After two months of research and tracking down various members of the UNH staff (the Director of the Seton Art Gallery, Dean of Students, Librarian Head, President Kaplan’s Secretary, and the VP of Facilities), I finally got information on UNH’s fabled Oriental rug from a rather unexpected source.

Director of Media Relations Karen Grava had quite a few things to share. This Oriental rug is worth $22,000, and is a landscape tapestry rug made of wool and silk. It measures 16 by 22 feet and was made in Northern China last century. A private donor gave the rug to the university with the intention of having it displayed in the Henry C. Lee Institute; however, its size prevented it from being exhibited.

The rug was donated during a time period when the market was plummeting, and currently it is in storage until the market improves. When it does, the rug will be sold, and profits will go to benefit the Henry C. Lee Institute.

While this did answer some questions, there is still the key mystery of where exactly the rug is located! It is somewhere on the campus of this university, and for now that information will have to suffice. Until next time, this has been a special Charger Bulletin report. Please email [email protected] if there are any other campus mysteries you would like to be researched.