LONDON.- Bonhams has announced the appointment of Oliver White as the new head of its UK Islamic and Indian Art department with immediate effect.

Oliver has been a specialist in the department for the past five years and takes up his new role at an exciting time. Bonhams secured nearly 50% of the market during Indian and Islamic auction week in April 2015 when its sale containing weapons from the armoury of Tipu Sultan, made more than £7.4 million.

White said: “This is a wonderful opportunity and my challenge is to build on the achievements of the past to secure continued success in the future.”

Oliver White has a BA from University College London, an MA from Kingston University and spent a year studying at the University of Granada. He speaks fluent Spanish.

During his time at Bonhams the Indian and Islamic department has scored notable successes including the sale of a life size portrait of Jahangir in 2011 for £1,420,000; a finial from the throne of Tipu Sultan in 2010 for £434,000; an important painting of a Great Indian Fruit Bat by Bhawani Das for £458,000 and an Iznik pottery jug in 2013 for £457,250.

The April sale of weapons from the armoury of Tipu Sultan saw a rare gem-set sword with tiger’s head pommel from sell for £2,154,500, a sporting gun for £722,500 and a cannon used at the battle of Seringapatam for £1,426,500.

Bonhams CEO, Matthew Girling commented: “Oliver’s achievements since joining the Indian and Islamic department at Bonhams speak for themselves and make him a natural choice to assume this important role.”