Heriz Hand Knotted Wool Rug, Rust Red and Navy Medallion

This hand knotted Heriz wool rug centres a stepped navy medallion on a deep rust-red ground, with ivory cornerspandrels and teal-green botanical fill throughout. Every knot is tied by hand onto a cotton foundation, row by row. Heriz is the pattern most people picture when they think of a Persian rug, and it is popular for a practical reason: the dense rust and navy palette hides everyday wear better than any other traditional design.

Why this construction

Hand knotting is the oldest and most durable rug-making method there is. The weaver ties individual wool knots around a cotton warp stretched on the loom, row by row, then beats each row down and clips the pile by hand. Nothing is glued. There is no latex, no scrim, no backing cloth — the structure of the rug is the knots, which is why the pattern is mirrored on the reverse and why the fringe is the warp itself rather than something sewn on.

This matters in use. A hand knotted rug has no adhesive layer to dry out and crumble, so it does not delaminate or start shedding backing after a decade. It can be professionally washed as many times as it needs, repaired and re-fringed, and it holds resale value. Heriz rugs in particular are known for surviving generations of heavy traffic.

Materials and craftsmanship

The pile is hand-spun wool, dyed in small batches before weaving. Hand-spun yarn takes dye unevenly at a microscopic level, which produces the gentle tonal movement across the red field — the quality collectors call abrash, and something machine-spun yarn cannot reproduce. The foundation is cotton warp and weft, chosen because it stays dimensionally stable over decades.

The rug is woven in Bhadohi, Uttar Pradesh, the carpet belt of India, where our family has been weaving for three generations. Weaving is followed by hand clipping, washing, stretching, and finishing of the selvedges and fringe. Because the wool is dyed in small lots, colour varies slightly between production runs — that variation is the signature of hand work, not a flaw.

Specifications

Styling and placement

The rust ground warms a room immediately and reads richest on mid to dark wood floors, where the navy border frames it cleanly. Because the pattern is dense and the palette dark, this is the traditional rug to choose for a hallway, dining room, family room or anywhere with real footfall — soiling and wear simply do not show the way they do on a pale rug.

It suits traditional, English country, library, farmhouse and transitional interiors, and holds its own against leather, dark walnut, brass and navy upholstery. For a standard three-seat sofa layout, 8 x 10 ft lets the front legs of all seating sit on the rug. A queen bed wants 8 x 10 ft; a king bed wants 9 x 12 ft. For a six-seat dining table, choose 8 x 10 ft so chairs stay on the rug when pulled out.

Care, variation and longevity

Hand knotted rugs shed very little — there is no cut backing fibre to work loose, so what you see in the first few weeks is minimal and settles quickly. Vacuum with suction only, beater bar off, and never run a vacuum over the fringe.

Blot spills immediately rather than rubbing. Professional washing every three to five years is enough; hand knotted rugs tolerate proper washing far better than tufted ones and often look better afterwards. Rotate twice a year so wear and sun exposure stay even.

Because everything is dyed and knotted by hand, allow a colour variation tolerance between batches and a size tolerance of up to 2%. A rug pad is recommended to reduce slip, add cushioning and slow wear at the foundation. With a pad and reasonable care, expect fifty years or more of use — Heriz rugs are repairable, and worth repairing.

Frequently asked questions

How long does it take to make?

Production takes 15 to 20 days from order, because each rug is knotted to order rather than pulled from stock. Shipping time is added on top of that and depends on your destination.

How can I tell this is genuinely hand knotted?

Turn it over. A hand knotted rug shows the pattern clearly on the reverse in individual knot rows, with no backing cloth or latex covering it, and the fringe is a continuation of the warp threads rather than a strip sewn on.

What is a Heriz rug?

Heriz refers to a weaving tradition from north-west Iran known for a bold geometric medallion, angular drawing and a rust-and-navy palette. The angularity is deliberate: it comes from drawing the design directly on the knot grid rather than from a curvilinear cartoon.

Is this a good rug for a high-traffic room?

Yes, probably the best of the traditional patterns for it. The dense pattern and dark palette disguise everyday soiling, and hand knotted wool is the most hard-wearing rug construction there is.

Will this rug shed?

Very little. Unlike tufted rugs there is no loose backing fibre, so any shedding is limited to a small amount of surface wool in the first few weeks and stops after that.

Is it safe with pets and children?

Yes. It is wool on a cotton foundation with no adhesives or synthetic backing. Wool is naturally flame retardant and soil resistant, and a hand knotted surface has no loops for claws to pull.

Can I order a custom size?

Yes. We weave custom sizes and can adjust the scale of the medallion to suit your room. Message us with your dimensions and we will quote within two business days.

Will the colours match what I see on screen?

Closely, but not exactly. Screens vary and the wool is dyed in small batches, so expect a slight shift in tone — deep reds render differently across displays. We send real photographs of your rug before dispatch if you ask.

Need a size that isn't listed, or this design in a different colourway? Message us with your room dimensions and we will come back with a quote and a colour layout.