Heriz carpets are among the most recognizable rugs of Iran because of their distinctive monumental designs and the expressive power of their angular drawing. They tend to have strong medallion designs accented through the use of color, but allover Herizes are not uncommon. Herizes rely on floral patterns with strap-work vines and grand palmettes with zig-zag contouring. Where other Persian carpets would utilize a curved form, Herizes will apply series of angular twists and turns, imparting an emphatic geometry to the design. Herizes have glorious color, with rich reds, blues, greens, and yellows resonating against ivory. Much of the formal vocabulary, drawing, and color sensibility of Herizes is traceable to the classical Caucasian carpets of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. Since the Heriz region of northern Iran is not far from the Caucasus, it is not surprising that Heriz carpets have preserved so much of the Classical Caucasian tradition. Some Herizes, however, especially those produced in silk, display a different drawing and design vocabulary linked to other types of Persian carpet. They are identified as Heriz rugs primarily by their weave.
