For centuries, one piece of decor has survived the multitude of changes and transformations in the world of home interior design: the Persian rug. Over time, many of these rugs have evolved from mere decorative objects to become invaluable works of art, lending a special cachet to their fortunate owners.
Below we will show you some of the unique features of these interesting objects.
A little history about oriental rugs...
It is not possible to say precisely how long Persian rugs have existed, as the materials they are made from deteriorate over time, but it is certain that they are over 5,000 years old.
Essential to Persian culture, rugs initially had a purely practical purpose, providing protection from the cold winter. Over the years, their creation evolved into an art form.
The first known carpet
In 1947, what is now considered the oldest known carpet was discovered during excavations in Siberia. It is the Pazyryk carpet, named after the location where it was found, the Pazyryk Valley. This antique, reddish in color with designs symbolizing the nomadic horsemen of the steppes, is currently on display in the Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg, Russia.
The largest carpet in the world
Can you imagine a carpet as large as a football or rugby field? Well, it exists. Measuring 6,000 square meters and weighing 35 tons, the Qasr al-Alam carpet is the largest in the world. It was hand-woven and took more than a year and a half to make. The cost of this colossal carpet was also astronomical, exceeding four million euros.
The most expensive carpets in the world
Like all luxury goods, there are always some that reach very high prices, and Persian rugs are no exception.
The Pearl of Baroda carpet became the most expensive carpet in the world when it was sold in 2009 for €5 million. Its luxury is extreme, as precious stone inlays were used in its construction.
A year later, in 2010, this carpet ceded its throne to the Kirian Vase Carpet, which sold for more than 8.5 million euros.
But the rug that currently holds the prize for the most expensive in the world is the Clara Sikle-Leaf rug, which was auctioned in 2013 and reached the staggering sum of 30.5 million euros!
The most famous carpet in the world
I'd venture to say that the most famous carpet in the world is the flying carpet from the Disney film Aladdin . But, fiction aside, and despite differing opinions, the Ardabil carpet has the honor of being considered the most famous "real" Persian carpet in the world, and also one of the most copied on the planet.
It is currently on display at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. Two were originally manufactured; the second is in the Los Angeles County Museum, although it is in a more deteriorated state, and some of its parts are believed to have been used to repair the London one.