Setting
Heriz lies on the slopes east of Tabriz at high altitude, surrounded by a group of weaving villages that share the trade name.
Why this place matters for craft
Heriz carpets are usually described as village production organised for export from the later nineteenth century, with bold angular medallions and a hard-wearing wool often attributed to local water and pasture. Such material explanations are traditional in the trade and not firmly established.
Quarters, bazaars and workshops
| Area | What is there |
|---|---|
| Village looms | Weaving is domestic and dispersed across the district; there is no central market. |
What to look for on an object
- Heriz-type carpet — Large angular medallion, thick handle, coarse but even knotting; the design is drawn in straight lines rather than curves.
These notes are for learning to look, not for authentication. No description here certifies an object, its age or its origin.
Practical notes
- Visiting looms requires a local contact; the district has little visitor infrastructure.
- Tabriz is the practical market for Heriz weavings.
- Workshop addresses, bazaar hours and market days change; confirm locally before travelling.
Season: Summer and early autumn.
Used in these crafts
A hand-knotted pile textile woven across Iran in city workshops, village looms and pastoral camps, distinguished by regional structure, palette and design vocabulary.
The workshop carpet tradition of Tabriz in East Azerbaijan, characterised by drawn cartoons, a distinctive hook-knife weaving method and a wide range of fineness grades.