In
1860 the Indian governor, maharaja Baroda Khande Rao has ordered a carpet which
he intended to present for an ornament of a prophet Mohammed's tomb in Medina.
This magnificent silk carpet finished with emeralds, sapphires and diamonds,
has been embroidered with more than two millions of pearls.
For each square decimetre, according to specialists' estimates, there are about 5000 pearls and beads. The most expensive carpet is not only a work of art, but also a valuable investment.
The most expensive carpet, 1,73 by 2,64 meters in size, entirely embroidered with precious stones, was sold in the capital of Qatar at the Sotheby’s auction for $5 485 000. Starting price was $4 500 000.
At the auction only 3 buyers fought for the right to own the carpet, the rest refrained from participation. The name of the new owner is kept in strict confidence.
Due to an unexpected death of the maharaja, the rug, remaining in his family, was not presented as gift. The "Pearl Rug" was carefully kept in the family of the Indian maharaja untile recently. Not once was it on display at exhibitions: for exmple in 1902-1903 in Dehli, in 1985 in New York, in Metropoliten museum.
For each square decimetre, according to specialists' estimates, there are about 5000 pearls and beads. The most expensive carpet is not only a work of art, but also a valuable investment.
The most expensive carpet, 1,73 by 2,64 meters in size, entirely embroidered with precious stones, was sold in the capital of Qatar at the Sotheby’s auction for $5 485 000. Starting price was $4 500 000.
At the auction only 3 buyers fought for the right to own the carpet, the rest refrained from participation. The name of the new owner is kept in strict confidence.
Due to an unexpected death of the maharaja, the rug, remaining in his family, was not presented as gift. The "Pearl Rug" was carefully kept in the family of the Indian maharaja untile recently. Not once was it on display at exhibitions: for exmple in 1902-1903 in Dehli, in 1985 in New York, in Metropoliten museum.
