Silk Isfahan Carpet

The Silk Isfahan carpet, which dates from the early 1600s, sold for $4.45 million at Christie's in 2008. It measures 7'5" by 5'7", equating to $107,488.00 per square foot, which compares well to some of the most costly carpets on the market today, which may cost up to $80,000 per square foot.

During the reign of Shah Abbas the Great (1588-1629), who commissioned the construction of magnificent mosques, public baths, colleges, and many other architectural gems that still stand today, it was woven in Isfahan, an Iranian city known for the quality of its rugs and one of the most beautiful cities in the world.

Another unique feature of the Silk Isfahan carpet was recognized by Arthur Upham Pope, curator of the 1931 exhibition "A Survey of Persian Art," which included the rug at the Royal Academy in London. In relation to the rug's colour, he commented, "No more beautiful harmony was ever attained in any Persian rug."

Cost: $4.45 million