Pearl Carpet of Baroda

The Pearl Carpet of Baroda, commissioned in 1865 for the mausoleum of Prophet Muhammad in Medina, Saudi Arabia, never made it to its intended destination, but it did make its mark on contemporary history.

What makes this tapestry so special is not just the silk and beautiful deer leather basis, but also the incredible detail that makes it gleam like a piece of jewelry, which it is in some ways. At least one million Basra pearls are intertwined with English colored glass beads and other valuable stones including rubies, emeralds, sapphires, and even diamonds set in gold-topped silver on this carpet.

The Pearl Carpet of Baroda was, without a doubt, the star of Sotheby's 2009 auction in Doha, when it sold for $5.5 million to an unknown bidder. After a 150-year history of owners and inheritance, the carpet is now part of the permanent collection of the National Museum of Qatar.

Cost: $5.5 million