1. A 16th century Tabriz medallion carpet, "extraordinarly stiff" in its drawing, foreshadows the Herizes to come. The central medallion resembles the "star" of Star Ushak carpets. The Textile Museum, R33.1.2.

2. A Bakhshaish carpet with the simplest of medallion designs. Photo courtesy of Sotheby's N.Y.

3. Central medallions can get as fanciful as this one, on a Heriz