Silk Heriz rug (warp, weft and silk velvet), Northwest Iran, - Lot 306

Silk Heriz rug (warp, weft and silk velvet), Northwest Iran, circa 1850-1880. 193 x 130 cm This finely knotted carpet is enhanced by an elegant polychrome stylized floral design. A wide red border with multicolored flower garlands is framed by numerous small blue counterborders. Wear and old restorations. "Heriz is located (north)-east of Tabriz (...). At the end of the 19th century, merchants from Tabriz, always on the lookout for cheap labor, set up a number of factories here, producing large, solid carpets (...) The decorative theme introduced to Heriz by the Tabriz merchants was classical, with a medallion and spandrels; but the Heriz weavers refused the use of cartoons, which were not in keeping with their traditions, and continued to weave their carpets, executing the same motifs as their own. to weave their carpets by executing the design from memory, or sometimes with the aid of small vagireh (small carpets used by the weavers as models, and thus adorned with a vast sampling of field and border designs). This led to a simplification of the medallion floral design, which was then represented geometrically. At the end of the 19th century, several factories were set up in Heriz by weavers from Tebriz. The decorative introduced by the Tebriz merchants was classic: a medallion and spandrels, but the Heriz weavers refused. Heriz weavers refused the use of cardboard, contrary to their tradition, which led to a simplification of the floral medallion design. This led to a simplification of the floral medallion design, which was then represented geometrically. Heriz medallions have a stylized star shape and extend almost to the border. The field is adorned with stems that bend at right angles to connect the serrated leaves and rosettes.