5 Most expensive rugs in the world

Barcelona real estate Blog

Monday, 08 November 2010 14:23

We are all aware how expensive it can be to lay carpet or flooring and now it would seem purchase a rug. Each of us has our own personal preferences when it comes to decorating and of course our own budgets to work within.

What if you didn’t have a budget and you were in the market for a new rug? Well it would seem that in the world of rugs money sometimes isn’t an issue. Below we have compiled a list of the five most expensive rugs which money can buy; so expensive are these rugs that the purpose for which they were recently acquired surely could not be that of protecting flooring or walking over. Imagine one of these in your Barcelona real estate! Whether or not the below rugs suite your taste, there would clearly be hell to pay if Cousin Sue spilt red wine on any of these:

The Kirman 'Vase' Carpet

Measuring just 11ftx5ft this mid-17th century Persian rug recently broke the record held by the Pearl Carpet of Baroda by becoming the world’s most expensive rug. Eventually selling for £6.2 million to an anonymous buyer and having only been estimated to fetch the comparatively low amount of £200,000. This rug was made in the Iranian city of Kirman, an area said to produce some of the worlds most inventive and skilled carpet designers.

Pearl Carpet of Baroda

One of the most written about rugs on the planet and for very good reason. Commissioned by the Indian Maharaja of Baroda in the 18th century, the carpet was created using a reported two million pearls farmed from the Arabian Gulf. Obviously this kind of handiwork comes at a cost, which in 2009 was $5 million!

Persian silk rug

The holder of the ‘most expensive’ title prior to the Pearl Carpet of Baroda, this 500 year old masterpiece still managed to fetch $4.45 million ($700 per square inch) in 2008. Previously owned by the renowned Persian and Oriental rug collector Doris Duke, this example stands out due to its age, the use of colours and the outstanding knot density.

The Bayeux tapestry

Thought to have been commissioned in 1070 by the bishop of Bayeux this 70 meter tapestry depicts the battle of 1066 in which Williams the conqueror defeated Harold in the Battle of Hastings, ensuring the success of the French invasion of England. Some argue this priceless historical artefact was made in Kent, England; a place where Odo, William’s brother controlled. Whatever you believe, none can argue against its value both historically and monetarily.

16th-century Tabriz medallion carpet

Recently acquired by the Sheik al-Thani or Qatar for $2.4 million, this North West Persian example was estimated to raise around $400,000. Large in comparison to some of the other rugs mentioned in this list, measuring over 20ft in length it again heralds from 16th century Persian.

This article was written in association with The Rug House. The Rug House sell a large range of high quality rugs including large rugs and washable rugs across the UK and Ireland.