Heriz Style
Heriz
The small town of Heriz is the center of the weaving areas in
Azerbaijan, and has given its name to one of the most important Persian
provenances. Carpets from the town's workshops are of better quality
than those from the inacessible mountain villages. The typical Heriz red
and a highly individual medallion are the main characteristics of these
popular carpets. Old and antique examples, in various blue tones, are
occasionally found in the trade and at auctions. Brown, beige and
turquoise shades indicate older pieces. Heriz silk carpets are exceptionally
finely knotted and are both rare and very beautiful. The designs of old
Heriz rugs differ radically from those of new pieces.
Sizes
In general carpets are made in sizes of 6,12, and up to 20 sq. meters.
Other formats are occasionally available, such as old and antique wide
Heriz runners, prayer rugs, etc.
Color
Mostly the typical dark Heriz red, brown and beige. Blue is used
as contrast and contor colors. New pieces tent to be rather unharmoniously
colored. Old and antique Heriz carpets are sometimes found in large formats
and in wonderful blue and turquoise shades.
Patterns
Center medallions are often richly decorated and have a characteristic,
rather rectangular shape. Filler motifs include arabesques, palmettes and
rosettes in colorful repeat. Also characteristic are the square or
rectangular corners in the field, often decorated with arabesques.
Foundation
Warps and wefts are of cotton, those of old and antique pieces may
also be of silk.
Knots
Coarsely woven in the Turkish knot with up to 1000 knots per sq. dm.
Silk carpet are very finely woven.
Pile
Good quality wool, clipped high. Silk piles are cut low.
Quality
Mostly good to very good. It is worth learning to distinguish the
different qualities. Old and antique Heriz carpets belong to the
best carptes on the market.
Bakhshaish
The carpets of Bakhshaish, a small village near Heriz, are somewhat
similar to the weavings of Heriz in color, format, design and wool
quality. Like the latter they are woven with the Turkish knot but the
handle is harder, particularly in the older pieces. As colorful, solidly
produced, furnishing carpets the quality varies from good to very good.
Main Menu