A Vintage Heriz in the Meshkin Manner

The Heriz region lies northeast of Tabriz, in the Iranian province of East Azerbaijan. Its rug tradition is one of the most distinctive in Persia — robust wool, an architectural, geometric quality of drawing that sits closer to the village and tribal repertoire than to the urban atelier work of Tabriz or Isfahan. This piece is Heriz-knotted, with a pattern drawn from the neighbouring Meshkin tradition: not the single grand medallion of a classic Heriz, but a lively tribal field organised around two stacked medallions.

It dates from the 1960s–70s. Years of careful use and washing have settled the wool into a soft handle while the colours stay rich — this is a piece made to live with daily, and decades of use have only deepened its character.

Colour and Composition

On a warm rust-red field, two stepped indigo-blue medallions are stacked vertically, each with a small central rosette. The field around them is densely packed with small squared boxes — stars, rosettes and stylised tribal figures — in ivory, olive, coral-pink and grey-green. A multi-band border carries the same vocabulary: an ivory main border with diagonal sprig motifs, flanked by olive-gold and serrated guard stripes. The palette is the lively northwest register: rust-red, indigo blue, ivory, olive-gold, coral-pink and grey-green — warm and characterful rather than muted.

Presence in the Room

At 183 × 137 cm (2.5 m²) this is a versatile small-to-medium format. Three contexts in which it reaches its full effect:

• Study or home office: The robust Heriz wool handles a desk chair well, and the geometric field gives structure to a working room.
• Beside the bed or in an entryway: A warm, characterful anchor in a transitional space.
• Layered over a larger floor rug: The lively tribal drawing reads beautifully as a layered accent in interiors that mix modern and rustic elements.

Specifications

Responsible Origin · Label STEP

Djoharian is a certified partner of Label STEP, the international fair-trade organisation for hand-knotted rugs. STEP audits production conditions on the ground — wages, working environment, no child labour — and tracks pieces from loom to dealer.

Djoharian — Since 1967

Our family business was founded in 1967, with roots in the Grand Carpet Bazaar of Tehran — five decades of trade and connoisseurship behind every piece we offer.

Service

Secure and fast worldwide shipping, fully insured. Each piece is professionally packed and documented. We are available for any questions on placement, care, or comparable pieces.