VINTAGE PERSIAN MAHI HERATI HAND KNOTTED RUG, 6.3 x 9.2 (191cm x 279cm)

Made In: Persia (Iran) – 25-1145 

Style: Mahi/Herati

Design: Fish Diamond

Exact Size: 6ft 3in x 9ft 2in, 46.0lbs (191cm x 279cm, 20.9kg)

Weave: 100% Hand Knotted

Pile: Wool (100%) – Medium

Foundation: Cotton

Field Color: Salmon

Border Color: Black

$1,200.00

Condition/Description: Vintage Persian Mahi Herati rug was hand knotted in Iran of 100 percent natural wool and has a cotton foundation. The rug is 50+ years old, has medium wool piles and is in excellent condition for its age. Beautiful colors with excellent quality. No repairs and very soft. This rug was acquired from an established rug merchant. Clean and ready to be enjoyed. FLAT RATE SHIPPING OF $250.00 FOR THIS RUG WITHIN THE CONTINENTAL UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. Flat rate shipping is billed separately after the invoice has been paid. 6ft 3in x 9ft 2in, 46.0lbs (191cm x 279cm, 20.9kg), LOT REF 25-1145.

One of the more common design motifs used in these elegant ancient rugs is the iconic fish design rugs, also called “Herati” or “Mahi” pattern. While a few specifics may differ based on the country or region where these rugs are produced, what is generally true is that the pattern consists of an elaborately rendered diamond with a rosette inside. The former often encapsulates decorative floral elements which resemble fish, hence the use of the Farsi term of “mahi”, which translates to “fish”. The exact origins of the Herati/Mahi fish design is still somewhat unsettled. That said, it is fairly widely accepted that the Farsi-speaking region of Western Iran and the country of Turkey, represent the locations where this particular style of rug design does in fact have its most definitive roots. Perhaps a bit of a slightly stronger case can be made for Iran given that the city of Herat (which was initially located in Persia but now resides within Afghanistan’s borders) provided obvious eponymous inspiration for the naming of the very design itself. Regardless of any quibbles concerning direct national or cultural lineage, this general area’s role in and contribution to the development and popularization of the Mahi pattern is laudable and, again, undisputed. Mahi fish design area rugs are famed for not only their aesthetic appeal but their durability (and attendant functionality) as well. In fact, the beauty of these pieces truly belies their practicality; they do not need to be seen or treated as mere show-pieces, but can actually be put to use in the home as desired.