Most Expensive Rug Ever Sold at Auction

Antique Persian Carpet Becomes The Most Expensive Rug In The World

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Antique Seventeenth Century Persian Rug Shatters All Auction Price Records and Fetches Nearly $34,000,000

As of this afternoon, there is a new antique rug that can boast the lofty distinction of being the most expensive rug ever sold at auction as a beautiful Persian carpet sold for nearly $34 million today at a Sotheby’s auction in New York City.

More than tripling the previous record price paid for a rug, the amazing piece that sold today at Sotheby’s is a fantastic work of art of the highest order. According to Sotheby’s, the rug is a “sickle-leaf, vine scroll and palmette ‘vase’-technique carpet,” that is probably of Kerman origin, and had belonged to the Clark Collection.

Antique Persian Vase carpets such as this piece are extraordinarily desirable, a fact that was only underscored by the tremendous price fetched by this impressive carpet today.

Upon the final sale of the rug, the room at Sotheby’s erupted into applause in a cathartic release of the excitement and energy that had been steadily building in the room as the price of the rug rose and rose.

Shattering pre-auction estimates and all previous sale records for the highest prices ever fetched for a rug, the sale of this magnificent Kerman marks something of a watershed moment, as antique rugs become an ever more desirable commodity and establish a very firm footing in the highest rungs of the art world.

Watch this video and see how the most expensive rug ever sold:

Here are the top 6 most expensive rugs ever sold at auction:

This rug was created by Pierre-Josse Perrot, a French artist and one of the King’s favorites, in the 18th century. He created three of these carpets for Louis the XV’s dining room.

This rug was created at some point during the 1600’s in Iran under the rule of Shah Abbas. Notably, tobacco heiress Doris Duke owned this carpet during the 20th century.

The Pearl Carpet of Baroda was commissioned by the Maharajah Khanderao Gaekwad of Baroda (India) in the mid-1800’s to give as an offering to the Prophet’s Tomb in Medina. The carpet is made from many materials including deer hide strands, silk, miniature precious gems, silver and gold foil, and a million Basra seed pearls.

This Vanderbilt Mughal rug was created in Northern India during the early 18th century. This carpet was once owned by Cornelius Vanderbilt and remained in his family for over a century. It is one of only twelve known millefleur carpets from this time period.

The most valuable rug in all of history, this carpet is said to be the epitome of the ‘vase’ technique. It is an incredibly rare design made in the early 17th century.

The Comtesse de Behague, Martine Marie Pol, was a renowned art collector who owned this beautiful vase carpet during the 20th century. The early vase designs such as those seen in this carpet are the most intricate and highly desirable. Prior to 2013, this was the most expensive rug ever sold at auction.

You might also want to read: Why Are Rugs So Expensive?

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This rug blog about the $34 million dollar Persian vase carpet that became the most expensive rug ever sold at auction was published by: Nazmiyal Antique Oriental Rugs