1
This cover is the most famous pearl embroidery ever made. It was commissioned around 1865 to become a cover for the tomb of the Prophet Mohammed. More 1,5 million pearls between 1 and 3 mm where used, most of them from the Gulf. A pattern of rosettes in glass beads and three central rosettes made of large diamonds complete this extravagant realization. It never made the journey to Medina and eventually, the descendants of the Maharaja of Baroda sold the piece in auction in 2009.
© National Museum of Qatar
19th Century
Object Name: Tomb Cover
Period: 19th Century
Date: 1800-1899
Provenance: Gujarat {Asia, India, Gujarat}
Dimensions: H:150-W:185-D:18 Mm
Medium: enamel,pearl,gold,gemstone,glass
Registration Number: QNM.2011.647.1
Place Of Discovery/Findspot:  Gallery 7
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The Pearl Carpet of Baroda is an extraordinary work of art that is a true testament to the wealth, sophistication, and grandeur of the legendary courts of the maharajas as well as an extant example of the fabled riches of India. Embroidered with as many as one and a half million of the fabled ‘Basra’ pearls, which were harvested in the southern Gulf region and along the coasts of Qatar and Bahrain, and embellished with diamonds, sapphires, emeralds and rubies, this piece has been known throughout the past 150 years as the Pearl Carpet of Baroda.’
‘The design of the carpet appears to hearken back to Mughal tradition with the vinery forming three arches, each above a large diamond-filled roundel and topped with an elegant palmette. The elaborate swirling vinery and dense floral elements more closely resemble the 18th Century millefleurs designs of the very finely woven pashmina shawls and rugs of Northern India.’The foundation of silk and fine deer hide is densely embroidered overall with a design worked in strings of natural 'Basra' pearls, measuring approximately 1-3mm, and English coloured glass beads. Embroidered with over 1.5 million of the highest quality Gulf pearls, and adorned with precious stones such as emeralds, diamonds and sapphires, Commissioned by the Mahraja of Baroda in the year 1865 to adorn the tomb of the Prophet Mohammed (PBUH), talented local artists, jewelers, weavers, and gem cutters were commissioned to create exquisite and expensive gifts that were presented by the Indian rulers to their visitors.
This carpet is not only a powerful representation of the Maharaja’s love for art, it also stands as a spectacular testament to the flourishing pearl-trade relations between the Indian subcontinent and the Arabian Gulf during the 18th and 19th century when Pearl fishing was the main source of income for the people of Qatar and the Gulf, and they were extensively traded across Europe and Asia
HISTORICAL CONTEXT QATAR
The Qatar Peninsula is surrounded by sea except in the south where it connects with its neighbours from the Arabian Peninsula. For hundreds of years people have shared the land, resources and knowledge inherited from their environment. With no fixed lifestyle in terms of time and place, people moved easily and freely between land and sea for trade, livestock, pearl diving, fishing, and hunting at various times throughout the year. This symbiotic relationship between the people and their environment was represented in the unity of their societies, including the exchange of knowledge, stories and the trading of available goods.

A distinctive characteristic of life on the Qatar Peninsula has long been the close association between the coast and the desert – al barr. Some desert tribes spent several months of the year in coastal cities, setting up semi-permanent residences to participate in pearl diving or fishing. Similarly, coastal residents occasionally moved to al barr during the winter to graze their livestock. This exchange of natural resources and the influence of different environments has contributed to the creation of a unique community.
HISTORICAL CONTEXT - REGION/GULF/WORLD
The presence of British, French and Dutch trading companies in the Gulf from the early 1600s brought uncertainty to the region, with unstable alliances and intense competition over trade routes. As trade flourished, however, the strength of the Arab tribes increased. Many Arab tribes moved from the interior of the Arabian Peninsula to Qatar, and by the 18th and 19th centuries, most of the major towns of the Gulf were founded. Several towns flourished on the Qatari coast, including Huwailah, Khor Hassan, Fuwairat, Ruwaida, Freiha, Al Bidda and Doha. The most notable was Al Zubara which became a hub for the Gulf pearl trade.
LOCATE ON QATAR MAP
Gallery 7
locate in museum map
Gallery 7