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Serapi refers to a well-known type of Persian carpet, a historical subgroup of Heriz carpets woven in the rugged mountains of Northwest Iran. Serapi rugs are not an independent weaving tradition, but rather a distinct Heriz region style, often characterized by finer knotting and more large-scale spaciously placed antique carpet designs than other rugs from this area. Serapis are one of the more easily recognized types of Oriental rug, as they were the carpet of choice in early American federal buildings and can be seen to this day in the White House.

History
Woven from the mid-19th century to around 1910, Serapi carpets were typically woven by families or small workshops in the villages surrounding the small town of Heriz. Due to the remoteness of the Heriz region, Serapi carpets were frequently taken to Serab, a town 30 miles distant, for sale: the term “Serapi” is a market term that derives from “Serab-I”, or “of Serab”. Though highly prolific carpet producers during this era, the relative isolation and inaccessibility of the region resulted in a weaving tradition where local dye practices and design elements were preserved.

The continuity of traditional motifs and generally high standard of dyes continued until a rapid decline in quality during the 20th century, when the larger, geometric Heriz design vocabulary was adapted to a rigid, symmetrical version for mass production using synthetic dyes. As a result, the Serapi designation is often assigned to higher-quality, older Heriz carpets where the archetypal forms and the open, more spacious compositions of the 19th century were retained.

Design
Serapi carpets typically were woven in a medallion format, often with an off-center placement. Heavily abstracted, elemental geometric designs predominate. Serapi rugs woven by the small workshops found in the region typically will have a more formal appearance and showcase a finer weave, while the Serapi rugs that were woven by families will have a slightly more rustic weave and a playful air to them. As with carpets woven throughout the Heriz district during the 19th century, dyes are long-lasting and were produced to a high standard. Madder reds, midnight and royal blue and cream tones are prevalent and add to the boldness of the presentation. Carpets designated as Serapi possess a high knot count, soft handle and durable construction.

Serapi carpets are usually found in the room size format, ranging from 9ft ×12ft to 11ft ×14ft. Oversize pieces were also produced, with very large examples in sizes up to 16ft x 26ft occasionally encountered. Consistent with other Heriz production from the 19th century, area-size Serapi rugs, runners and corridor carpets are very seldom seen.