LONDON.- Arthur Millner, whose new book ‘Damascus Tiles: Mamluk and Ottoman Architectural Ceramics from Syria’ was published in September, will be holding his second Indian and Islamic Works of Art auction of the year this November 2015. Included in the sale of over 400 lots are Himalayan paintings and bronzes, South East Asian stone and bronze sculpture, Indian miniature paintings and Islamic ceramics and metalwork. Prices range from £100 - £15,000.

Highlights include an eclectic collection from a retired German diplomat who lived in India and Afghanistan in the ‘60s and ‘70s during which he collected a wide range of objects, in particular amassing a very extensive collection of steel belt buckles from Afghanistan, many of which are very beautifully decorated with incised floral, arabesque and calligraphic designs, some inlaid with brass. They mostly date from the 18th century and estimates start at £200 - £700.

The sale also features an interesting collection of Indian Miniature paintings, belonging to a deceased Indian lecturer who lived in Putney, South London. These are mainly Rajput paintings, dating from the 18th and 19th centuries.

Also included are some Indian paintings and objects from the Lilavati and Professor Bengt Hager collection, Sweden.

Other highlights include:

• A Majapahit head of a boy. Eastern Java, 14th century. Terracotta. Estimate: £350-450

• In the textile section is this stunning Tibetan thang-ka depicting Mahakala. Tibet 17th century. Estimate £1,200 - £1,500

Arthur Millner, a leading specialist in Indian and Islamic Works of Art, has written new book ‘Damascus Tiles – Mamluk and Ottoman Architectural Ceramics from Syria’, published by Prestel. Architectural ceramic decoration is one of the most celebrated manifestations of the arts of Islam. Spanning a period from the 13th to the 20th century, the tiles featured in Arthur Millner’s book exhibit a rich range of influences from Persia, Turkey, China and Europe.

Arthur Millner started his career in the art world at Sotheby's in 1985, eventually taking charge of their Indian, Himalayan and South East Asian auctions in London. He lectures and writes widely on Indian and Islamic Art across the country, including the Victorian and Albert Museum and SOAS, and is chairman of the Indian and Islamic Vetting Committee at the Olympia Antiques Fairs, as well as being a member of the committee at the Masterpiece and Lapada fairs in London. He organises Indian and Islamic Works of Art auctions twice a year at 25 Blythe Road.