The Herati commonly known by it’s Farsi name ‘Mahi, meaning ‘fish’ because the serrated leaf design surrounding the diamond looks like a swimming fish! Animals Heirloom 0031 carries a repeating diamond-shaped motif, called a 'Herati' throughout, woven together with a strong floral border. This piece is from the Malayer village in North west Persia. Rug experts can use these motifs to identify which village a rug was likely woven in, which is pretty incredible. The motifs that repeat are often reminiscent of florals, and often act almost like a family seal. Aside from being very pleasing to the eye, rugs that carry a geometric shape in a repeating pattern throughout the field are serious carriers of folk art. There’s something soothing about repetition.
