This rug belongs to a group of related prayer rugs which share a three-niche design with coupled-columns. The basis for this designs stems from sixteenth and seventeenth Ottoman Court prayer rugs, such as the renowned Ballard prayer rug in the Metropolitan Museum of Art (see Dimand, M. S. and Mailey, J.: Oriental Rugs in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, 1973, fig.188). In the past, it was believed that these rustic Anatolian interpretations of this design were woven in Ladik because of their superficial resemblence to Ladik prayer rugs. Today, because of structural differences, seperate origins are given to the 'Coupled-column' group and Ladik rugs. It is also likely that even all of the rugs from the 'Coupled-column group are not from the same area. One group, which probably date to the seventeenth century, is assigned to Western Anatolia. The Western Anatolian 'Coupled-column' rugs demonstrate slightly more finesse in the handling of minor details, such as the column bases, which is missing in the offered rug (see Sotheby's New York, 7 April 1992, lot 10 for an example of this group formerly in the collection of Susan and Lewis Manilow). The Bernheimer 'Coupled-column' rug seen here is mostly likely from the Konya region of central Anatolia in that it has design associations with other carpets from that region. Although the old Ladik attribution for this group is no longer generally accepted, it is possible that it should be considered again for this piece. The border seen on the present rug appears to be unusual within the known examples of the 'Coupled-column' group. A variation of this border, although not as well drawn, and similar minor borders can be seen on a Ladik prayer rug formerly with Eberhart Herrmann (see Bailey, Julia: "Ladik Prayer Rugs," Hali, 28, 1985, fig 1).