Pearl Canopy of Baroda
Pearl Canopy of Baroda to be auctioned next month by Sotheby’s New York
Just in case you missed your chance to see or purchase the $5.5 Million ‘pearl carpet of Baroda’…
In 2009 at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London a pearl canopy was exhibited. Maharaja: The Spendour of India’s Royal Courts which was open from October 10, 2009 through January 17th, 2010..
Sotheby’s is now to offer a similar canopy up for auction, which is nearly identical in embellished jewels as the Pearl Carpet of Baroda which sold several years back for $5.5 million at Sotheby’s Doha, Qatar March sale 2008. Three years later, this is your chance and or purchase a very similar piece.
Dated at 1865, also commissioned by Maharaja Khanderao Gaekwad of Baroda, both examples feature pearls, rubies, emeralds, diamonds, deerskin and silk.
Technically, these may be considered as ‘canopys.’ Perhaps semantics. It would be a misdeed to walk on these. However, rugs incorporating precious metals and stones have been noted by historians. One, in particular, is the Persian Carpet called “The Spring of Khosrow” from 6th century AD. This too featured precious metals and stones. Measuring considerably larger than the Baroda carpet, legend has it the carpet was cut up into many pieces after an Arab invasion and sold off by soldiers piece by piece.
Sources:
$5.5 Million Carpet, a Pearl-Studded Masterpiece,
Detail Images of Pearl Carpet of Baroda: Rare Carpet to be Auctioned
Pearl Carpet Breaks World Record for Most Expensive Rug – RugRag.com
The Pearl Carpet of Baroda: Perhaps the Next Most Expensive Carpet?
http://www.vam.ac.uk
http://www.vam.ac.uk/microsites/maharaja/highlights/princely-india.html#
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