A Heriz silk carpet, Northwest Persia

Pile generally good closely sheared with small scattered areas of wear low to knotheads. A very small, 1 cm x 1 cm repaired hole near center. One tiny 1/2 x 1/2 cm area with loss of pile in upper right guard stripe. Sides partially later overcast. Ends intact with uneven warp fringes, cloth tape sewn to the reverse of each end. Extremely supple, blanket-like handle, good overall condition. Please note that a license may be required to export textiles, rugs and carpets of Iranian origin from the United States. Clients should enquire with the U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) regarding export requirements. Pease check with the Carpet department if you are uncertain as to whether a lot is subject to this restriction or if you need assistance with such enquiries
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

Almost all wool Heriz weavings can be characterized by a rectilinear medallion design that has changed little over time, relatively low knot density and the dominance of madder and indigo colors punctuated with yellows, browns and sometimes occasional greens. Pieces from the mid and late nineteenth century tend to have particularly attractive colors that, while often saturated or vibrant, are never harsh. However, brilliant coloring is one of the few characteristics wool and silk weavings from Heriz share. As exemplified in the piece offered here, silk weavings attributed to Heriz have soft yet saturated hues that make up a fine and harmonious color palette. In this regard, Heriz silk rugs resemble silks produced in nearby Tabriz. Some have suggested that, because of their shared design characteristics with Tabriz silks, these finely-woven pieces cannot be attributed to Heriz with any certainty, see Murray L. Eiland Jr. and Murray Eiland III, Oriental Carpets, London, 1998, p. 93. In fact, the curvilinear drawing of this carpet's border's design is more comparable to those found in contemporaneous Tabriz works, rather than to elements decorating weavings from Heriz. However, the fine, blanket-like handle of this piece suggests that it is the product of Heriz silk weavers, who are known to have executed extremely pliable works that most often surpass the quality of their Tabriz counterparts. Silk Heriz carpets from the second half of the nineteenth century are almost always symmetrically knotted and, as mentioned above, have particularly attractive coloring. Just like the color palette, the juxtaposition created by the difference between the naturalistically executed flowers and palmettes of the border and the more angularly drawn trellis design of the field is subtle. Other small and mid-scale Heriz silk weavings with fields decorated in a similar fashion include one sold Sotheby's New York, 14 December 2006, lot 22 and another sold in the same rooms 16 December 2005, lot 40. In addition to a comparable field, the former also shares a more curvilinear border design with the lot offered here. The very high quality of craftsmanship along with the precious material preserved in its near original condition make the carpet offered here a testament to the excellence of Qajar-era carpet weaving.