Persian rugs: The Complete Guide to Persian Rugs

Persian Rugs: Serapi Rugs and Serab Rugs and Carpets Guide

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From Serab to Serapi

Serab was both a town and a Khanate. The use of i on the end indicates that it is from Serab so simply put Serabi means from Serab. All the rugs and carpets from the Heriz area would have been known as Serab under the old name of the area. The carpets known in the trade as Serapi are clearly from the old Serab Khanate. How then did Serabi carpets become known as Serapi? I suggest that about the time the west was coming to know the carpets of Serab a major news and gossip item was the Prince of Wales 1876 trip to India on the H.M.S. Serapis. Similar words and I suggest that Serapis became the popular pronunciation since it was the more familiar sound.

Prior to 1813 Serab and the whole greater Mount Savalan region including the rug producing areas such as Heriz, Ahar, Gorevan, etc.. was the Khanate of Serab. see Chronology of Azerbaijan History and neighboring regions
Cecil Edwards made the point that Serapi rugs are from Serab.
In the United States the highest quality of Heriz Carpets are called Serapi.
Quality is higher than the average and knot counts are around 80 knots per square inch with the very best going up to 100 knots per square inch.
Serapes have mellow colors and a less busy field than a standard Heriz.
A Serapi Northwest Persia, Azerbaijan, 2nd half 19th century

Serapi Rugs: Serapi Northwest Persia, Azerbaijan, 2nd half 19th century

Serapi Rugs Serab Rugs Persian Rugs Oriental Rugs The Troopship Serapis Arriving at Portsmouth on May 11th, 1876 with H.R.H. the Prince of Wales Aboard, on his Return from India

Title The Troopship Serapis Arriving at Portsmouth on May 11th, 1876 with H.R.H. the Prince of Wales Aboard, on his Return from India
Artist Arthur Wellington Fowles
Gallery N.R. Omell
Work Date 1876
Category Painting

Materials Oil on canvas
Markings Signed and dated 1876
Size h: 33.5 x w: 58.5 in / h: 85.1 x w: 148.6 cm
Subject Marine Art/Seascape

The Troopship Serapis Arriving at Portsmouth on May 11th, 1876 with H.R.H. the Prince of Wales Aboard, on his Return from India

Serapi carpets

The line between a Serapi and an antique Heriz is more a matter of style than substance. For instance Sotheby's New York does not generally use the term Serapi while their counterparts in Sotheby's London regularly use the term. In Germany both Nagel and Rippon Boswell use the term Serapi.

Serapi Rugs: Serapi Carpet last quarter 19th C. Lot 142

Serapi Rugs: Serapi carpet last quarter 19th C. Lot 72

Serapi Rugs: Serapi Rug last quarter 19th C. Lot 88

Serapi Rugs: Serapi carpet late 19th C. Lot 139

Serapi Rugs: Serapi Rugs: Serapi Rug last quarter 19th C. Lot 86

Serapi Rugs: Serapi carpet late 19th C. Lot 5010

Serapi Rugs: Serapi carpet late 19th C. Sotheby's UK lot 160

Marechal Serab Carpet last quarter 19th C. Sotheby's lot 136

Serab

Serab has lent it's name to a group of camel ground runners generally attributed to the town of Serab its self up into the beginning of the 20th century.