Indian & Himalayan Art

S otheby’s pioneered the market for Indian, Himalayan, and Southeast Asian art, launching the first dedicated department in New York in 1985. Over four decades, the department has led landmark sales and presented renowned single‑owner collections, including the Heeramaneck, British Rail Pension Fund, Bachofen von Echt, Gloria Katz & Willard Huyck, Paul F. Walter, and Stuart Cary Welch collections.

Recognized for unmatched expertise in Himalayan art, Sotheby’s specialists are skilled in translating Tibetan, Chinese, Newari, Nepali, and related Indian inscriptions, contributing to the success of important sales such as the Pan‑Asian Collection, the Jucker Collection, the Speelman Collection, the Ernst Collection, and The Nyingjei Lam Collection.

Spanning artworks from the 1st century CE to the 19th‑century British Raj and Qing period, Sotheby’s auctions encompass a vast cultural geography—from Afghanistan to Indonesia and Mongolia to Sri Lanka. With expert teams in London, New York, and key global offices, the department sources and sells exceptional works to collectors across the US, Europe, the Middle East, India, China, and Southeast Asia.