A Malayer prayer rug, Northwest Persia,

The design of this rug is almost certainly derived from a 19th century Qalamkar panel.  Qalamkar, literally 'pen work', is used in Persia to describe printed and painted cotton hangings.  An example with closely related design is in the Textile Museum (Inv. No. 1980.8.5), illustrated in Bier, Carol, ed., Woven from the Soul, Spun from the Heart, Washington, 1987, p. 146. This qalamkar displays a similar central stylised tree standing on a mound with scalloped motif infill and  flanked by smaller trees in framed niches, all against a background of floral vinery. See also Gluck, J. and Gluck, S., A Survey of Persian Handicraft, New York , 1977, p. 187 for a further example,  dated AH 1277 (1861 AD).