Masterpiece made from 500,000 Gulf pearls expected to fetch $5m

[KAC]

NEW YORK // An embroidered masterpiece bearing more than 500,000 pearls that were plucked from the Arabian Gulf in the 19th century being auctioned in Manhattan tomorrow offers a potent reminder of the region?s historic diving industry.

The so-called Pearl Canopy of Baroda, emblazoned with an array of Gulf pearls, English coloured glass beads, diamonds, rubies, emeralds and sapphires set in gold, is expected to fetch up to US$5 million (Dh18m) when it is put under auction by Sotheby?s on Friday.

Full Article: http://www.thenational.ae/news/worl...from-500-000-gulf-pearls-expected-to-fetch-5m

 

[Lagoon Island Pearls]

Wow!

I can scarcely fathom the thousands of hours it took to harvest, drill and embroider .5m pearls.

 

[GemGeek]

It's thought to be part of a set of five, if you can believe that!

 

[KAC]

It's thought to be part of a set of five, if you can believe that!

Wow - regardless of the pearls and gemstones the work involved in making 5 of these is mind boggling!

 

[eric-anandia-pearls]

wow is right - does anyone know what happened to the other four?

 

[Ash]

there are two surviving pieces this canopy and the Carpet of Baroda.

"The silk canopy was crafted for the Maharaja in an ensemble of five pieces and patterned in Indian and Persian styles. The only other surviving item, the Pearl Carpet of Baroda, fetched $5.5 million at auction in Doha in March 2009."

I better stop gawking at this and the Carpet of Baroda before I get the urge to try to re-create them! Sigh

Cheers

Ash

 

[Caitlin]

wow is right - does anyone know what happened to the other four?

No. But this "rug" (or maybe a sister rug) was in the news just a couple of years ago and Cliclasp posted this about it:.
It was sold at that time for 5.5 million clams. Maybe it is up for resale because they had the number of pearls wrong. They said 2million, now it is down to 500k......

 

[KAC]

looks like it sold for 2.3 million

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-...8-million-in-new-york-s-record-asia-sale.html

 

[Ash]

The Size differential between the carpet at approx 5' by 8' and canopy 3'11' may account for the final sale price as well as pearl count.

To have such treasures like this at all is amazing to me.

 

[KAC]

Just found another picture of the "rug"

I actually didn't realize it was round, I just assumed rectangle.

 

[Caitlin]

I have seen a rectangle one. So it is not the same rug as the rectangle that sold a couple of year ago.

 

[pattye]

The photos are amazing, wouldn't it be special to see it in person??!!