Baroda Pearl Carpet

Jewels, Vadodara-Baroda By No Comments

India has always given the world examples of religious tolerance and harmony and the Pearl carpet of Baroda is a testament to this. Originally a part of a five piece set, the Baroda Pearl Carpet was commissioned by Maharaja Khanderao Gaekwad to give as an offering to the Prophet’s Tomb in Medina, in 1865. It is known that the Maharaja intended to give this as an offering to adorn tomb of the Prophet Mohammad in Medina. But the gift was never delivered as the Maharaja passed away before the donation could be made.

“The most incredible carpet ever created by human hand, the famous Pearl Carpet of Baroda is a diamond-and-pearl-encrusted treasure.”

The Carpet :

The design of the carpet appears to hearken back to Mughal tradition with the vinery forming three arches, each above a large diamond-filled roundel. The complex vinery and floral motifs are further enhanced with foil backed rubies, emeralds and sapphires set in gold.  Along with the three large roundels in the center, the carpet features small rosettes on the border.

Measuring about 5 ft 8 inch x 8 ft 8 inch, the carpet is encrusted with extremely fine Basra pearls and precious stones on a base of fine silk and deer hide. It is estimated that over 2.2 million pearls and beads have been used, out of the number of pearls amount to at least 1.2-1.5 million . The roundels in the center are fitted with  approximately 2,500  table cut and occasional rose cut diamonds set in silver topped gold.

*

Baroda Pearl Carpet (Detailed View)

The “roundel” set with Diamonds

The Pearl Carpet is only one of the two remaining pieces of the five piece set, with the other being the Pearl Canopy. The Carpet was auctioned off by the Sotheby’s in 2009, to an anonymous buyer for $5.5 million. The carpet is now on display at National Museum of Qatar, Doha.

In the Pearl Carpet of Baroda, the artisans managed to create a work of art that is so exquisite that it has captured the imagination of viewers for over a century and still manages to do so.

Source: Sothebys
Share:
Author

Connecting people to Sayaji Nagri - #Vadodara (#Baroda)'s History & Heritage...

No Comments

Leave a Reply

Then & Now