Persian rugs look as stylish in an apartment living room with antique furniture as they do in a five-star hotel lounge. There is perhaps no greater evidence of their longevity than the ubiquity of one of their most popular iterations: the Heriz rug.
Heriz rugs (pronounced “ha-rees”) have the power to complete or transform a space entirely thanks to their bold, beautiful design. They complement a wide variety of decor styles—and they’re incredibly durable, too.
Why are Heriz rugs so special (and believe us, they are special)? Here is everything you didn’t know you needed to know about these handmade, one-of-a-kind carpets.
The History and Symbolism Behind Heriz Rugs
Heriz rugs—also known as “village rugs”—are perhaps the most famous style of traditional Persian rugs.
These artisan tapestries originally hail from farming villages in northwest Iran known for their centuries-old weaving techniques. The region’s traditional methods have essentially gone unchanged and passed down from generation to generation, a testament to the effective, revered process.
Like most Persian motifs, Heriz rugs traditionally feature nature-inspired designs with stylized lines and shapes that are thought to bring luck, protection, and love to their owner. Heriz rug artisans often weave stories from the past into their designs, often from memory.
These stories are told through traditional tribal shapes and patterns and tell tales of old times passed down through generations, including significant moments in the arts, their culture, and the history of Persia.
The History and Symbolism Behind Heriz Rugs
Heriz rugs—also known as “village rugs”—are perhaps the most famous style of traditional Persian rugs.
These artisan tapestries originally hail from farming villages in northwest Iran known for their centuries-old weaving techniques. The region’s traditional methods have essentially gone unchanged and passed down from generation to generation, a testament to the effective, revered process.
Like most Persian motifs, Heriz rugs traditionally feature nature-inspired designs with stylized lines and shapes that are thought to bring luck, protection, and love to their owner. Heriz rug artisans often weave stories from the past into their designs, often from memory.
These stories are told through traditional tribal shapes and patterns and tell tales of old times passed down through generations, including significant moments in the arts, their culture, and the history of Persia.
The Heriz Rug-Making Process
1. Pattern and Design
Heriz-style rugs are instantly recognizable for their large center medallion and distinct corner pieces. Passed down from Persian nomadic tribes, these designs feature geometric shapes with symmetrical, leaflike, or angular motifs.
The Heriz rug-making process represents the culture and history of their Iranian origins from design conception to its final touches. A single rug can take 1500+ hours of artisanal workmanship!
2. Materials
The materials used for making Heriz rugs also account for their desirability. Heriz Persian rugs come from an area near Mount Sabalan, a mountain rich in copper deposits. As the local sheep graze, they drink from the mountain’s copper-infused water, which is thought to strengthen and improve the quality of their fleece.
With special vegetable dyes, the wool yarn is hued with the conventional red, navy blue, gold, green, and amber colors that make Heriz Persian rugs so distinct. These rugs are typically woven with an all-wool pile onto a strong cotton foundation.
3. Weaving Technique
Woven on framed looms, the rugs are created with hand-tied, symmetrical knots that differ from many other Persian rug styles. With up to 80 knots per square inch, this technique creates a dense, low pile.
4. River Soak
Heriz rugs get their distinguishable rust red from a unique soaking method that alters the dye and changes its color.
After the rug is complete, rug makers place them in the region’s copper-laced water, which helps to produce the unique, vibrant rust-red hue exclusive to authentic Heriz rugs.
How To Style a Heriz Rug
The bold, geometric patterns and vibrant colors of Heriz rugs make them an instant decorative asset no matter where they’re put down. Make the most of any room with these five decor tips to style a Heriz Persian rug in your space.
1. Select the Correct Size
A too-small rug can seem underwhelming, while a rug too large for a room may look awkward. Find the right size for your Heriz rug with these tips:
- Select a rug size at least six to eight inches wider than prominent furniture in the space, especially if any couches, chairs, or tables are placed on top of the rug.
- Leave at least a foot of floor space between the edge of the rug and the wall unless any furniture sits directly against the wall.
- Smaller rugs—less than 8’ x 10’ in most instances—can work in larger rooms as long as they are layered with other rugs or mindfully placed as part of a smaller section of the room, such as in a nook or separate seating area.
2. Use It as a Focal Point
Heriz rugs are undoubtedly statement pieces that dramatically—and beautifully—alter the feel of a room. Consider the elements in its design, from bold hues to ornate motifs, and find pieces for the rest of the room’s decor that complement the style.
Warm wood furniture, geometric lamps, rust-colored fabrics, and vintage-style frames are all ways to bring the room together, forming a visual theme with your Heriz rug at the center.
3. Consider Making It Modern
Because of the traditional appeal of Heriz rugs, they add fresh visual interest to modern and contemporary spaces. Make it work by overlapping similar colors, shapes, tones, and materials. The goal is the perfect mixture of contrast and cohesion.
4. Play with Patterns
Pattern mixing is a unique way to infuse personality into your space, and taking cues from Heriz’s distinct patterns is the perfect place to begin.
The key to successfully mixing patterns and prints? Stick with a singular color palette. Other patterns you mix and match from there can include stripes, florals, and other coordinating geometric prints.
Be cautious, however—too many patterns or textures in one space can look busy and bury the beauty of your Heriz-style rug.
5. Layer with Neutrals
Layering rugs is a decor trend that’s here to stay, but mixing more than one bold or patterned rug can be tricky. Fortunately, larger base rugs give even smaller Heriz rugs a chance to shine when placed atop a more neutral floor covering.
For best results, place a neutral, low-pile rug beneath to help your bolder Herzig rug pop and anchor the space to the rug. This way, you can incorporate the warmth and whimsy of Heriz carpets in even the most spacious rooms.
How to Judge the Quality of Heriz Persian Rugs
Exceptional carpet production can be tricky to identify if you’re unsure what to look for. A high-quality Heriz is the product of skilled craftsmanship, premier materials, and techniques that help the rug last a lifetime.
Here’s how you can tell for yourself if a Heriz-style rug is worth its weight in wool.
Research Its Production
Though time-consuming and difficult to produce, only hand-knotted carpets carry on the true historic traditions of Heriz Persian rugs. Industrially made rugs are rarely as durable or dense and lack the magnificence and character of traditional handmade versions. There is no replacement for good carpet craftsmanship.
Check the Wool
Luxury, high-quality wool comes from healthy, well-kept sheep, so it’s wise to investigate the source. When you can get your hands on a Heriz-style rug, closely examine the fibers. They should feel pliable without feeling too soft or plush. Pay special attention to whether the fibers appear dry or brittle; those rugs may wear out quicker than higher-quality wool.
Examine the Pile
Heriz rugs are known for their dense piles. The denser the pile, the more tightly woven and durable the carpet. Note that density is not the same as thickness, as highly skilled weavers can craft durable, long-lasting rugs that are highly dense yet feel thinner and lay flatter.
Inspect Its Design
In terms of pattern and symmetry, it’s less about perfection than it is about traditional details. Hand-knotted Heriz rugs possess charming irregularities that reflect the true artisanal workmanship of the carpet.
However, color imperfections signal a lack of quality. Closely inspect the fibers to look for colors bleeding into one another, and perform a quick dye test with a damp white washcloth to check for colorfastness.
FAQs: Heriz Persian Rugs
What Is a Heriz-Style Rug?
Traditional Heriz rugs are distinct Persian rugs produced in northwest areas of Iran that feature a central geometric medallion surrounded by nature-inspired design motifs. Heriz Persian rugs are known for their durability, handcrafted from 100% wool with dense, hand-tied knots that create a low, sturdy pile.
These rugs are best known for the vibrant rust-red color created by processing the completed rug in copper-laced waters near Mount Sabalan, a region in Iran with high copper deposits. Regional sheep drink the copper-infused waters, creating high-quality wool for local carpet makers who weave the fibers with a strong cotton warp.
The Heriz style has been replicated by craftsmen in other regions and countries. They utilize the same symmetrical knot style, traditional designs, and uniquely bold colors that set Heriz rugs apart as inherently beautiful, timeless investments.
How Do I Know if a Rug Is Heriz?
To determine whether a rug is Heriz style, look at its design, materials, production, and color palette. The most easily identifiable characteristic is the large centered emblem and the geometric, tribal elements. But Heriz rugs can also be identified by the rich red tones and ornate styles woven into the design.
A genuine Heriz rug is made from 100% wool rather than wool blends or other synthetic materials.
Genuine rugs are densely knotted and feature unique irregularities on the backside due to the artisanal handicraft of its process. On the other hand, the knots will be uniform if you look at the back of a machine-made rug.
Thanks to their meticulous construction, Heriz rugs are also relatively coarse and extremely sturdy, which makes them popular for high-traffic areas.
Where Are Heriz Rugs Made?
Traditional Heriz rugs come from Heris, a northwest province of Iran. They are woven by local villagers located near copper-rich Mount Sabalan.
This carpet-making tradition began during the 19th century for sale and trade, but they were also woven for village locals and considered family staples that would last several generations.
Are Heriz Rugs Expensive?
High-quality rugs can be more affordable than you might think. The cost of any rug, regardless of style, depends on the size, materials, construction method, and country of origin. These factors affect the overall price point and determine a rug’s value.
Rugs serve as an important foundation for a room, and, like any solid foundation, you get what you put into it. High-quality rugs are pricier than their mass-produced counterparts for good reason. Because they’re “extremely handmade,” Heriz Persian rugs have more care put into them than a machine-made version.
Still, the total cost varies. Our selection of Heriz rugs includes certified antiques and hand-woven contemporary rugs that range from hundreds to thousands of dollars.
What Is the Difference Between Heriz and Serapi?
Both Serapi and Heriz rugs are similar in that they both feature geometric patterns, a central medallion, and reddish hues. In fact, Serapi rugs are simply Heriz carpets of a different quality, woven prior to 1900. They also differ in the weave and their design details.
Heriz rugs tend to have darker, more vibrant colors with a greater level of detail. A Serapi rug, on the other hand, may have more open space in its design, with muted tones and amber colors.
As previously mentioned, Serapi rugs are always antiques, while Heriz carpets are still produced today. The former earned its designation thanks to a higher quality, finer weave. Serapi rugs can be more expensive than Heriz rugs due to their rarity. Modern reproductions attempt to mimic the terra-cotta colors and rounded designs portrayed in Serapi rugs at a lower price point.
Accessible Artisan Heriz Rugs for People to Love
Given the rich history and numerous benefits of Heriz rugs, it’s easy to see why these carpets are well-loved around the world. No matter your interior design style, a Tufenkian Heriz-style rug adds a dose of both form and function to your space.
Heriz Persian rugs are one-of-a-kind investments that honor longstanding tradition and timeless style at the same time. Even better, a well-maintained Heriz carpet can be passed down and enjoyed for generations.
Ready to add a Heriz rug to your home? Shop Tufenkian’s collection, and let our team of rug experts help you find the right option for your space.
Test drive a Heriz rug or visit a showroom near you today.
