Heriz is a rug tradition out of north-western Persia, distinguished by its bold geometric medallion work and its preference for large-scale drawing rather than the densely floral compositions of the southern workshops. Antique Heriz carpets reached Western collectors through the Tabriz commercial trade from the 1880s onward and became a staple of American Gilded-Age interiors. This piece works within the Heriz vocabulary but in an unusual fibre, hand-spun recycled sari silk, which gives the bold drawing a soft tonal lustre that wool alone cannot deliver.

The 6' x 9' (183 x 274 cm) carpet was woven in India by two to three weavers over approximately five months. The pile is recycled sari silk hand-spun back into thread and knotted on a cotton foundation with the asymmetric knot suited to silk's slick body. The ivory base palette comes through the dyeing of the recovered silk before re-spinning, which keeps tonal variation across every metre of yarn. The finished carpet was washed in mild plant soap and laid flat to cure.

The composition

A bold central Heriz medallion, drawn in the angular geometric vocabulary of the north-western workshop tradition, sits on a soft ivory silk field. Corner spandrels mirror the medallion in inverse value. The border carries a stylised vine in pale rose and faint indigo, restrained against the ivory ground. The silk catches light from every angle, so the drawing shifts from cool to warm as the viewer walks past. The whole reads as a contemporary translation of an old format, alive in a way wool alone is not.

What you are buying

Hand-knotted silk carpets in this size sell through Western interior galleries between five and ten thousand pounds, and the recycled-sari source material adds a sustainability premium that this listing does not reflect. The fibre itself is genuine silk, hand-spun from end-of-life saris and knotted in the Heriz drawing tradition. Silk knots tighten with age and the surface develops a deeper sheen across decades; the carpet appreciates with use rather than depreciating.

The piece in a room

Six by nine sits well in a primary bedroom under the foot of the bed, in a home office under a writing desk and chair, or in a dressing room as the ground for a daily routine. The ivory silk reads beautifully against pale plaster walls and warm timber floors. Pairs cleanly with brass, walnut, and undyed linen. Avoid heavy furniture legs that compress silk pile; consider felt protectors. Pairs particularly well with contemporary art and minimalist sculpture.

Conservation

Silk wants gentler handling than wool. Vacuum every fortnight on the lowest suction setting with the beater bar fully off. Blot any spill instantly with a dry cotton cloth and let the fibre air dry in shade without heat. Avoid prolonged direct sunlight, which fades silk faster than wool. Hand wash by a silk-trained conservator every five years. With this regimen the silk holds its hand and lustre across multiple decades of use.

Reference

• Medium: hand-knotted recycled sari silk on cotton foundation
• Dimensions: 183 x 274 cm (6' x 9')
• Construction: asymmetric knot
• Hands: 2-3 weavers, ~5 months
• Pile: short, silk lustre
• Dye: pre-spinning sari dyes, ivory base
• Origin: India

Free shipping anywhere in India. Cash on delivery on request. 7-day exchange.