Heritage & inspiration

The Heriz weaving district in northwest Iran produced multiple grades through the late 19th century; Serapi (sometimes rendered Serabi) names the highest-grade sub-tradition, woven 1880–1920 largely for American export. Serapi weavers specialized in larger-scale geometric medallions and were among the only Heriz workshops that consistently used bicolor grounds — burgundy paired with deep indigo or navy, with the medallion sitting at the visual boundary between the two grounds.

That bicolor convention reads as architectural rather than decorative — the rug behaves like a substantial piece of inlaid furniture rather than like a textile. Distinct from every other piece in the cohort because it bridges the Burgundy and Navy palette clusters in a single object.

How it feels underfoot

1200 Reeds (1200 شانه) on premium cotton warp; density over 3,000,000 knots/m² (تراکم). Engineered consistency.

Specifications

Reed Count

1200 Reeds (1200 شانه)

Density

>3,000,000 knots / m² (تراکم)

Pile

66% Polypropylene · 34% Polyester

Warp

Premium cotton

Design register

Serapi (high-grade Heriz, 1880–1920 American export)

Palette

Bicolor: deep navy + burgundy grounds · ivory · antique gold accents

Medallion

Oval, set across the bicolor boundary

Origin

Woven in Turkey on Persian-tradition looms

Care

Spot-clean with mild detergent; low-suction vacuum; professional clean every 18–24 months. Not a machine-washable rug.

Available sizes

Stocked in 3×6, 3×10, 5×7.5, 6.5×10, 8.2×11.5, 10×13 ft. Strongest at 6.5×10, 8.2×11.5, and 10×13 — bicolor designs need scale for the color boundary to read as architectural rather than as a stripe.

Designer styling notes

• Wood: mahogany, ebonized oak, dark walnut — American Gilded Age woods
• Upholstery: ivory damask, oxblood leather, deep navy velvet — the rug tolerates strong solids of both colors
• Metal: aged brass, antique gold, dark bronze
• Rooms: formal dining rooms (oval medallion under a large rectangular table reads inevitable), formal libraries, substantial entries, formal living rooms

Best for · skip if

Best for: rooms with weight, color confidence, and traditional bones. Particularly strong under a long dining table where the bicolor boundary aligns with the table's centerline.

Skip if the room is small, the brief is monochromatic, or the architecture is modern-minimalist (the bicolor will dominate). Also skip if you want a single dominant color identity rather than a bridge between two.

Sacramento showroom

See it at our Watt Avenue showroom. Bicolor rugs are notoriously hard to photograph accurately — the proportion between the two grounds reads differently at full scale. Free local delivery within Sacramento metro.

New to 1200 Reeds & density terminology? Read our complete guide to reed count, shaneh, and tarakom.