Pearl Carpet of Baroda

The Pearl Carpet of Baroda was commissioned in 1865 by Gaekwar Khande Rao, the Maharaja of Baroda. It contains over one and a half million pearls as well as diamonds, sapphires and rubies. The carpet is 8 ft 8 in long and 5 ft 8 in wide. The pearls used are known as “Barsa Pearls” which are natural seed pearls harvested in the southern Gulf region. The flower and vine design within the carpet comes from the Mughal period of India. Not only does this carpet contain pearls and other gems, but it also is made of silk, deer hide, and gold.

Pearl Carpet Baroda

The pearl carpet traveled to many different places and survived with many different owners. It resurfaced a few times for public viewing in New York City but always ended up back in India. The last time the Pearl Carpet of Baroda resurfaced was in 2009. Sotheby’s had an auction in Doha and the Pearl Carpet of Baroda was sold for $5.5 million, which was a new record for a carpet sold at an auction.

Pearl Carpet Baroda

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