpiece Heriz Oriental Rug
This rug measures 12′ 1″ x 16′ 1″