A Konya coupled-column prayer rug, Central Anatolia, early 19th century

The arrangement of the niches in this group refer back to the classical tradition of Ottoman 16^th century triple-arch prayer rugs such as the Ballard prayer rug in the Metropolitan Museum of Art (acc.no. 22.100.51, see HALI, no. 2/2, pp. 101-104 for May Beattie’s examination of the progression of the design in later weavings). Closely related examples to the present rug include an example from the William Price Collection sold at Sotheby’s, New York, 2 June 2010, lot 56, another sold at Sotheby’s, New York, Carpets from the Estate of Vojtech Blau, 14 December 2006, lot 53, and a rug published in Herrmann, 1982, no. 5.