Antique Heriz carpet

Object Description

A rustic all over design antique Heriz carpet, with beautiful dyes from the late 19th century, and a very high wool pile height over the majority of this rare antique carpet.  The more open design of floral palmettes combined with simplistic tribal vines and leaves.  Stunning faded pale blues, sage greens, rustic brick reds and muted pinks combined with the ivory wool in the flowers are famous dyes for these earlier tribal carpets from Heriz in Northern Persia.  The pale blue border with large scale leaf design in golden yellow is really exquisite and works so well with the main field design and coloration.

Dating from 1880-1890 it is in excellent order for its age of around 130 years plus.  A rare and collectable Heriz, these early carpets still command high prices in the UK and USA and across the world in top auction houses.  Visit our barn showroom or request a home viewing to see this amazing carpet up close with a private viewing.

We offer the service of viewing any of our carpets & rugs in-situ in London, Surrey, Hampshire the UK & Europe by appointment.  Having helped private clients and interior designers since 1990 we would love to help you too.  Please request a personal home visit or arrange a time to visit our barn showroom soon.

Object History

Like Heriz, Serapi carpets will often have a multiple concentric medallion format that emits jutting branches or vines ending in large stylised palmettes, leaves, or flowers.  With framing corner pieces at the periphery of the field. The main border is usually some variant of the ‘turtle’ vinescroll pattern. In terms of design, what distinguishes Serapis from Heriz carpets is once again their more refined approach. The articulation of the medallions is crisper, more finely linear, and open, the highest grade in terms of weave, and very probably the oldest type in terms of age. Heriz carpets are generally coarsely woven with as few as 30 knots per square inch. They also have a deeply depressed warp structure with a markedly ribbed back surface. Since the early twentieth century they have come to make use of light blue cotton wefting. Serapis, in contrast, have a higher knot count, sometimes attaining 80 knots per square inch. Their backs are relatively flat, and they have ivory cotton wefting and generally they have a softer floppier handle than a Heriz.

Object Condition

In amazing original condition, a high wool pile and no repairs. Minimal low areas of pile are visible.

Object Details