Pearl Carpet worth US$20m

DOHA // News of the death of the Prophet Mohammed in 632AD took several decades to make its way around the world, but the outpouring of reverence and deference went on for several centuries, with Muslims and non-Muslims alike offering gifts both modest and majestic at the Prophet’s tomb.

Among the potential offerings was a carpet the likes of which has never been seen: an estimated two million Arabian Gulf “Basra” seed pearls sewn together to form the bed of the carpet, and a colour scheme designed with hundreds of glass beads, diamonds set in gold clasps and precious stones.

“Throughout history we’ve seen carpets that consist of textiles with jewels woven in them, but we have never seen anything covered entirely in seed pearls,” said Mary Jo Otsea, Sotheby’s worldwide director for rugs and carpets. “There’s really nothing like this anywhere in the world.
“Qatar has such a robust economy, so we’d rather be here than anywhere else.” Sotheby’s officials said Qatar is the ideal place for the sale since the Basra pearls came from the waters of the Arabian Gulf. The auction house opened a Doha office this year to complement its l office in Islamabad.

http://www.thenational.ae/article/20090316/FOREIGN/796075951/1135/NEWS