Malik related to me from Abu'n-Nasr that Ubaydullah ibn Abdullahibn Utba ibn Masud went to visit Abu Talha al-Ansari when he was ill.He said, "I found Sahl ibn Hunayf with him. Abu Talha summoned a manand removed a rug which was under him. Sahl ibn Hunayf said to him,'Why did you remove it?' He said, 'Because there were pictures on it,and the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace,said what you know about them.' Sahl replied, 'Didn't the Messenger ofAllah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, say, "except formarkings on a garment?"' (A rug was considered a garment). He said,'Yes, but it is more pleasing to myself.' "
USC-MSA web (English) reference: Book 54, Hadith 7
Arabic reference: Book 54, Hadith 1772