Heriz
The traditional Heriz carpet comes from the village of Heris in northwest Iran. Originally, the people of Heris made these rugs in larger sizes for their living rooms. The carpets consist of a cotton foundation with wool pile and are most often square in shape. The northern section of Iran is suited perfectly for breeding sheep and this region is known for its excellent quality of wool. The most common design is a center medallion with pendants on a sparsely decorated field with a very prominent geometric border. The most common colors are shades of red, blue, pink, camel or ivory.
Bakhtiari
Bakhtiari rugs are woven in southern Iran in the province of Bakhtiari. The 3 main designs tend to be a large medallion, panel design, and the design with lozenges. The panel design is one of the most interesting designs which consists of a field divided into squares patterned with various motifs such as cypress trees, birds, flowers, and grapevines. The most common colors are shades of red, green, brown, yellow, blue, and navy. Sizes range from 4X6 to 13X19.
Tabriz
Tabriz carpets are made in the northwestern part of Iran. Since the 17th century, Tabriz has been one of the most important production centers of the country. Today, Tabriz is home to some of the most skilled weavers. The design is most often floral with a center medallion and the weave is tighter than that of the Heriz. The traditional colors used are shades or red, blue, and green.
Mashad and Kashan
Mashad carpets are made in northeastern Iran. Kashan carpets are made in the small town of Kashan in central Iran. Both carpets are known for producing the best quality wool in Iran. The design of both carpets is most often floral with a center medallion. The colors are shades of red and blue. The pile is thinner and a softer wool than most of the Persian carpets. Kashan is known as the finest Persian carpet.
