The previous record price of carpets lasted about a year: in 2008 at Christie's in New York for 4.45 million dollars was sold to a Persian silk carpet.

Weaved in the XIX century, the carpet was supposed to decorate the tomb of the Prophet Muhammad in Medina. But because of the death of the donor - Ruler of Baroda Khanda Rao - a work of art remained in the family of the Maharaja until today. "Pearly carpet exhibited several times, including at the exhibition of Indian art in Delhi in 1902-1903, the exhibition" India "at the Metropolitan Museum in New York in 1985.

Rug size of 173 to 264 centimeters embroidered with beads, pearls and decorated with precious stones - emeralds, rubies and diamonds. Experts estimate that for every square decimeter of the carpet for almost 5000 of pearls and beads. Altogether, silk fabric sewn around 2,2 million pearls and beads.
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  LOT 401

THE PEARL CARPET OF BARODA, GUJARAT, INDIA

Estimate Upon Request
Lot Sold. Hammer Price with Buyer's Premium: 5,458,500 USD
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MEASUREMENTS
 
approximately 173 by 264cm., 5ft. 8in. by 8ft. 8in.

DESCRIPTION
 
circa 1865


The foundation of silk and fine deer hide is densely embroidered overall with a design worked in strings of natural 'Basra' pearls, measuring approximately 1-3mm, and English coloured glass beads. There are on average 78 pearls and beads per vertical dm. (10cm.), and 68 per horizontal dm., Equalling a density of c.4, 990 pearls and beads per dm2, The total area of the carpet is c.45, 670cm.2 Making allowance for the three large diamond filled rosettes (c. 440cm2), the 32 smaller rosettes (c.400cm2), and the smaller gems the total area embroidered with pearls and beads is about 44,500 cm2 Therefore, over 2.2 million pearls and beads have been used to decorate the field. In our estimation, the number of pearls employed in the design is therefore at least 1.2-1.5 million. The rosettes are circled by small natural 'Basra' pearls of slightly larger size, measuring approximately 3-4 mm; the total estimated weight of the pearls is 30,000 carats. The designs worked in the rosettes are set with approximately 2,500 table cut and occasional rose cut diamonds, approximately 350-400 carats in total, all set in silver topped gold or possibly blackened gold; the motifs are further enhanced with foil backed rubies, emeralds and sapphires set in gold
http://www.sothebys.com/app/live/lot..._number=D09005