DOHA (Qatar) - A PEARL-STUDDED carpet believed to have been created in India more than 100 years ago as a gift for the tomb of Islam's prophet Mohammed is to be auctioned late on Thursday in Qatar.

The Pearl Carpet of Baroda is traditionally believed to have been commissioned by the maharajah of Baroda as a gift for the prophet's tomb, which is located in the Muslim holy city of Medina in Saudi Arabia, Sotheby's auction house said on its website.

The maharajah died before the donation was made and the pearl carpet remained in his family.

Bidding is set to start at US$5 million dollars (S$7.5 million) but is expected to fetch a much higher price, Sotheby's said.

The carpet has an entirely embellished surface, studded with an estimated two million natural seed pearls known as 'basra' which were harvested from the waters of the Gulf, it said.

The carpet was exhibited in 1902-3 as a highlight of the great Delhi Exhibition, and was later moved to Monaco.

It was showcased again over 80 years later in 1985 in New York. -- AFP