Indian rug embroidered with pearls, which was to decorate the tomb of Muhammad, reached a record price for a carpet 5,5 million dollars – Sotheby's auction house said, which held the first auction of Islamic art in the capital of Qatar on Thursday, Souls. The deer-leather-reinforced silk fabric measures approx 1,7 on 2,2 metra. Approx 2 millions of tiny pearls from the Persian Gulf and rubies, sapphires and diamonds. Sotheby's was going to start the auction with 5 million dollars, expecting to get a higher price. But, as reported by the auction house's PR department, the auction was started from 4,5 million dollars. The unusual work was commissioned by Maharaja Baroda (currently in the Indian state of Gujarat), who wanted to offer them to the tomb of Muhammad in Medina. Before he did, died and the rug remained in the family. In the 20th century, it was exported from India with a collection of jewels by Maharani Sita Devi to Monaco. The ornamentation of the pearl carpet consists of a floral flagellum reminiscent of Persian and Mughal patterns. In the center there are three large diamond rosettes set in gold; the edges are filled with smaller rosettes, surrounded by sapphires and rubies. The jeweled carpet was bought by an anonymous buyer.
Until now, the most expensive carpet was sold last year too 4,5 million dollars 17th century Persian carpet from Isfahan.
