Forbesreports that The Pearl Carpet of Baroda could sell for as much as $20 million at an upcoming Sotheby's auction. The carpet was created in the 1860s as a gift for the tomb of Prophet Mohammad in Medina, Saudi Arabia. Over 2.2 million pearls and beads were used to decorate the carpet. Hundres of rubies, sapphires and diamonds were also used in the carpet which took five years to make. Forbes says bidding will start at $5 million.
Bidding will start at $5 million, says Howard-Sneyd, who has already fielded inquiries from private clients in India and the Middle East interested in the piece.
Crafted in the 1860s as a gift for the tomb of the Prophet Mohammad in Medina, Saudi Arabia, the carpet was created under the auspices of Gaekwar Kande Rao, the maharajah of Baroda, a former kingdom in northwest India that is now part of Gujarat state. It took five years of labor by hundreds of craftsmen. Some 2 million seed pearls and colored glass beads and gems set in a gold foil background make up the swirling rosette design.
You can zoom in on the carpet's image here on Sotheby's. Rug Rag also has some close ups here. (via Born Rich)
