Woven Luxury: The 10 Most Expensive Carpets Ever Sold
When people think of antique carpets and rugs, Persian carpets are often the first to come to mind. This is no coincidence. The very idea of carpet weaving began thousands of years ago in the Middle East, where rugs were more than floor coverings. Ancient legends from the region even gave us mythical objects like the flying carpet in Aladdin, reinforcing the idea that rugs belonged to a world of magic and royalty.
Carpets were woven for palaces, mosques, and royal courts, often using the finest materials available and requiring years of labour. These early masterpieces were not made for ordinary homes. They were statements of wealth and artistic achievement.
That said, the mystique of antique rugs is not limited to Persia alone. From Mughal India to royal France, extraordinary carpets from many regions have fascinated collectors, museums, and royalty alike. Today, these rare pieces regularly achieve staggering prices at international auctions.
So which rugs are the most expensive ever sold, and what makes them so valuable? Below is a countdown of the top 10 most expensive carpets ever sold at auction, each with its own remarkable story of artistry, culture, and history.
Also Read: The Story Of Persian Carpets
Top 10 Most Expensive Carpets Ever Sold
- The Clark Sickle-Leaf Carpet – Iran – $33.7 Million
This unique Persian carpet was produced during the Safavid period in the 17th century. Featuring a magnificent blend of floral and geometric patterns, it set a world record by selling for approximately $33.7 million.
Reason for its value: The artefact, which was most likely woven in Kirman, has a distinctive elegance and still exhibits exceptional quality. The carpet features a red ground with a sickle-leaf design and is considered one of the finest examples of its kind.
- Kirman Vase Rug, 17th Century Persian Carpet – $9.6 Million
The Kirman Vase Rug, a 17th-century Persian carpet, sold for $9.6 million at an auction in 2013.
Reason for its value: This rug is the first known to feature the popular herati design. It is embellished with vibrant flowers, leaves, and branches on a striking blue background and has a wavy finish Its unique history and exceptional craftsmanship attracted numerous bidders and fetched its record value.
- The Mughal ‘Star Lattice’ Carpet – India – $7.7 Million
Photo courtesy Luxxu.net
The 18th-century North Indian Pashmina wool carpet measures 12.9 feet by 13.6 feet. It has a rich scarlet background that is accentuated with a golden latticework pattern of interlocking 12-point stars that surround symmetrical clusters of jasmine and lotus blossoms.
Reason for its value: It is one of only 12 Millefleur (a thousand flowers) rugs from the era. Experts and critics call it “the most magnificent of all decorative carpets.”
- The Pearl Carpet of Baroda – India – $5.5 Million
Photo courtesy of Sotheby’s
This truly magnificent rug was produced in the Baroda region of India in the 18th century. As its name suggests, Pearl Carpet of Baroda features pearl and diamond embellishments
Reason for its value: Commissioned by the Maharaja of Baroda, it is covered in Pearls, specifically, over 2 million Basra pearls. Additionally, the carpet boasts rubies, pearls and diamonds sewn in a floral pattern.
- Silk Isfahan Rug – Iran – $4.45 Million
Dating back to the early 1600s, the Silk Isfahan Rug from the Doris Duke collection was auctioned in 2008 for an impressive $4.45 Million
Reason for its value: A jewel of Safavid artistry: compact area rug, radiant with ~14 natural-dye colours, and woven entirely in silk. Woven in the Iranian city of Isfahan, famous for the quality of its rugs, the carpet was created during the reign of Shah Abbas the Great.
- Louis XV Savonnerie Carpet – France – $4.4 Million
Photo courtesy of Christie’s
Pierre-Josse Perrot created a gorgeous carpet that is adorned with exquisite workmanship. Fetching an impressive $4.4 million, this opulent Savonnerie carpet was woven in the prestigious Savonnerie workshops, originally established to produce carpets for royal palaces during Louis XIV’s reign.
Reason for its value: This stunning carpet, made for royalty, is embellished with incredible detail. The design vividly illustrates the 18th-century Royal Arms of France, wrapped in Rococo trophies,
bouquets, and scrolls. As many royal rugs were destroyed after the Revolution, surviving Savonneries of this pedigree are vanishingly rare.
- The Safavid Prayer Rug – Persia – $4.3 Million
The Nastaliq-inscribed Persian carpet from the 1575 era fetched a whopping $4.3 million, ranking it as one of the most expensive rugs ever sold at auction.
Reason for its value: The inscriptions imply that it might have been a diplomatic gift given to the Ottoman Turks by the Safavid Persian court. The rug features intricate, fine-knotting, and is inscribed with Persian verses in Nastaliq script.
- Rothschild Tabriz Medallion Carpet – Iran – $2.4 Million
Photo courtesy Qatar Museums
This 17th-century rug was stolen from the Austrian Rothschild family. The Austrian government finally gave it back to the family in 1999.
Reason for its value: The Rothschild Tabriz Medallion Carpet is a masterpiece 16th-century Safavid Persian silk rug, featuring a vibrant central medallion on a rich red ground, intricate floral tendrils, blue cartouches with complex borders with rosettes, showcasing luxury with silk and gold/silver threads. Once owned by the Rothschild banking family, famously looted during WWII, and sold at auction for millions before entering the Museum of Islamic Art in Qatar.
- Safavid “Paradise Garden” Carpet — East Iran – $2 Million
A monumental 11 x 27 ft Safavid carpet from the billionaire banker Edmond J. Safra collection, densely populated with deer, lions, birds, and mythical creatures amid trees and flowering shrubs.
Reason for its value: Classical Persian carpets decorated with scenes of animals and gardens are often referred to as ‘Paradise Garden’ or ‘Hunting’ carpets. The theme of the Paradise Garden is an ancient one.
- ‘Polonaise’ Silk and Metal-Thread Rug – Persia – $790,000 Worth
This splendid Isfahan or Kashan Rug, originating from central Persia, was sold at a private auction for $790,000.
Reason for its value: Woven with shimmering silk and real silver and golden threads, these carpets were sold for European nobility. Featuring an intricate floral design, this rug stands out for both its beauty and its artistry.
Expanding Your Collection: Buying High-Quality Rugs
For collectors seeking rare and valuable rugs, choosing the right auction house is just as important as selecting the piece itself. Trusted online auction houses such as Giftex, renowned for its ‘ A World of Collectibles” auction, have become a preferred destination for serious buyers and seasoned collectors alike.
Where History, Art, and Legacy Are Woven Together
From the royal courts of Safavid Persia to the opulent palaces of Mughal India and the grand halls of France, the world’s most expensive carpets tell stories far beyond their threads. These rugs are not simply decorative objects. They are historical documents, artistic masterpieces, and symbols of power, devotion, and refined taste.
For modern collectors and enthusiasts, owning such a rug is about more than possession. It is about stewardship. These carpets survive because they are valued, preserved, and passed on with care.
As interest in rare rugs continues to grow, these woven masterpieces remain timeless. They connect the past with the present, art with history, and beauty with legacy.
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