Posted on 03/19/2009 7:39:12 AM PDT by JoeProBono
A carpet that was commissioned in India 150 years ago to decorate the tomb of the Prophet Muhammad in Medina is due to be auctioned in Qatar.
The rug, known as the Pearl Carpet of Baroda, was created using an estimated two million natural seed pearls.
It is decorated with hundreds of precious stones, including diamonds, sapphires, rubies and emeralds.
Bidding is expected to start at about $5m but experts say its eventual selling price could be far higher.
Tradition has it that the Pearl Carpet of Baroda was commissioned by India's wealthy Maharaja of Baroda as a gift to sit at the tomb of the Prophet Muhammad.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.bbc.co.uk ...
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